Updated September 2023
Mediation and arbitration are not currently regulated in Canada, this means you don't have to hold a designation to practise as a mediator or arbitrator in Canada. However, earning a designation from the well-respected ADR Institute of Canada will give you credibility as a professional in the field.
You should also know that family mediation is treated differently than other forms of alternative dispute resolution. If you want to provide court-connected family mediation services, you typically need to become certified through an organization like Family Mediation Canada or the Ontario Association for Family Mediation.
In this post, we take you through the different designations that are available from each organization, what it takes to earn them, and how Kompass can help.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC)
- Family Mediation Canada (FMC)
- Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM)
ADR INSTITUTE OF CANADA (ADRIC)
ADRIC is a parent organization with seven regional affiliates in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces. ADRIC offers professional designations that are national; however, you apply through your regional affiliate.
To apply, you must be a member of your regional affiliate. (When you join, you automatically also become a member of ADRIC.) Some affiliates have unique membership or designation requirements. For instance, the ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO) requires all members to complete an online ethics course.
Related: What to Know About ADRIO
ADRIC offers two types of designations for mediators and arbitrators: Qualified and Chartered.
Qualified Mediator (Q.Med)
The Q.Med designation is the entry-level credential. You don’t need any professional mediation experience for this one.
To become a Qualified Mediator, you must complete:
- 40 hours of basic mediation training
- 40 hours of specialized mediation and related training
- Two mediations (these can be actual or supervised practice mediations, or co-mediations)
In addition, you must:
- Agree to comply with ADRIC’s code of ethics and code of conduct
- Maintain full membership status with ADRIC and your provincial affiliate
- Commit to continuing education
- Provide proof of at least $1 million worth of errors and omissions insurance
How Kompass Can Help
The mediation certificate from Kompass is accredited by both ADRIC and ADRIO and fulfills the 40-hour basic mediation training requirement for the Q.Med. It includes instructor-supervised mock mediations.
Plus, the Cultural Fluency in Mediation class within the mediation certificate and the Advanced Family Mediation class within our family mediation certificate each count for 21 of the 40 required hours of specialized mediation and related training for the Q.Med.
Related: Kompass Can Train You for Your Q.Med! Here's How
Your instructors or ADRIC may be able to provide information on how and where to obtain your two practice/co-mediations.
Kompass’s online mediation certificate meets many of the requirements for the Q.Med
Chartered Mediator (C.Med)
The Chartered Mediator (C.Med) designation is for those with professional experience. Practice mediations aren’t enough—you have to complete a certain number of paid mediations and submit to a skills assessment by a panel of mediators.
To become a Chartered Mediator, you must complete:
- 80 hours of mediation theory and skills training
- 100 hours of specialized and related training
- 15 paid mediations as the sole mediator or mediation chairperson
- A skills assessment by three approved Chartered Mediators
As with the Q. Med, you must also:
- Agree to comply with ADRIC’s code of ethics and code of conduct
- Maintain full membership status with ADRIC and your provincial affiliate
- Commit to continuing education
- Provide proof of at least $1 million worth of errors and omissions insurance
Qualified Mediator Family (Q.Med.Fam)
ADRIC also offers a family-focused version of its Qualified Mediator designation. However, the Q.Med.Fam is only available through the provincial affiliates in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
To become a Qualified Mediator Family, you must complete:
- 40 hours of basic mediation training
- 100 hours of specialized mediation training, of which at least 80 hours must be specialized family mediation training
- Two family mediations as the lead mediator (paid or unpaid)
- A supervised practice family mediation assessed by a mediator approved by your regional affiliate
You must also:
- Submit a sample Agreement to Mediate as well as a redacted mediated agreement related to separation or divorce
- Provide proof of two years of related experience working with families
- Agree to comply with ADRIC’s code of ethics and code of conduct
- Maintain full membership status with ADRIC and your provincial affiliate
- Commit to continuing education
- Provide proof of at least $1 million worth of errors and omissions insurance
Qualified Arbitrator (Q. Arb)
The Q.Arb. is an entry-level designation that does not require any professional experience.
To become a Qualified Arbitrator, you must:
- Complete 40 hours of ADRIC-approved arbitration training
- Pass a written exam
Additionally, you must also:
- Agree to comply with ADRIC’s code of ethics and code of conduct
- Maintain full membership status with ADRIC and your provincial affiliate
- Commit to continuing education
- Provide proof of at least $1 million worth of errors and omissions insurance
How Kompass Can Help
Our arbitration certificate is accredited by both ADRIC and ADRIO and fulfills the 40-hour training requirement for the Q.Arb. The Q.Arb exam is administered through Kompass as part of your arbitration training.
Chartered Arbitrator (C.Arb)
The C.Arb is ADRIC's senior-level arbitration designation. You need substantial professional experience for this credential.
To become a Chartered Arbitrator, you must:
- Complete 40 hours of ADRIC-approved arbitration training
- Pass a written exam
- Chair 10 paid arbitrations
- Submit two arbitration awards you’ve written, redacted to hide personal information
- Demonstrate knowledge of all relevant codes and laws as well as the skills to evaluate the evidence and complete an arbitration engagement
And of course, you must also:
- Agree to comply with ADRIC’s code of ethics and code of conduct
- Maintain full membership status with ADRIC and your provincial affiliate
- Commit to continuing education
- Provide proof of at least $1 million worth of errors and omissions insurance
FAMILY MEDIATION CANADA (FMC)
FMC is a national organization that offers a number of designations for family mediators. These credentials are recognized across the country.
Designations have both standard and advanced levels. The difference is that the advanced level requires you to submit a mediation role-play video for assessment and pass a written exam. You can complete both levels in one go, or complete the standard level first and then apply for the advanced level later.
Family Relations Mediator (Cert.FRM)
To become certified as a Family Relations Mediator (Standard), you must complete:
- 80 hours of basic conflict resolution and mediation training
- 100 hours of further education and training in specific areas of family issues
- A 30-hour supervised mediation practicum (alternatively, you can submit two positive peer evaluations from experienced family mediators)
You must also:
- Maintain membership in FMC
- Commit to continuing education
- Carry at least $1 million worth of errors and omissions insurance
How Kompass Can Help
The family mediation certificate from Kompass fulfills 64.5 of the hours required for the Cert.FRM designation.
Family mediators generally need to be certified to provide court-connected services
Comprehensive Family Mediator (Cert.CFM)
To become certified as a Comprehensive Family Mediator (Standard), you must complete:
- 80 hours of basic conflict resolution and mediation training
- 150 hours of further education and training in specific areas of family issues
- A 30-hour supervised mediation practicum that includes substantial experience assisting with financial issues related to separation
As with the Family Relations Mediator, you must also:
- Maintain membership in FMC
- Commit to continuing education
- Carry at least $1 million worth of errors and omissions insurance
Elder Mediator (Cert.EM)
FMC also offers a certification for mediators who specialize in issues related to aging, such as those involving elder abuse, advanced care directives, finances, or dementia and capacity issues.
To become certified as an Elder Mediator (Standard), you must complete:
- 100 hours of basic mediation training OR formal certification in basic conflict resolution and family mediation
- 100 hours of specific elder mediation training
- Five elder mediation cases or role-plays
Plus, you must:
- Maintain membership in FMC
- Commit to continuing education
- Carry at least $1 million worth of errors and omissions insurance
ONTARIO ASSOCIATION FOR FAMILY MEDIATION (OAFM)
The OAFM offers the Accredited Family Mediator (AccFM) designation that is specific to Ontario.
To become an Accredited Family Mediator, you must complete:
- Two to four years of professional work in an area such as social work, psychology, counselling, law, nursing, teaching, or social services (the amount of experience you need depends on how much education you have)
- Five OAFM-approved training courses
- 100 hours of supervised mediation experience
You must also:
- Become an associate member of the OAFM
- Agree to abide by the OAFM’s code of conduct
- Commit to continuing education
- Carry at least $1 million in errors and omissions insurance
Related: Steps to Become a Certified Family Mediator in Ontario
How Kompass Can Help
Our family mediation certificate is accredited by the OAFM and includes all five training courses required for the AccFM designation.
PREPARE FOR MEDIATION or arbitration CERTIFICATION WITH KOMPASS
Kompass Professional Development offers online certificates in mediation, family mediation, and arbitration that can start you on your journey toward a recognized designation. The arbitration certificate is 10 weeks long and the mediation certificates each take 12 weeks. All are taught by certified instructors.
Click below to explore the training, see a detailed course list, or chat live with an admissions advisor.
