Matt Whittle has experience writing and editing accessible education-related content in health, technology, nursing and business subjects. His work has been featured on Sleep.org, Psychology.org and NurseJournal.org.
Matt Whittle Education WriterMatt Whittle has experience writing and editing accessible education-related content in health, technology, nursing and business subjects. His work has been featured on Sleep.org, Psychology.org and NurseJournal.org.
Written By Matt Whittle Education WriterMatt Whittle has experience writing and editing accessible education-related content in health, technology, nursing and business subjects. His work has been featured on Sleep.org, Psychology.org and NurseJournal.org.
Matt Whittle Education WriterMatt Whittle has experience writing and editing accessible education-related content in health, technology, nursing and business subjects. His work has been featured on Sleep.org, Psychology.org and NurseJournal.org.
Education Writer Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Updated: Mar 28, 2024, 12:15pm
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Getty
Anger is a natural emotion, and we all must develop tools to understand and express it. Some people struggle to manage and communicate anger alongside other emotions. When anger dominates someone’s personal or professional life, they can benefit from counseling through anger management classes.
Anger management courses offer insight into the root causes of these difficult feelings. They also guide participants on how to control negative effects and ways to recognize destructive anger before it results in harassment, violence or self-harm. Some providers offer free online anger management classes with certificates of completion.
Depending on your reason for attending anger management courses, you may need a certificate to demonstrate that you have completed a certain amount of hours to employers, family members or court systems.
This guide covers details on several free anger management courses. Explore information like typical program length, types of classes and various reasons for taking these courses.
Forbes Advisor’s education editors are committed to producing unbiased rankings and informative articles covering online colleges, tech bootcamps and career paths. Our ranking methodologies use data from the National Center for Education Statistics, education providers, and reputable educational and professional organizations. An advisory board of educators and other subject matter experts reviews and verifies our content to bring you trustworthy, up-to-date information. Advertisers do not influence our rankings or editorial content.
People earn anger management certificates for reasons including employer requirements, court orders and self-improvement. Attending classes can be beneficial if your anger has negatively affected your personal or professional life, regardless of legal stipulations.
Anger can also worsen your physical and mental health. Some people internalize anger, while others express it directly and indirectly toward others. Taking anger management courses as a means of personal development can benefit yourself and your relationships.
Under circumstances involving workplace disputes or instances where your anger is worsening morale or productivity, your human resources department may mandate anger management classes. By completing these courses, you demonstrate to your employer that you have reflected on your actions and improved your emotional well-being.
Similarly, following crimes such as destruction of property, battery or threatening behavior, a court may require you to attend anger management courses. The legal system may also require you to complete these classes for parole purposes.
If you’re looking to complete an anger management course for free, check out the below programs. Note that while all of these courses are free, their certificates may not be.
Program Length: One and a half to three hours
Certificate Overview: The online course delivery platform Alison offers this Skill Tutor course that uses meditation, breathing and other mindfulness techniques to control anger and other potentially harmful emotions. The program uses two modules and an assessment to deliver a certificate of completion. In the first module, you focus on interpersonal skills and general mindfulness techniques.
After understanding mindfulness, you can apply your knowledge to mitigate anger and convert negative feelings into acceptance. Alison charges $22 for a digital certificate and $31 for a printed certificate.
Certificate Title: Dealing With Workplace Conflict
Program Length: 3-4 hours
Certificate Overview: CourseFlix publishes this professionally minded anger management course on Alison. The sequence includes two modules and a final assessment exploring conflict in professional environments. Students focus on communication and understanding perspectives in module one before advancing to conflict resolution in module two. This section offers ways to recognize aggression in yourself and improve workplace relationships.
Though the program is free, Alison offers paid tiers to remove ads and receive discounts on certificates—for digital certificates, you’ll pay $22 and a printed certificate costs $31.
Program Length: 3-4 hours
Certificate Overview: Alison offers this three-module course with an assessment to deliver a certificate. The first module asks individuals to identify internal triggers and causes for anger. Next, attendees focus on recognizing their anger and communicating reasonably in personal and professional scenarios.
The third module views anger through a biological lens, exploring issues like substance abuse and its effects on mental health. The program culminates in an assessment, and attendees receive a certificate of completion.
A digital certificate costs $22, and a printed certificate is $31.
Program Length: 200 hours
Certificate Overview: Oxford Home Study Centre (OHSC) offers a self-paced certificate in anger management. The course starts by defining anger and how it affects our mental processes before advancing to conflicts in the workplace. Students develop their communication skills to better navigate their anger personally and with others.
Though attending this online course carries no charge, OHSC requires payment for certificates of completion: $12.60 for a digital certificate and $31.65 for a printed document.
Program Length: 8 hours
Certificate Overview: Offered by New Hope for Anger and Domestic Violence, this free anger management course offers a certificate of completion for $25. It uses eight lessons and requires an assessment after each lesson to advance. Topics include complex anger patterns, different styles of anger and the physical effects of anger. The program provides a full refund if the certificate does not fulfill court-ordered requirements.
Program Length: 16 weeks
Certificate Overview: India-based Swayam takes an overall wellness approach to its online anger management class. In addition to general management techniques and an exploration of the neurobiology of anger, this program applies a yogic perspective through breathing exercises and other meditative techniques.
Like other free online anger management courses with certificates, students attend at no cost but must pay a fee to receive their certificates.
Yes—local partners of national mental health organizations may provide free, in-person anger management services. Some online anger management courses allow you to view videos and resources for free but require a fee to receive a certificate of completion. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers a free anger management course online and through an app for anyone struggling with anger, though the program does not provide a certificate.
To ensure the legitimacy of an online anger course, check if it meets standards for legal or employer needs. You can contact providers to see if they fulfill court-ordered requirements or check for accreditation from Continuing Professional Development, a British company that assesses the integrity of online and in-person courses.
The length of an anger management class varies significantly. If it is a court-ordered requirement, the legal system will specify the program length, which can span eight to 26 weeks or even a year. Online anger management classes may be as short as four hours in a single session, though these programs are likely more for self-improvement than meeting legal requirements.
You can manage your anger for free by researching common stressors and ways to control your emotions. Of course, this is easier said than done. Aim for improvement, not perfection, and use your positive results for motivation. Free online anger management courses allow you to track your progress and reflect on your improvements.
