Professional Facilitation Certification & Training

Our immersive certification programs give executives, team leads, chiefs of staff, product managers, trainers, and other leaders the facilitation skills and confidence to lead for now and what’s next.

As AI reshapes how work gets done, facilitation becomes even more critical—not less. In this program, you’ll learn how to design and lead collaborative experiences where humans and AI work together effectively. We focus on when to use AI, when not to, and how facilitators steward clarity, inclusion, and judgment in increasingly AI-mediated environments.

The Power of Facilitation Certification

Facilitation Certification from Voltage Control gives you the facilitation skills and confidence needed to transform meetings, inspire innovation, drive collaboration, and lead change. Our comprehensive facilitation certification program will guide you through key facilitation foundational skills aligned with the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) competencies. You’ll have ample opportunities to practice your facilitation skills and receive feedback in a supportive cohort of facilitation colleagues.

By the end of this online facilitation training and certification program, you will be able to:

Identify a spectrum of impactful facilitation methodologies and practices
Implement the right facilitation skills to meet optimal outcomes
Design and facilitate sessions that responsibly integrate AI tools to support sensemaking, ideation, synthesis, and decision-making
Distinguish between tasks that benefit from AI assistance and those that require human judgment, presence, and facilitation
Reflect on areas of personal facilitation strengths and growth
Cultivate a professional leadership identity and create a professional facilitation portfolio

As you successfully pass each course, you’ll receive a certificate of completion for each. Once you satisfy all certification requirements, you’ll receive a full facilitation certification to display on LinkedIn and other professional portfolios.

Certification Program At a Glance

Facilitation Foundations

Online • Live Meetings

This synchronous, cohort-based immersive will provide you with an introduction to the core competencies and fundamentals of facilitation. Instructors will model the basics of facilitation methods and provide learners with the opportunity to conduct practice sessions with instructor and peer feedback.

Live sessions will be on Fridays for one month. Times differ by cohort; see the chart below for your group’s schedule. Plan on carving out three to five hours per week (on average) outside of class sessions for prep (e.g. reading, prompting AI, viewing facilitation design activities, and application in your work context).

Facilitation Electives

Online • Video Courses

After completing the Facilitation Foundations course, students will then select two self-paced video elective modules of interest that will allow for further exploration and application in a key facilitation focus area. Learners should allocate about three to five hours a week.

Facilitation electives include: Facilitating w/ AI, Magical Meetings, Design Sprints, Design Thinking, Liberating Structures, Workshop Design, Narrative Storytelling, Futures, Facilitating with Visuals, and more!

View all available electives here to explore the full range of topics and discover what aligns best with your facilitation goals.

Facilitation Capstone

Online • Live Meetings

After completing both the Facilitation Foundations and Facilitation Electives Courses, students will complete their certification experience through the Facilitation Capstone Immersive. In this immersive, learners will create their professional facilitation portfolio, provide artifacts that show competency in key facilitation foundation areas, and create a plan for their leadership growth over the long term. Course instructors will model a spectrum of portfolio and growth methods and provide students with the opportunity to receive both facilitator instructor and peer feedback on their portfolios. As part of this work, learners may also be introduced to AI-supported tools—such as our AI Portfolio Coach—to support reflection, prioritization, and long-term growth planning, always grounded in facilitation practice.

Live sessions will be on Fridays for one month. Times differ by cohort; see the chart below for your group’s schedule. Plan on carving out three to five hours per week outside of class sessions for prep (e.g. reading and/or viewing, facilitation design activities, and application in your work context).

Required Reading

To help ground the experience, all participants receive a course pack that includes key facilitation texts such as: The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker, Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision-Making by Sam Kaner with Lenny Lind, Catherine Toldi, Sarah Fisk, and Duane Berger, Gamestorming by Dave Gray, Sunni Brown, and James Macanufo, and Rituals for Virtual Meetings by Kürṣat Ӧzenc, PhD and Glenn Fajardo. These materials not only provide a common set of methods and language to ground the work but also can be used as a handy reference long after the certification is over.

Our Philosophy on AI & Facilitation

We believe AI is most powerful when it strengthens—not replaces—human collaboration. In our programs, AI is treated as:

A collaborator, not an authority

A way to surface patterns, not make decisions

A tool that requires facilitation to be inclusive, ethical, and effective

Our instructors actively experiment with AI in real client work and bring those learnings into the classroom—so participants gain practical experience grounded in real-world application.

Become an Expert Facilitator

Who Should Apply

Our hands-on facilitation basics is perfect for any professional looking to establish a foundation of practical facilitation skills. Participants will join our exclusive facilitator community for ongoing support and development.

Executives & Team Leaders

Who want to lead teams navigating complexity, change, and AI-enabled work

Chiefs of Staff

Who want to align initiatives across humans, systems, and emerging AI workflows

Product Managers

Who want to facilitate better decisions in AI-augmented product environments

Teachers & Trainers

Who want to design the most impactful learning

Program & Project Managers

Who want to foster collaboration across teams and projects

Consultants & Coaches

Who want to offer their clients exceptional consulting

Scrum Masters

Who want to guide team discussions and resolve conflicts

UX Designers/Researchers

Who seek to center people at the heart of their work

Flexible Online Learning

Facilitation Training Schedule

Our three-month certification program includes foundations, electives, and a capstone experience.

Month One: Facilitation Foundations

Each cohort meets on Fridays for live sessions. Times differ by cohort; see the chart below for your group’s schedule.

Individual office hours will be available by appointment

Month Two: Facilitation Electives

This portion of the certification will be asynchronous but you should expect to devote approximately 3-5 hours per week to coursework.

Individual office hours will be available by appointment.

Month Three: Facilitation Capstone

Each cohort meets on Fridays for live sessions. Times differ by cohort; see the chart below for your group’s schedule.

Individual office hours will be available by appointment.

Upcoming Cohorts

Cohort

Spring 2026

Dates

Apr 3 - June 19

(Fridays)

TImes

11 am - 2 pm CT

Application Deadline

March 20, 2026

Cohort

EMEA Spring 2026

Dates

Apr 3 - June 19

(Fridays)

TImes

3 pm - 6 pm CET

(8 am - 11 am CT)

Application Deadline

March 20, 2026

Cohort

Summer 2026

Dates

July 10 - Sept 25

(Fridays)

TImes

11 am - 2 pm CT

Application Deadline

June 26, 2026

Cohort

EMEA Summer 2026

Dates

July 10 - Sept 25

(Fridays)

TImes

3 pm - 6 pm CET

(8 am - 11 am CT)

Application Deadline

June 26, 2026

Cohort

Fall 2026

Dates

Oct 2 - Dec 17

(Fridays)

TImes

11 am - 2 pm CT

Application Deadline

September 18, 2026

Cohort

EMEA Fall 2026

Dates

Oct 2 - Dec 17

(Fridays)

TImes

3 pm - 6 pm CET

(8 am - 11 am CT)

Application Deadline

September 18, 2026

Cohort

Winter 2027

Dates

Jan 8 - Mar 26

(Fridays)

TImes

11 am - 2 pm CT

Application Deadline

January 1, 2027

Cohort

EMEA Winter 2027

Dates

Oct 2 - Dec 17

(Fridays)

TImes

3 pm - 6 pm CET

(8 am - 11 am CT)

Application Deadline

January 1, 2027

Interested in facilitation training for your team or organization?

Students Love Our Programs

Read more about how individuals have benefitted from our training program and the ways they have implemented new skills in their specific contexts

“Facilitation is becoming one of those skills that AI can’t replace. The people who learn it now are going to lead the way forward.”

"Voltage Control’s Facilitation Certification allowed me to name all the skills I was already using, improve them and learn a whole new catalog of ideas, methods and techniques. It also put me in the learner seat again and that value was immeasurable. Take this class, it will require you to think in new ways, invent new ways of connection and it will help you be an indispensable asset within your leadership team."

“I had my indication that Voltage Control was not just another training institution but took every extra effort to make students feel welcomed, engaged, and valued from the very beginning. This was my first lesson in excellent facilitation, ensuring everyone feels included.”

"The certification helped me realize that facilitation isn’t about running meetings or putting on a show. It’s about creating environments and experiences that enable people to be themselves and get the most out of each other. Now my impact is so much greater by facilitating others to be more creative, more collaborative, and more productive."

“The combination of group work, buddy work, and one-on-ones with the instructor that rounded out the program for me. I really appreciated the connections that were developed and the experience of different ways of approaching facilitation in different industries.”

"Companies need creative and inclusive solutions that can only be brought forward through leaders that facilitate inclusive and regenerative conversations. If you are looking for a program to learn how to create a space for your team or clients to truly speak up and build collective solutions, then Voltage Control's Facilitation Certification is for you."

"We weren’t just learning techniques. We were learning to wield them with intent, to understand the why behind the what. It broke down my preconceived notions and built them back up, fortified with purpose and precision."

“Voltage Control's program taught my how to ask the big WHY. This approach has become my new compass and my new lens, informing my design for every workshop and meeting.”

"A vital leadership lesson emerged for me during certification. Leaders aren’t just solution providers; they can also be questioners, listeners, and facilitators."

"The certification progam was transformational. I made some mental breakthroughs, gaining insight and awareness about myself, that were really necessary for me to be able to move forward as a facilitator."

"When time to value is at such a premium today, any opportunity to speed up the sales cycle is something you have to explore. Integrating design thinking and facilitation into the sales process was an eye-opener for me. Learning new tools and then getting a chance to practice with others was great. A much-needed different approach to the typical sales process which invariably leads to a long string of unproductive meetings. Instead of trying to 'sale' your customers, engage with them and collaborate to find real opportunities. This training has gotten me rethinking the entire sales approach."

"Collaborating with cohort partners and build relationships was a real highlight of the program. I got a ton of value out of the 1x1's with Erik. It felt very personalized."

"Getting to put things into practice and try them out in longer chunks was extremely supportive to my learning, especially my newer inquiries. The personalized coaching also really felt supportive and imaginative. The group's willingness to engage and connect, along with the reading materials and activities, made this such a rich experience."

"The mentoring made it so personalized and it is truly unbelievable that people were so kind and connected so deeply."

The camaraderie and sense of care from instructors and cohort really helped to make the information and learning environment productive and exciting.

“The Voltage Control certification was unlike any other learning experience I’ve had. It wasn’t just about acquiring new tools and techniques. It was about reflection, vulnerability, and really understanding myself as a leader.”

"The experience helped me to realize my most passionate areas of facilitation design and refine and focus my ideal areas of expertise. I carry forward multiple mapping strategies that will continue to help me adapt and evolve my practice."

"The opportunity to practice on-the-spot facilitation without a script, combined with the thoughtful feedback (both positives and areas for growth), was incredibly valuable."

"Voltage Control doesn’t just talk at you — they drop you into the deep end (in the best way). You learn by doing, reflecting, and iterating in real time. It’s challenging, yes, but that’s exactly what makes it stick."

“Most professionals are stuck facilitating with no real training—and they have no idea how much better things could be.”"

“I didn’t realize how much extra time it was taking to get things done, until I learned how to structure gatherings to actually lead somewhere."

"This wasn’t your typical certification program—it was facilitation bootcamp meets global mastermind. Every session pulled me out of my comfort zone in the best way and with a diverse circle of facilitators from across the world—I was seeing myself and my leadership through a whole new lens."

"The continuous learning after certification has truly deepened my skills and confidence. Having mentor office hours to connect with other alumni, see expert facilitation modeled in real-time, receive input from peers, and talk through practical problems together has been incredibly valuable."

FacilitaTion Certification

Alumni Stories

ALUMNI STORIES

Beyond The Basics

ALUMNI STORIES

Building Confidence As A Global Catalyst

Unlock Lifetime Benefits with Our Facilitation Lab Community

As a VC alum you’ll receive lifelong access to our global Facilitation Lab—a unique community of facilitation practitioners. The community provides an opportunity to continue your facilitation learning and mastery after you graduate. You’ll get access to weekly labs, yearly summits, dynamic networking, career support, a rich resource library, and exclusive alumni events placing you at the forefront of facilitation innovation.

Over $4,000 a year in potential savings for Pro members!

50% off Facilitation Lab Summits (*up to $1,250 off)
30% off Facilitation Lab Workshops (*up to $1,500)
30% off Facilitation Lab Electives (*up to $1,500)

Apply for Facilitation Certification Today

Master future-proof facilitation skills and become an effective leader, delivered through a flexible online learning format.

Admission Requirements

Certification Fee: $5,000
(collected upon your acceptance to the program)

Includes all coursework, office hours with course instructor(s), and facilitation portfolio evaluation

Application Deadlines Vary by Cohort
Please refer to the table above to find the application deadline for the specific cohort you’re interested in.

*Any learner not meeting standards at the end of the course may resubmit their portfolio for an additional $1,000 resubmission fee.

**Payments are non-refundable.

Talk to Admissions

Wondering if Facilitation Certification is the right fit for you? Chat with an instructor or someone who’s intimately familiar with the program. It’s not a sales call—just a candid conversation to ensure you can make an informed decision.

Not quite ready to apply?

No worries—here are a few ways to explore the program further and set yourself up for success:

Join an upcoming AMA Session where you can meet the instructor and chat with alumni to learn about curriculum, outcomes, and whether it’s a fit for your goals.
Need help getting your employer to cover the cost? Download our template to request professional development reimbursement.
Still have questions? Visit our FAQs for more information about the program, cohort experience, and expectations. Or book an Admissions call.

Apply for Facilitation Certification Today

Master future-proof facilitation skills and become an effective leader, delivered through a flexible online learning format.

Certification Fee: $5,000*

Includes all coursework, office hours with course instructor(s), and facilitation portfolio evaluation

Applications are due September 22, 2023 5 p.m. CT. Applicants will be notified of a decision no later than October 1, 2023.

Not quite ready to apply?

Download our free Facilitation Certification Portfolio Starter to begin your journey today.

Interested in a private cohort for your team? Let us know.

Have questions? hello@voltagecontrol.com

*$5,000 Certification Fee will be collected upon your acceptance to the program.

*Any learner not meeting standards at the end of the course may resubmit their portfolio for an additional $1,000 resubmission fee.

**The Facilitation Certification is meant for leaders looking to deepen their existing facilitation skill and competency and take a next step in their leadership development. Our Master Facilitation Certification is meant for leaders with a minimum of five years facilitation experience and either the successful completion of our Facilitation Certification or demonstrated evidence of meeting our Facilitation Certification Standards.

Scholarship Opportunity

Apply for the Diversity Scholarship

A key part of our mission is to support diverse facilitators from different methodologies, backgrounds, races, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, and ages. If you are a part of, or serve, a traditionally underrepresented group and feel that this scholarship would allow you to amplify this mission, please apply now and select the option to Apply for Diversity Scholarship. This scholarship covers a portion of the tuition cost.

Thank you to MURAL for partnering with us to sponsor scholarship spots for this Facilitation Certification cohort. MURAL is the leading provider of digital workspaces for guided visual collaboration in the enterprise. Different from online whiteboard and design software, the MURAL platform transforms teamwork by making meetings and workshops interactive experiences designed for problem solving, play and imagination.

Flexible Online Learning

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a facilitation certificate?

A facilitation certificate shows you completed the required training and passed the examinations to effectively facilitate productive meetings, workshops, training sessions, and other events. At Voltage Control, our facilitation certification program aligns with the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) competencies, giving you the practical skills to lead successful live sessions, inspire innovation, and drive change.

What practical skills do you need to be a facilitator?

Facilitators must balance a unique range of essential skills and facilitation techniques, like the ability to maintain technical knowledge, actionable strategies, and methodologies alongside the people skills to handle different personalities. Above all, good facilitators are adaptable, able to think on the fly and understand that every meeting, workshop, or session is unique. Facilitators should also have an inclusive and empathetic approach to create a truly welcoming and safe environment for all participants, no matter their background or purpose in that session.

Who is facilitation certification for?

Facilitation training and certification is beneficial for leaders in every industry and role. Traditional business leaders like CEOs, team managers, and scrum masters along with consultants, chiefs of staff, and consultants can utilize the practical tools and facilitation techniques learned through the Voltage Control facilitation training program. Teachers and facilitators can also leverage the diverse methodologies, interactive exercises, and actionable strategies covered. Above all, anyone who wants to learn the essential skills to run better meetings and operate more efficient meetings can benefit from facilitation certification and our facilitator community.

What makes a successful online facilitator?

A great online facilitator embraces the benefits and disadvantages of the world of remote work and hybrid meetings. With dedicated training, online facilitators can learn how to get all team members engaged and contributing to the meeting. Successful online facilitators also leverage the power of preparation to ensure that their online session can go off without a hitch, staying on track and overcoming any conflict or technical issues.

Will my company pay for my facilitation certification?

Yes, many organizations have professional reimbursement policies that cover some or all of your educational and career development expenses. Even if your company does not have an official policy, they may still have a dedicated budget for employee education, or they could approve your reimbursement on a case-by-case basis.

We created a tuition reimbursement template for you to use to start the conversation with your boss. Download the template here.

Is the Core Facilitation Certification accredited or endorsed by an external governing body?

The Core Facilitation Certification is aligned with the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) competencies, ensuring that participants develop skills recognized within the global facilitation community. While we have not pursued formal accreditation at this time, this is something we may explore in the future. Keeping the program independent allows us to evolve based on customer and market needs, ensuring that our curriculum remains responsive to emerging facilitation practices and real-world challenges. Unlike certifications that focus solely on assessment (such as IAF’s CPF designation), our program is a hands-on learning experience that equips participants with both foundational and applied facilitation skills. Graduates leave not only with a certification but also with a strong portfolio of facilitation experience, making them highly credible in the field.

What courses can I choose from during the Faciliation Electives month?

All of the online courses listed on our courses page are available to choose from.

What books and resources are provided to students?

Currently, we’re using the following course texts: :

Art of Gathering by Priya Parker

Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision Making by Sam Kaner

Gamestorming by James Macanufo and Sunni Brown

Rituals for Virtual Meetings by Glenn Fajardo and Kursat Ozenc

What are the IAF Core Competencies?

A. Create Collaborative Client Relationships
B. Plan Appropriate Group Processes
C. Create and Sustain a Participatory Environment
D. Guide Group to Appropriate and Useful Outcomes
E. Build and Maintain Professional Knowledge
F. Model Positive Professional Attitude as a Process Facilitator

How does this certification compare to the IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator (CPF) designation?

The IAF CPF is an assessment-based certification that evaluates facilitators based on demonstrated competencies. In contrast, the Core Facilitation Certification is a rigorous learning experience that provides structured education, real-world facilitation practice, and coaching from experienced facilitators. It is an excellent fit for those looking to build their facilitation expertise and confidence before pursuing an assessment-based credential like the CPF. Many graduates of our program successfully apply their learning toward IAF’s CPF process, leveraging the certification to strengthen their facilitation portfolio and prepare for formal assessments.

What is the market value of this certification? How have past graduates benefited from it?

Graduates of the Core Facilitation Certification have used their skills to secure promotions, transition into facilitation roles, and strengthen their leadership capacity within their organizations. Many have leveraged the certification to differentiate themselves in hiring processes, enhance their consulting businesses, or gain internal recognition for their facilitation expertise. While the impact varies by individual, we have seen professionals across industries—from tech and healthcare to education and nonprofit leadership—use the certification to advance their careers and broaden their influence. You can explore testimonials from many of our alumni on our website, where they share how the certification has shaped their facilitation practice, career growth, and leadership journey.

How is this certification recognized by employers?

The Core Facilitation Certification is valued by organizations that prioritize effective collaboration, leadership, and facilitation. Companies across Fortune 500 firms, government agencies, nonprofits, and startups have sponsored employees to complete the program, recognizing the practical skills and strategic impact that facilitation expertise brings to their teams. Additionally, graduates receive a digital badge and printed certificate, which can be showcased on LinkedIn and in professional portfolios. While recognition varies by employer, we have seen organizations list this certification as a preferred or qualifying credential for facilitation-related roles.

What is your application review process?

We review each application holistically, looking for alignment with our program’s goals and values. Specifically, we assess your responses to understand your experience, your commitment to growth, and how clearly you’ve thought about where you’d like to develop as a facilitator. We also consider cohort balance, so if we receive a high number of applicants with similar backgrounds or goals, we may suggest deferring you to a future cohort to ensure a rich and diverse learning experience for everyone.

Listen to Our Latest Podcast

Voltage Control founder Douglas Ferguson hosts the Facilitation Lab Podcast. Listen in as he speaks with Voltage Control Certification Alumni and other facilitation experts about the remarkable impact they’re making.

Professional Facilitation Certification & Training

The Power of Facilitation Certification

Certification Program At a Glance

Facilitation Foundations

Facilitation Electives

Facilitation Capstone

Required Reading

Our Philosophy on AI & Facilitation

Who Should Apply

Executives & Team Leaders

Chiefs of Staff

Product Managers

Teachers & Trainers

Program & Project Managers

Consultants & Coaches

Scrum Masters

UX Designers/Researchers

Facilitation Training Schedule

Month One: Facilitation Foundations

Month Two: Facilitation Electives

Month Three: Facilitation Capstone

Upcoming Cohorts

Students Love Our Programs

Alumni Stories

Beyond The Basics

Building Confidence As A Global Catalyst

Unlock Lifetime Benefits with Our Facilitation Lab Community

Apply for Facilitation Certification Today

Admission Requirements

Talk to Admissions

Not quite ready to apply?

Apply for Facilitation Certification Today

Master future-proof facilitation skills and become an effective leader, delivered through a flexible online learning format.

Not quite ready to apply?

Apply for the Diversity Scholarship

Frequently Asked Questions

Listen to Our Latest Podcast

Ready to take your career to the next level?

Join our FREE Introduction to Facilitation workshop to learn collaborative leadership skills!

Visit our events page to see all available times

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