The Center For Appreciative Inquiry

Virtual Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (vAIFT)
2026-09-14 09:00 - 2026-09-24 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | CAI Online Learning Platform
FACILITATE POSITIVE CHANGE USING APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is an energizing and inclusive process that fosters creativity through the art of positive inquiry. It builds new skills in individuals and groups, develops new leaders, encourages a culture of inquiry, and helps create shared vision and purpose by building on an organization’s core values and strengths. The Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (AIFT) is a foundational program designed to teach you how to facilitate the type of transformative change made possible through Appreciative Inquiry. In addition to introducing the basic tenets of Appreciative Inquiry (e.g., principles, 5-Ds, and theory), the AIFT delves deeper by providing experiential exercises that will teach you how to work with core teams, define a topic of inquiry, craft generative questions, field test interview protocols, establish action items, and more.
DESIGNED FOR:
Leaders in businesses and corporations, community development, educational organizations, governmental organizations, and nonprofit organizations–in short, anyone who wants to learn how to facilitate Appreciative Inquiry.
TRAINING SEGMENTS:

The AIFT consists of eight (8) modules within the four training segments. Each segment consists of modules containing exercises, readings, and discussions.
DEFINE AI AND BUILD COMMUNITY
Learning Outcomes:

Build community collaboratively in order to function in a strong learning community.

Reflect on how you will build community in the future as an AI facilitator.

Define appreciative inquiry.

Develop a common understanding what appreciative inquiry is and how it is applied.

EXPERIENCE APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY
Learning Outcomes:

Experience the five generic processes of appreciative inquiry as they apply to designing your learning within the AIFT.

UNCOVER THE POWER OF APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY
Learning Outcomes:

Identify and ingrate key theory components of appreciative inquiry to support your foundations as an AI facilitator.

CREATE TOPICS OF INQUIRY AND INTERVIEW GUIDES
Learning Outcomes:

Identify an affirmative topic for an inquiry and modify the generic interview guide.

Reflect on facilitator considerations.

KEY AI FACILITATION CONSIDERATIONS
Learning Outcomes:

Assess and integrate key appreciative inquiry facilitation considerations.

Learn about Core Teams and their role in the AI Process.

Learn various forms of AI engagement.

GROUND APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY IN EVIDENCE
Learning Outcomes:

Discover the research and evidence that underpins the work of appreciative inquiry and integrate these ideas into your facilitation toolkit.

LIVE AND FACILITATE APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY
Learning Outcomes:

Integrate facilitator skills and knowledge and seek to clarify how you will process as an AI facilitator.

Learn about the four clusters of competencies in developing emotional and social intelligence.

Create a personal action plan around the topic of “being your best as a facilitator”.

GROUND APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY IN EVIDENCE
Learning Outcomes:

Learn about the requirements needed to earn your Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Certification from The Center for Appreciative Inquiry.

Utilize a checklist for designing and facilitating systems change.

AIFT SCHEDULE:

The Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (AIFT©) is an intensive certification program consisting of 26 hours of synchronous (live sessions hosted through Zoom) and asynchronous (assigned reading and activities outside of class time) learning over the course of 2 weeks. During the training, participants will meet four-days each week for two-hours to engage in a training session designed to guide them through the full range and depth of what it means to be an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator. Below are the dates and times for the synchronous portion for this training: WEEK 1: MONDAY September 14, 2026 9:00am-11:00am PT TUESDAY September 15, 2026 9:00am-11:00am PT WEDNESDAY September 16, 2026 9:00am-11:00am PT THURSDAY September 17, 2026 9:00am-11:00am PT WEEK 2: MONDAY September 21, 2026 9:00am-11:00am PT TUESDAY September 22, 2026 9:00am-11:00am PT WEDNESDAY September 23, 2026 9:00am-11:00am PT THURSDAY September 24, 2026 9:00am-11:00am PT
We start all synchronous sessions on time and work diligently to maintain the vAIFT schedule, honoring our commitment to the learning experience. We have found full participation to be the most productive for the participants and the trainers. Please note: all times listed above are Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). The synchronous portions of the vAIFT are highly experiential and will not be recorded. The vAIFT Trainers will be utilizing breakout rooms to develop community and trust amongst participants, conduct paired interviews, and engage in small group discussions and reflections.
ORIENTATION
To ensure that all participants are off to a strong start, we will host a LIVE ORIENTATION SESSION – Monday, August 31, 2026 at 9am Pacific Time. This session will include an overview of course timelines, learning objectives, and a walk-through of the online platform. It’s also a chance to connect with trainers and other participants. If you’re unable to attend, the session will be recorded.
ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK

The Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (person, virtual, or hybrid) utilizes the textbook, Appreciative Inquiry: Change at the Speed of Imagination (2nd Edition) by Jane Magruder Watkins, Bernard Mohr, and Ralph Kelly. This book is available in electronic or paperback versions. Please select the version that aligns with your learning style and preference. Click on the book cover image to learn more about the book and order your copy.
METHOD OF DELIVERY
Participants in this Appreciative Inquiry training program will receive login information to the Center for Appreciative Inquiry’s (CAI) online learning platform closer to the training date. We will open the online platform to participants prior to the start of the training. This allows participants time to navigate the software and become acquainted with the various features and tools it offers, introduce themselves to their trainers and other vAIFT participants, and access all pre-workshop reading and materials.
LETTER OF COMPLETION

To obtain a letter of completion (and to be eligible for consideration for AI Facilitator Certification) each participant must complete 26 training hours. Letters of completion include your name, date of your training, and number of classroom hours earned.
CERTIFICATION PROCESS:

REQUIREMENTS
In order to qualify for certification as an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator with The Center for Appreciative Inquiry, each participant must:

Actively participate in an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training (AIFT).

Design and facilitate an appreciative inquiry engagement for a team, organization, group, or community using the 5-D Appreciative Inquiry process. Your AIFT trainers serve as an advisor to you during your practicum – at no extra cost.

Complete and submit a practicum (narrative) for review. Practicums demonstrate your understanding and application of Appreciative Inquiry by sharing your facilitation experience, learnings, insights, and outcomes.

PRACTICUM REVIEW

Participants have up to one year from the date of their training to submit their practicum for review. All submitted practicums are reviewed by a panel of seasoned appreciative inquiry practitioners. At least one trainer from your AIFT will also be part of the panel that reviews your practicum. The Review Panel may contact you to engage in a conversation about your work once you have submitted your practicum. Typically, they will respond with questions, to deepen their and your shared understanding of AI. The practicum review is therefore a dialogical and interactive process.
WHAT’S INCLUDED

Once certified, your Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Certification lasts for 2 years and includes:

An Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Certification document for your records;

Permission to use of the Center for Appreciative Inquiry Certification logo to embed on your website or include in your email signature;

Exclusive access to content and events reserved only for certified AI Community Members.

A free profile listing on our Appreciative Inquiry Directory for the duration of your certification. Learn more about the benefits of our AI Directory here.
