Comments on: You say you're a certified mediator. Says who?

By: Mediation career and business advice from a professional mediator | Mediation marketing and career guide: Making mediation your day job

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:46:36 +0000

[...] a post I wrote on mediator certification. I was feeling particularly New York blunt that [...]

By: Sobrina

Sobrina — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:25:43 +0000

I enjoyed both your article and Diane’s. I wonder of the questions surrounding the term “certification” is ambiguous in states without formal training programs. I work in Florida and before I could advertise as a certified county court mediator, I had to take a Florida Supreme Court approved training program, complete the requisite observation hours, and then wait for my application to be approved by the Fl Supreme Court. In addition, there is a Mediator Ethics Advisory Committee that regulates mediation within the state. I believe clear rules and regulations set by a state ensures that the term “certification” means that you are choosing a qualified mediator.

By: Tammy Lenski

Tammy Lenski — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:59:17 +0000

Hi, Jennifer – Your question is a tough one to answer, in part because the word “certified” has become so bastardized and borrowed willy nilly in the ADR field. The best I can tell you is that it will depend on the state and the program that is doing legitimate certifying (as opposed to trainers who sell you a 40-hour training and then tell you you’re certified).

By: The log in your eye: eliminating gender bias in mediator performance evaluations — Mediation Channel

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:21:23 +0000

[...] folks in the ADR field these days. It has generated discussion, here and on other blogs (including Tammy Lenski’s, Vickie Pynchon’s and Philip [...]

By: Jennifer Moore

Jennifer Moore — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:23:51 +0000

Hi, I actually have a question. If you are a certified mediator, do you have to be part of an association that requires you to give your certification information so that the public can look it up to verify you are certified…like for example the department of health and human resources?

By: Serena

Serena — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:37:49 +0000

Its the experience that is the most important, one should start at the easiest level to get experience before taking on harder and more delicate disputes.

By: Dana Greyson

Dana Greyson — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 04:26:52 +0000

Washington State Mediation Assc (WMA) http://www.washingtonmediation.org also offers a mediator certification program. It uses 3 tracks: going through a dispute resolution center, training through others, or self taught, each with progressively higher standards to qualify. Certification requires training, documented hands-on experience and letters of recommendation.

Like anything else, there are good mediators and not so good mediators who are certified, attorneys or not.

I did certify as I do believe when it’s a profession that anyone could hang their shingle it’s a good idea to put the effort in to demonstrate a real commitment to learning and doing it right.

When we created a local mediation WMA affiliated chapter, we determined to be on our recommended court roster WMA certification was required. Now if only our court will consider more mediation!

By: Tammy Lenski

Tammy Lenski — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:23:00 +0000

Thanks for sharing what’s going on in Texas and Canada — it sounds like you stay abreast of this and make sure folks in your own trainings understand. Your comment also reminded me again how piecemeal this certification animal is at the moment, and probably pretty minimalist. Another reason for national associations to get seriously involved.

I don’t know that I’d say it’s a roll of the dice when someone chooses a training. Probably true too much and yet I hope you, I and others help people learn how to make informed choices about how they consume training and from whom.

By: Poscs

Poscs — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:06:03 +0000

Thanks for sharing your ideas on credentialing or certified versus having a certificate. I have been stating this at training for several years now. In Texas, where I currently live, there is actually a Texas Mediator Credentialing Association that does proved voluntary credentialing on several different levels based on training, experience and other specific requirements. However to get on most court rosters or work through courts this is becoming more and more recognized and relevant. In addition trainers (voluntarily) can belong to the Texas Mediation Trainers Roundtable, a think tank and best practices type of group.

In Canada, where I hail from, there is an national group known as Family Mediation Canada which is also voluntary but offers a very rigorous certification program. So I think there is a trend to moving to more “credentialing” authorities, rather than greedy trainers offer all kinds of garbage! Like you, however, I believe there are lots of terrific training programs out there, it is just a bit of a roll of the dice what you may be getting into.

By: Mediation career myth-busting: 5 urban legends it’s time to debunk — Mediation Channel

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:41:08 +0000

[...] Tammy Lenski, who blogs at Making Mediation Your Day Job has debunked one more urban legend: “You say you’re a certified mediator. Says who?” This is a must-read post that clears up the confusion about the issue of mediator [...]