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.
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.
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:
In addition, you must:
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
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:
As with the Q. Med, you must also:
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:
You must also:
The Q.Arb. is an entry-level designation that does not require any professional experience.
To become a Qualified Arbitrator, you must:
Additionally, you must also:
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.
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:
And of course, you must also:
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.
To become certified as a Family Relations Mediator (Standard), you must complete:
You must also:
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
To become certified as a Comprehensive Family Mediator (Standard), you must complete:
As with the Family Relations Mediator, you must also:
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:
Plus, you must:
The OAFM offers the Accredited Family Mediator (AccFM) designation that is specific to Ontario.
To become an Accredited Family Mediator, you must complete:
You must also:
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.
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.