Leadership Trainer is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Master Trainer Certification Program

Online Experience

Online. Hands-on. Actionable. Impactful.

A one-of-a-kind trainer preparation experience that will enable you to consistently facilitate high-impact, high-engagement, and high-enjoyment trainings.

A path to becoming a Certified Master Trainer structured for 100% virtual participation from the comforts of your home or office!

Upcoming Programs

Winter 2026 Online Certification Program

DATES:

January 8 - March 5, 2026

TUITION:

$900 - $2,200*

*Please see our financial model for tuition options.

LOCATION:

100% Online

The Online Experience for Leadership Trainer's Certification Program is an 8-week program:

Two 2-hour sessions during five "Content" weeks, a 3-hour Saturday Enrichment Virtual Retreat, two weeks for our "Practice Lab," and the Master Trainer Certification Exam.

Schedule, Financial Options, and Program Details below.

Online Experience Schedule

WEEK 1: Jan 20th & Jan 22nd

Session #1: Tuesday, January 20th (12:30pm - 3:30pm, ET | 9:30am - 12:30pm, PT)

Welcome Virtual Retreat for Community Building and Exploring the Foundational Training Practices of Experiential Learning and Reflective Dialogue

Session #2: Thursday, January 22nd (12:30pm - 2:30pm, ET | 9:30am - 11:30am, PT)

Exploring Ourselves and Trainer Positionality...and Engaging with Mentoring Groups

WEEK 2: Jan 27th & Jan 29th

Session #3: Tuesday, January 27th (12:30pm - 2:30pm, ET | 9:30am - 11:30am, PT)

Values Exploration and a Leadership Development Deep Dive Session

Session #4: Thursday, January 29th (12:30pm - 2:30pm, ET | 9:30am - 11:30am, PT)

Training Story (Apex) to Focus on Facilitating Experiential Learning...and Engaging with Mentoring Groups

WEEK 3: Feb 3rd & Feb 5th

Session #5: Tuesday, February 3rd (12:30pm - 2:30pm, ET | 9:30am - 11:30am, PT)

Training Story (Falling Action) to Focus on Hosting Reflective Dialogue...and a Leadership Development Deep Dive Session

Session #6: Thursday, February 5th (12:30pm - 2:30pm, ET | 9:30am - 11:30am, PT)

Training Lab Preparation...and Engaging with Mentoring Groups

Saturday Enrichment Session: Feb 7th

Session #7: Saturday, February 7th (12:30pm - 3:30pm, eastern | 9:30am - 12:30pm, pacific)

Training Story (Rising Action) to Focus on Sharing a Compelling Training Message, a Leadership Development Deep Dive Session, and an Opportunity to Explore the Intersections of Trainer Identities

WEEK 4: Training Lab (w/o Feb 9th)

Participants will Facilitate an Experiential Activity and Host Reflective Dialogue in their Home Communities and then Upload it to be Reviewed by our Community.

WEEK 5: Training Lab Review (w/o Feb 16th)

Participants will Review the Posted Videos and Offer Celebrations, Healthy Critique, Reflections, Advice, and Questions to Support Learning and Growth.

WEEK 6: Feb 24th & Feb 26th

Session #8: Tuesday, February 24th (12:30pm - 2:30pm, eastern | 9:30am - 11:30am, pacific)

Training Story (Exposition) to Focus on Introducing High-Impact Trainings as well as Reflections from and Processing the Training Lab Learning.

Session #9: Thursday, February 26th (12:30pm - 2:30pm, eastern | 9:30am - 11:30am, pacific)

Training Story (Resolution) to Focus on Concluding a High-Impact Training...and Engaging with Mentoring Groups

WEEK 7: Mar 3rd & Mar 5th

Session #10: Tuesday, March 3rd (12:30pm - 2:30pm, eastern | 9:30am - 11:30am, pacific)

Critical Approaches to Training to Ensure our Training Environments and Experiences are Spaces of Belonging for All Participants

Session #11: Thursday, March 5th (12:30pm - 2:30pm, eastern | 9:30am - 11:30am, pacific)

Our Conclusionary session with an Emphasis on Becoming a Master Trainer as well as a final Mentoring Group Engagement

WEEK 8: Certification Exam (w/o Mar 9th)

Participants will Facilitate a Training in their Home Communities that Utilizes All Components of the 'Training Story' Method and Promising Practices OR they Can Attend a Leadership Summit (Conference) Scheduled for that Week to Facilitate a Live Training.

Our Very-Friendly Financial Model

The Leadership Trainer Certification Program standard tuition is $2,200.

However, we understand that this amount may be cost-exclusive for many of our participants.

We have created an exciting, friendly financial structure that includes reduced rates based upon participant location and type of work/organizational affiliation:

$900

Global South
NGO, Nonprofit,
& University
Participants Global North
Nonprofit
Participants Global North
University
Participants Global South
Corporate
Participants Global North
Corporate
Participants

Global South NGO/Nonprofit/University Participants

* Cost of the Certification Program does not include the Certification Exam fee. The Certification Exam fee is a one-time fee for a lifetime Master Certification. The Exam fee is $418 when paid at the time of the Certification Program registration or $554 at the time of the Certification Exam (if not taking place during Week #8 of the Online Certification Program.

** Scholarships are available. Contact Leadership Trainer Executive Director, Jonathan Kroll for information on how to secure a Scholarship.

*** If you are participating from the Global South or a Global North Nonprofit, NGO, or University, please contact Leadership Trainer Executive Director, Jonathan Kroll about how to register with those reduced registration tuitions.

What's Included in all of Leadership Trainer's Certification Programs:

Curated Curriculum

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This is the most comprehensive trainer preparation experience on the market! We intentionally curate this high-impact one-of-a-kind train-the-trainer curriculum to meet your facilitation goals, training up-skill desires, identity exploration needs, and leadership development objectives for each and every Master Trainer Certification Program.

Master Trainers

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We are Master Trainers and expert facilitators. For every Certification Program each Master Trainer is specially-selected to support your learning and skills development.

Our team understands how to create spaces of belonging where all participants can access the training message, internalize learning, and then apply that learning to their own practice. More, we know how to train you to consistently facilitate high-impact, high-engagement, and high-enjoyment trainings.

Engaged Learning

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The Certification Program is a hands-on learning experience! We learn by doing. We have intentionally crafted this experience to provide you with ample opportunities to actually facilitate experiential learning activities and host reflective dialogue. Moreover, you receive celebrations and healthy critique to strengthen your skills.

Connected Community

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Like all great professional development experiences, this program is an opportunity to cultivate meaningful and nourishing relationships! By participating in the Certification Program, you will expand your network to include exceptional trainers who are passionate about facilitating amazing and impactful training experiences consistently.

Scholarships & Grants

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Our 'friendly financial model' makes it easy for you to say, "yes!" With our all-inclusive prices, our Certification Programs provide you with the highest-quality product at the best rate. And for those who need added financial support, we offer scholarships! Following the Certification Program, those who become Certified Master Trainers are eligible for grants to support their training experiences.

Online Resources Hub

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In addition to your hands-on learning, you will have access to an incredible Community Hub that includes an online library of resources. You'll have access to videos (almost 4 hours of content), downloadable worksheets, and more. Our Community Hub becomes a training and facilitation headquarters for you to access all of the resources and benefits of the Certification Program.

Year-Round Engagement

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The Certification Program experience is just the beginning! We offer year-round opportunities for you to enhance your training skills and development - and stay connected to our amazing community. This includes live experiences through Jam Sessions and our Community of Practice, digital engagement through social media, and gatherings at conferences and events.

Leadership-Training Coaching

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Certification Program participants receive two training-coaching sessions to best prepare you to become a Certified Master Trainer. These sessions are designed to ensure you will shine while delivering an exceptional Certification Exam and any other training experiences you facilitate.

Program Manual

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You will receive the award-winning Preparing Leadership Educators book - written by Leadership Trainer's Executive Director. This incredible resource serves as our go-to training manual. The book includes our 'Training Story' methodology, instructions on how to facilitate 45+ activities, overviews of leadership theories and practices, and more!

Lead Master Trainers

Jonathan Kroll

Founder & Executive Director

Leadership Trainer

Mara Schaffler

Manager, Student Experience

Simon Fraser University

Mentoring Master Trainers

Austin Lensch

Asst. Director of Student Leadership
University of Texas at Austin

Cassandra (Casey) Gonzalez

Director of Student Engagement

Drew University

DJ Kelly-Quattrocchi

Founder & CEO

KQ Consulting & Training

Dorsey Spencer Jr.

Assoc. Director, Triandiflou Institute for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Transformative Practice

State University of New York, Oswego

Our proven Master Trainer preparation experience is guided by 5 objectives:

1. Prepare you to consistently facilitate high-impact, high-engagement, and high-enjoyment trainings rooted in dynamic, culturally relevant, and learning-oriented facilitation techniques - specifically experiential activities and reflective dialogue.

2. Engage you in purposeful self-reflection and identity exploration.

3. Cultivate a community of exceptional trainers and facilitators.

4. Provide practical opportunities to advance your leadership practice.

5. Begin the process of you becoming a Certified Master Trainer.

By effectively completing Leadership Trainer's Certification Program, you will become a knowledgeable, skilled, and dynamic Certified Master Trainer - one who can facilitate diverse training experiences in which your participants can access the training message and material, internalize their learning, and then apply that learning to their own practice.

Core Curriculum

The Core Curriculum of the Leadership Trainer Master Certification Program is divided into four key segments: Training and Facilitation Skills, Identity Exploration, Leadership Development, and Community Engagement. Explore the four segments of our Core Curriculum below:

Training & Facilitation Skills

Learn our proven method and framework - the "Training Story" methodology - to design and facilitate consistently high-impact, high-engagement, and high-enjoyment trainings.
Enhance your training skills through hands-on practice and direct, individualized feedback from Master Trainers.

Identity Exploration

Explore your values, authentic trainer presence, and abilities to meet dynamic and diverse participants where they are at.
Learn how to intentionally create spaces of belonging so that all participants are empowered to learn and then apply that learning to their practice - where it matters most.

Leadership Development

Expand your own leadership skills and capacity to be more effective in your work, organization, and communities.
In addition to these curated leadership development themes, utilize these sessions to model the "Training Story" framework to participate in, observe, reflect upon, and practice this high-impact method.

Community Engagement

Engage in a nurturing and nourishing environment with like-minded aspiring Master Trainers who are committed to transforming the leadership landscape through trainer preparation and skill enhancement.
Participate in group mentoring experiences where you receive support and healthy challenges to enhance your training practice and prowess.

What our Participants Have to Say

Over the years, more than 250 participants have completed the Leadership Trainer Certification Program, with 86% rating it a 4- or 5-star experience. Our most recent three cohorts exceeded even that, with over 91% awarding the program top marks. Participants consistently tell us they value not just the experience, but the practical tactics and techniques they immediately apply in their work. Learn about the Certification Program from the lens of our participants:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Thank you for changing my reality about how I am approaching my trainings.

Senior Learning and Development Specialist, Keck Medicine of USC

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

It was transformative and eye opening. Created an inclusive environment for learning and development.

Director of Student Life and Engagement, University of the Virgin Island,

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Jonathan approached the group with sincerity and knowledge. Our session was a great mix of activities and reflective work.

Assistant Director for Programming & Outreach, University of Texas @ Austin

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Jonathan's training was learner centric, engaging, highly applicable and works for professionals at many levels in their tenure. I was thoroughly impressed, even after seeing so many facilitators over the week.

Curriculum Specialist, L.E.K. Consulting