Best Negotiation Training Courses

Negotiation is a delicate art. Push too hard, and you could walk away without a deal. But if you don’t advocate for your interests effectively, you’ll never get what you want. Finding a middle ground can be difficult without the best negotiation training — especially when your counterparts possess the knowledge and skills you may lack.

Taking an online negotiation course may be what it takes for you to move forward. The experts who lead the training often have spent their entire professional lives practicing the art of negotiation. In addition, these courses generally can fit around existing obligations — making them realistic for full-time workers.

Best Negotiation Courses To Take

The right negotiation training for your needs can vary based on professional goals. Explore these options to take the next step in your career.

1. Karrass – Effective Negotiating

Short Description: An efficient two-day negotiations seminar with frequent opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, available online and in person. Over the last 50 years, The Fortune 500 has spent $400 million putting employees through KARRASS's negotiating seminars.
Key Differentiators: Teaches core negotiating skills in a single weekend and provides a comprehensive set of take-home materials for topics not covered during the initial seminar.
Price: $1,311 - $1,489, depending on the session attended. KARRASS also offers a follow-up online course for as low as $734.
Course Length: Two full days of in-person or virtual instruction.

2. High-Performance Negotiation Skills (Northwestern Kellogg School of Management)

Short Description: Led by senior Kellogg School faculty, this virtual course will help you identify your personal negotiating strengths and weaknesses with one-on-one and team-based lessons and exercises.
Key Differentiators: This course teaches how to negotiate individually and as part of a team. It offers challenging simulations and constructive feedback based on the Northwestern curriculum.
Price: $5,850
Course Length: Five days of live virtual learning sessions.

3. Negotiation Mastery (Harvard University)

Short Description: This Harvard-led course offers a Certificate of Completion to boost your resume. The self-paced virtual class emphasizes both analytical tools and interpersonal techniques for dealing with different bargaining styles and tactics.
Key Differentiators: Learn with peer feedback, negotiation simulations, and a capstone assignment. Those who complete the course gain access to exclusive networking opportunities through HBS Online.
Price: $1,850
Course Length: Eight weeks of self-paced work with regular deadlines. Most learners spend 4-5 hours on the course weekly.

4. Negotiation and Influence Program (UC Berkeley)

Short Description: An intensive program led by world-renowned faculty from UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, this course also provides a certificate of completion and access to a robust alumni community.
Key Differentiators: This communication-intensive program offers exclusive networking opportunities with peers and faculty at UC Berkeley. It teaches how to remove emotions from the negotiating process and maximize satisfaction in every deal.
Price: $5,040
Course Length: Three full days of study at the Haas School of Business.

5. Negotiation Strategies: Creating and Maximizing Value (Columbia Business School)

Short Description: Study the art of negotiation in the deal capital of the world with Columbia professors who have real-world experience across diverse industries and negotiation formats.
Key Differentiators: Learn how to read client concerns, settle internal conflict, and influence results as part of a group-based negotiation team. The course also explores the impact that cultural differences can play in negotiations.
Price: $7,950
Course Length: Three days at Columbia’s Manhattanville Campus in New York City.

6. Business Negotiation Skills: A Strategic Negotiation Course (Duke University)

Short Description: This course from Duke University offers interactive learning opportunities, personalized feedback from skilled practitioners, and high-level networking opportunities while instructing in the art of negotiation.
Key Differentiators: Takes learners from the fundamentals of negotiation through advanced tactics in influence and persuasion in an efficient three-day program.
Price: $6,900 ($4,485 for those who register far enough in advance)
Course Length: Three days of in-person lessons and practices.

7. Chris Voss Teaches the Art of Negotiation (MasterClass)

Short Description: Led by a former FBI hostage negotiator, this virtual, self-paced course focuses on high-pressure negotiation strategies and empathetic communication techniques.
Key Differentiators: Learn aspects of negotiating often overlooked in other courses, including how to use behavioral science to read others and tactics for refining your diction for more effective delivery.
Price: Starting at $120. Your subscription to MasterClass will also give you access to additional courses led by experts in other fields.
Course Length: Three hours of content spread across 18 video lessons.

8. Introduction to Negotiation: A Strategic Playbook (Yale University on Coursera)

Short Description: Developed by Yale University, this 9-module course teaches a framework for analyzing and shaping negotiations. It also offers personalized feedback and opportunities for negotiating with other students.
Key Differentiators: This is a robust negotiation course you can complete online, at your own pace, without paying a dime.
Price: Free to complete; $49 to earn a certification you can share
Course Length: Learn at your own pace. The average participant takes 33 hours to complete the course.

9. Negotiation Strategies: Optimizing Outcomes Through Collaboration and Conflict Resolution (NYU)

Short Description: Designed for professionals with 5+ years of working experience, this three-day course teaches you how to capitalize on the strengths of your individual negotiating style.
Key Differentiators: Experienced professors at Stern Business School teach the course, which also provides networking opportunities with other NYC-area professionals. It awards a certificate of achievement from NYU upon completion.
Price: $5,400 regularly, $4,752 if you register early enough.
Course Length: Three days of in-person instruction.

10. Procurement Negotiation (Rutgers University)

Short Description: A beginner’s level online course that teaches how to recognize and respond to the positions and interests of diverse parties.
Key Differentiators: More than many other courses, this free-to-enroll class covers the key steps to follow after negotiations end. In addition, it highlights various tools and technologies that can improve your negotiation process.
Price: Free to enroll; $49 to earn a certification you can share
Course Length: Self-paced negotiations training; most learners take around eight hours to complete the course.

11. Mastering Negotiation and Influence (MIT Sloan School of Management)

Short Description: A self-paced course from one of the most recognizable brands in education. You’ll learn through interactive practice assignments, discussion forums, and lectures from industry experts.
Key Differentiators: Earn a certificate of completion from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Enrollment also includes access to a Success Advisor, who will help you manage your time and give support for administrative and technical concerns.
Price: $3,200
Course Length: Self-paced, online (most participants finish in 10 weeks).

12. Strategic Sales Negotiations (American Management Association)

Short Description: A two-day course designed specifically for sales professionals. This class teaches you how to influence a buyer’s perception of cost, value, and benefits.
Key Differentiators: Available online and in person. You’ll earn credits for completing the class that can apply toward certifications from the American Management Association.
Price: $2,245 for AMA members; $2,495 for non-members.
Course Length: Two days of live instruction delivered online or in person.

13. Advanced Negotiation Strategies for Lawyers (State Bar of Arizona)

Short Description: An advanced negotiation seminar for lawyers that teaches how to avoid divulging strategic information and counter objective negotiation standards.
Key Differentiators: The class is designed specifically for attorneys and provides two credits of continuing legal education (CLE).
Price: $145.00
Course Length: Two hours of on-demand content.

14. Real Estate Negotiation Expert (National Association of REALTORS)

Short Description: A certification program that teaches realtors how to negotiate with diverse personalities and resolve behind-the-scene transaction issues.
Key Differentiators: Offered online and in person, this class helps realtors become more skillful advocates for their clients. You’ll also earn a certification you can share to advance your career.
Price: Varies by provider but includes a one-time application fee of $159.
Course Length: Two days of classwork online or in person.

15. Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills (University of Michigan on Coursera)

Short Description: A beginner-level course that focuses on foundational skills in negotiation. This class also provides assignments to practice your negotiation skills and learn where you can improve.
Key Differentiators: You don't need any prior negotiating experience, and the course uses psychological tools and decision trees to simplify the learning process.
Price: Free to enroll; $49 for a certification you can share.
Course Length: Self-paced, but most learners spend 17 hours on the material.

16. Negotiation, Meditation, and Conflict Resolution Specialization (ESSEC Business School)

Short Description: Self-paced negotiations training with an emphasis on conflict resolution. The class is taught by experienced negotiation professionals and is part of a broader four-part series.
Key Differentiators: Designed for beginners, this negotiation class is available in over 22 languages. You also have the option of paying for a certification of completion from ESSEC Business School.
Price: Free to enroll; $49 for a certification you can share.
Course Length: Self-paced, but guidelines recommend 10 hours per week for a month.

How To Choose the Best Negotiation Course for Your Career

Choosing the best negotiation class isn’t always an obvious process. If you’re unsure where to start, work through the following steps.

1. Define Your Professional and Industry Needs

Your industry and professional goals can impact the best negotiation training for you. For example, if you’re a lawyer, taking a course for practicing attorneys would likely be more useful than a generalist class, teaching you tactics more directly relevant to your career.

Your choice could also hinge on whether you’re searching for a new job. You may prioritize courses that offer certifications you can add to your resume.

2. Prioritize Courses with Practical Applications

Decades of evidence show that students learn more when they actively participate in their learning process. That makes it worth prioritizing courses that offer simulations, role-plays, and real-world case studies. These help you develop practical skills by letting you put what you learn to use immediately. Plus, you’ll receive expert feedback in a safe setting that won’t impact your career.

You should also know that active learning increases retention. If you want more of what you study to stay with you, practical applications are a must.

3. Consider Certification and Career Advancement Opportunities

According to research, 80% of HR professionals at medium and large companies rely on certifications in the hiring process. So if you’re looking for a new job that involves negotiating, a certification helps you stand out.

Earning a certification from a well-known university like Northwestern or Harvard can be especially helpful. It’s a way to show that you’re actively working on upskilling at a high level.

4. Compare Course Formats (In-Person vs. Virtual)

There are pros and cons to in-person and virtual negotiation courses, which can be of different value to every learner. For example, virtual courses are more flexible but may not offer as many opportunities to practice what you learn in realistic negotiation settings.

In-person courses may be more challenging to fit into your schedule. However, they often provide more opportunities for practical learning. Plus, you can more easily meet other professionals in your area and industry to expand your network.

5. Look for Post-Course Support and Resources

Some courses provide ongoing value with alumni networks, mentoring opportunities, and continuing access to materials. These are great for helping you continue learning and growing, even after the course you paid for ends.

Bonus Tips To Improve Your Negotiation Skills

Negotiation seminars can improve your core skills quickly, but they’re not the end of the road. Here are some additional tips for improving your abilities after negotiation certification.

1. Practice Regularly

It’s one thing to learn the strategies of expert negotiators and another to integrate them into your daily work. Repetition through practice is the key to mastering techniques learned during training in negotiation skills.

You can practice in personal and professional settings. Try to implement what your course taught you whenever you enter a negotiation. Afterward, reflect on what you could have done better to get into a continuous improvement mindset.

It may be helpful to journal about your negotiating experiences. The act of writing things down forces you to reflect and gives you a record you can look back on to track your improvements over time.

2. Leverage Books and Podcasts

Even the best courses on negotiation don't cover everything — there’s just too much to learn. Books and podcasts can fill in the gaps, expanding your knowledge beyond what you studied in class.

For example, emotional intelligence is an important part of choosing the right negotiation tactics. But it may only be a minor part of your class. Learn more about the topic by reading and listening to podcasts.

3. Join Negotiation Communities

Online communities such as professional and industry-focused forums can also accelerate your learning progress. Experts and learners gather in these places to discuss and study the art of negotiation. You can use sites like Reddit’s r/Negotiation to ask questions, gain insights from peers, and get feedback on your real-world negotiation experiences.

Final Thoughts: Take Action To Become a Master Negotiator

Becoming a more effective negotiator is an excellent way to take the next step in your career. Mastering negotiation fundamentals can also help you get more out of situations in your personal life.

The best negotiation training class will depend on your goals. Whether that means earning a certification you can share or finding a self-paced way to learn from experts, you now have all of the information you need to get started.