Certification in Nonviolent Communication
Introduction to the Certification Process
The Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC) is committed to the vision of a critical mass of the world’s population using Nonviolent Communication (NVC) to resolve differences peacefully. A strong community of qualified trainers will play an important role in the realization of this goal.
The CNVC has two long-term goals for the certification process:
- Create a community of trainers who want to work with CNVC to fulfill our vision.
- Ensure that the next generation and succeeding generations are taught NVC in a way that preserves and protects the integrity of the NVC process.
The certification process can support trainer candidates to reach the following goals: connection to CNVC, contribution to our vision, credibility, mutual support, and personal growth.
We want to emphasize that the CNVC has a unique perspective in offering certification, and that may be different from the assumptions some candidates start with. For the CNVC, certification is a validation and celebration of a new colleague joining our community. It is not a permanent credential like a diploma, but needs be renewed each year to remain in effect. In essence, it is an annual renewal of your commitment to the organization.
The Certification Philosophy: “Power With,” not “Power Over”
The CNVC brings a unique perspective to trainers who want to become CNVC Certified Trainers. You will find this process quite different from most traditional training programs. The certification team members who support trainer candidates on their journeys toward certification are called “assessors.” They create a partnership with a candidate — what we call a “power with” process, rather than domination or “power over.” This paradigm shift allows assessors to carry out their roles in a spirit of shared respect and shared power. When you enter the certification process, we invite you to the challenge of experiencing this shift.
Your Commitment: By the time you become a CNVC Certified Trainer, you will have acquired:
- A strong grounding in NVC consciousness, demonstrated by your views of social change and NVC spirituality, and by participating in an NVC community.
- A deep understanding of the NVC process and proficient teaching skills, as well as a willingness to continue to grow in all these areas.
- At least one year of teaching NVC as a non-Certified Trainer, including leading workshops and practice groups, significant training experiences with at least three different CNVC Certified Trainers for guidance, at least fifty (50) days of NVC training over the course of three to five years, and training logs and personal NVC journals to help you chart your own progress and learning.
What’s Next? The path to CNVC certification includes six steps, in the following sequence:
- Pre-registration
- Registration
- Preparation for assessment (3-5 years)
- Core assessment
- Assessment
- Certification
The Certification Preparation Packet of materials is designed to support candidates in deepening their NVC consciousness, teaching skills, and understanding of NVC concepts. These materials are also designed to help candidates determine their own readiness for completing each phase.
Whether or not you decide to pursue CNVC certification, we hope that your enthusiasm for spreading and sharing NVC will continue. The “Guidelines for Sharing NVC for Individuals Who Are Not CNVC-Certified Trainers” is offered for your information. We request that you follow these guidelines, or use the contact form and choose Certification as the subject with your question and to request further information.
DOWNLOAD CERTIFICATION PREPARATION PACKET
We strongly recommend candidates to attend an IIT before becoming certified, but we are no longer in integrity with having a “requirement” in the CPP. So we have come up with the following requests if a candidate does not attend an IIT before becoming certified:
- Multi-day, in-depth, residential training
- International NVC experience
- Areas fully experienced: NVC community (ongoing peer support), spirituality, and social change
- Significant NVC experience with multiple CNVC Certified Trainers and mentors
- Established a connection to CNVC, have a clear priority to support CNVC's mission, willing and able to renew annual certification
If a candidate cannot participate in an IIT before certification, she or he pays for the first IIT as a Certified Trainer.
We recognize that applying for certification is a serious commitment. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss your interest with one of our training staff, please contact Certification.
CNVC Educational Services Team
The CNVC Educational Services Team is an international working group, composed of CNVC assessors, the CCC (Certification Coordinator Council) and office-support personnel. The CNVC assessors have all completed additional training and apprentice processes, and connect monthly through team calls. They are responsible for receiving requests for registration as a certification candidate, mutually supporting candidates through the certification process, and providing assessments leading to mutual agreement and certification.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE
We recognize that applying for certification is a serious commitment.
What is with giraffes and NVC?
Of all land animals, giraffes have the biggest hearts; measuring up to two feet long and weighing about 21 pounds. In NVC it symbolizes the intention and capacity to recieve and speak with compassion and empathy—a big heart!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the Certification Process:
You are recognized as a Certified Trainer with CNVC when you complete the certification program as designed in the certification preparation packet (CPP) in dialogue with your assessor; you can download the CPP (found here). Reading the CPP document will allow you to gauge your own willingness and ability to commit to becoming a CNVC Certified Trainer. Certified Trainers join a global community of partners supporting a common vision and mission with CNVC.
he certification process is comparable to a 3-to-5 year journey. It entails a more structured track towards pre-assessment and a more personalized path toward certification.. Some people complete the process in less time, while others may take more time. It is a highly individualized process, as there are many variables involved. Fundamentally it is a path that involves acquisition of leadership skills and an embodiment of a consciousness from separation to interdependence, from powerlessness to self responsibility.
The first step to starting the certification path is to attend at least 20 days of training with Certified Trainers; please note that some assessors ask for more than 20 days, so we encourage you to contact more than one assessor to check with them the numbers of training they ask for to register you as a candidate.
We invite you to visit the events and trainings page: cnvc.org/events. Reach out to individual trainers in your region, or who you are drawn to learn from.
Yes, the certification program operates through our team of CNVC Assessors. Please note that your assessor does not need to be in the same geographical area as yourself. Many of our assessors work with candidates in different regions and countries. While you are welcome to facilitate the spreading of NVC as an an independent trainer, the affiliation with CNVC goes through a process facilitated by CNVC recognized assessors who are trained to serve in that role.
The previous training before being registered as a candidate would be counted as long as they meet the following criteria:
- The trainings were provided by CNVC Certified Trainers.
- The trainings were interactive and participatory.
- The trainings offered opportunities for giving and receiving feedback.
- You provide specific records from the trainings including name of trainer, date, exact hour(s) of training, topic, site.
- For each training experience, a written summary of the main points learned: 1- 2 paragraphs.
Most of the assessors have their contact information on their profiles. Please click here to see all our current assessors.
You can change your Assessor after registering as a certification candidate with agreement from both your current Assessor and new Assessor. Learning to operate from a paradigm of partnership is the heart of this journey. Dialogue even when disconnections are present are attempts to find one another’s humanity in the midst of conflict.
The certification journey entails a partnership with your assessor as well as engaging in offering and receiving NVC trainings. The financial investment for this journey differs depending on a variety of circumstances. Variables are linked to where you are in the world, whom you are training with, your creativity and in accessing resources. Given the disparities in financial stability, a dialogue with the assessors team can support attending to the needs linked to the specific circumstances.
The Center for Nonviolent Communication has a unique perspective in offering certification — certification is a validation and celebration of a new colleague joining the CNVC community. It is not a permanent credential like a diploma, but needs to be renewed each year to stay in effect. In essence, it is an annual renewal of your commitment to the organization.
Typically, the two annual requirements to remain active as a Certified Trainer are:
- Fill out our Annual Trainer Survey to report on your activities in the past year; and
- Make an Annual Trainer Contribution to financially support the organization.
In addition, each time CNVC updates the Trainer Agreement, we will also ask you to sign the new version so in some years, this will be a third requirement.
