This is a brief overview of the main requirements to apply for the different professional designations. For a comprehensive explanation, please read the specific application forms for each designation.
| Requirements | Chartered Mediator (C.Med) | Qualified Mediator (Q.Med) | Chartered Arbitrator (C.Arb) | Qualified Arbitrator (Q.Arb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | 80 hours of mediation theory and skills training from a program approved by the ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC) or acceptable to ADRIA Designations Committee AND 100 hours of training in dispute resolution or related field1 |
40 hours mediation training 10 approved by ADRIA or ADRIC AND 40 hours specialized training 11 in dispute resolution or related field (Note: Completion of both ADRIA's Communications in ADR course and the National Introductory Mediation course fulfill the educational requirements for the Q.Med designation.) |
40 hours of arbitration and hearing procedure training approved by ADRIC or ADRIA AND successful completion of ADRIC's written open book Chartered Arbitrator exam or an exam which is part of a course approved by ADRIC or ADRIA no more than 10 years prior to application |
40 hours of arbitration and hearing procedure training approved by ADRIC or ADRIA AND successful completion of ADRIC's written open book Qualified Arbitrator exam or an exam which is part of a course approved by ADRIC or ADRIA no more than 10 years prior to application |
| Experience | Conducted at least 15 mediations2 as the sole mediator or the mediation chairperson3 and all 15 of the mediations must have been fee paid4. |
Conducted one of the three following options, or any combination of the three options:
|
Practiced as an arbitrator for not less than two years AND Chaired14 at least 10 arbitrations, all of which were fee-paid (or, if unpaid, demonstratively complex) |
Not required. |
| Skills Assessment |
Observation and approval of an applicant conducting a solo mediation, to occur within 12 months before the date of the application, through one or more of the following:
|
Not required but the Designations Committee may require a skills assessment upon review of your application. |
Provide three redacted arbitration awards/decisions for review.
|
Not required. |
| Letters of Recommendation | Provide three Letters of Recommendation9 (one character / personal and two professional) of your services as a mediator. | Provide three Letters of Recommendation9 (one character / personal and two professional) of your services as a mediator. | Provide three Letters of Recommendation15 (one character / personal and two professional) of your services as an arbitrator. | Not required. |
| Waiving Education Requirements | Education requirements may be waived where the ADRIA Designations Committee determines applicant has satisfied or exceeded the Education Requirements above through proven skills, competency, and longevity in practice as recognized and recommended by peers8. | Applicants may submit experience and qualifications to Designations Committee for review. A skills assessment may be required. | Education requirements may be waived where the ADRIA Designations Committee determines applicant has satisfied or exceeded the Education Requirements above through proven skills, competency, and longevity in practice as recognized and recommended by peers8. | Not applicable. |
| Membership | Must be a Full member with ADRIA. | Must be a Full member with ADRIA. | Must be a Full member with ADRIA. | Must be a Full member with ADRIA. |
| Continuing Education and Engagement (CEE) | Must accumulate 100 points for CEE in three years. |
Must accumulate 60 points for CEE in three years AND complete three actual mediations, paid or unpaid, sole or co-mediated, within three years of designation being awarded. |
Not determined to date. | Not determined to date |
| Insurance | Errors and Omissions insurance with a limit of at least $1 million aggregate. | Errors and Omissions insurance with a limit of at least $1 million aggregate. |
Errors and Omissions insurance with a limit of at least $1 million aggregate. | Errors and Omissions insurance with a limit of at least $1 million aggregate. |
| Application fee (Fees for skills assessments and supervised mock mediations are additional.) Annual Designation fee |
$200 plus GST
$198 plus GST |
$200 plus GST
$99 plus GST |
$200 plus GST
$198 plus GST |
$200 plus GST
$99 plus GST |
1 Dispute resolution generally, psychology of dispute resolution, negotiation, public consultation, mutual gains bargaining, communication, management consulting, conflict management or other related training that has been approved by ADRIA or ADRIC to meet the C.Med educational requirements.
2 A “mediation” is a discreet event contracted for by the parties. A situation where a person helps two subordinates resolve a conflict is not considered a mediation. However, if the full or part time duties of an applicant specifically include the conducting of structured mediations, these would count toward the C.Med. Where a person is conducting mediations with staff members who do not report to that person, these may count as mediations provided the person was specifically identified as an impartial mediator, and the mediation was structured and conducted as a mediation, not as an informal meeting to resolve a problem.
3 The applicant must clearly have been the lead mediator or chairperson, not simply a co-mediator.
4 A “paid” mediation” is a mediation where the mediator receives a salary, payment or reasonable honorarium specifically for mediation services. The amount received by the mediator is not subject to any specific minimum amount, provided it is a legitimate and reasonable amount in the context within which the mediation took place.
5 A Formal Mediation Skills Assessment with an assessor and role-players chosen from an ADRIA roster of approved assessors and roleplayers who hold C.Med designations. This assessment is conducted separately and apart from any classroom evaluation occurring as part of the students’ mediation training, either at ADRIA or another approved mediation program. There is a cost associated with this assessment. This assessment must be completed within 12 months of applying for a C.Med designation.
6 Video recorded actual mediation assessed by at least three assessors chosen from an ADRIA roster of approved assessors, at least two of whom hold a C.Med. designation. There is a cost associated with this assessment.
7 Video recorded roleplay mediation assessed by three assessors chosen from an ADRIA roster of approved assessors, all of whom hold a C.Med. designation. Role players are chosen from an ADRIA roster of approved role players, who hold a C.Med. designation. It is conducted separately and apart from any classroom evaluation occurring as part of the students’ mediation training either at ADRIA or another approved mediation program. There is a cost associated with this assessment.
8 Where the Designations Committee agrees by majority that the applicant has satisfied or exceeded the education requirement the educational requirement may be waived. The decision of the ADRIA Designations Committee must be supported by documented reasons for the recommendation.
9 Letters of Recommendation should speak to the candidates’ industrious abilities, accomplishments, seriousness of purpose and capacity as a mediator. Include any information that may not be readily apparent from education, skills assessments, test scores, transcripts or even in an interview. The letter should speak to the candidates’ character (integrity, ethics and leadership qualities). The referee must explain their connection to the candidate, including how long they have known the candidate. The letters can be from someone the candidate co-mediated with, colleagues who have seen their work, someone from a Roster Program, and others who could speak from their experience of seeing the candidate mediate.
10 Interest-based mediation process and skills, training that has been approved by ADRIA or ADRIC and meets the requirements of basic mediation training.
11 Courses in conflict resolution, negotiation, communication, advanced mediation, ethics in dispute resolution, multiparty negotiation strategies, how to start a mediation business, designing systems for conflict management in organizations, when and how to use mediation case development, influence of culture on conflict resolution approaches, and resolving difficult workplace issues. The courses must be approved by ADRIA or ADRIC and meet the requirements of specialized training.
12 Two Actual Mediations (live, with real parties, not a roleplay and not with a co-mediator) paid or unpaid, and must provide a 300-500 word description of each mediation. Please see application form for further details.
13 Two Supervised Mock Mediations (each with a different supervisor, chosen from an ADRIA roster of approved supervisors. One of the roster requirements is that the supervisor must be a C.Med.) The candidate must complete all stages/phases of the model in the mock (roleplay) mediation. There will be instructions for role players on how to role play to ensure the candidate has an opportunity to demonstrate skills. There will be a consistent set of standards that must be met for the candidate to be deemed competent. The Supervised Mock Mediation is conducted separately and apart from any classroom evaluation occurring as part of the students’ mediation training, either at ADRIA or another approved mediation program. There is a cost associated with this review. Please see application form for Supervised Practice Mediation review form.
14 The applicant must clearly have been the lead arbitrator or chairperson, not simply co-arbitrator.
15 Letters of Recommendation should speak to the candidates’ industrious abilities, accomplishments, seriousness of purpose and capacity as an arbitrator. The letter should speak to the candidates’ character (integrity, ethics and leadership qualities). The referee must explain their connection to the candidate, including how long they have known the candidate. The letters can be of a Party to an arbitration conducted by applicant, a Counsel in arbitration conducted by applicant, a Co-Arbitrator or others who could speak from their experience of seeing the candidate arbitrate.