Mediator Qualifications Disclosure Program: Frequently Asked Questions

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The Mediate.com Qualifications Disclosure Program (“QDP”) allows Mediators the opportunity to identify themselves as “Associate,” “Practitioner” or “Senior” Mediators based upon their degree of training, experience and their commitment to a comprehensive set of professional standards. Mediators may also (as an option) indicate the number of cases that they have mediated in specific areas of practice and provide readily available references.

Here are some of the most common questions and answers regarding the QDP:

1. Why Did Mediate.com establish the QDP?

2. What are the requirements to be an Associate Mediator?

3. What are the requirements to be a Practitioner Mediator?

4. What are the requirements to be a Senior Mediator?

5. What training qualifies for the QDP?

6. What standards of practice must I subscribe to as part of the QDP?

7. How is “mediation” defined for the QDP?

8. How is “mediator” defined for the QDP?

9. What continuing education qualifies for the QDP?

10. What if I do not meet some or all of the requirements?

11. Do I need to disclose my specific number of cases in specific areas of practice?

12. Do I need to list references?

13. How do I participate in the QDP?

14. How do I update my QDP information?

15. How does the QDP relate to a Mediate.com Premium Referral Listing?

1. Why Did Mediate.com establish the QDP?

Mediate.com established the QDP to assist consumers to assess the degree of overall experience of a mediator and experience in specific areas of practice.

Mediate.com also wants to support mediators subscribing to the recognized leading standards of mediation practice, to encourage continuing mediation education and to assist participants to easily offer reference information to potential clients.

2. What are the requirements to be an Associate Mediator in the QDP?

Associate Mediators

• subscribe to Mediate.com’s required standards of mediation practice
• have at least 50 hours of mediation training
• take part in at least 12 hours per year of continuing mediation education
• have mediated at least 10 cases for 40 hours

3. What are the requirements to be a Practitioner Mediator in the QDP?

Practitioner Mediators

• subscribe to Mediate.com’s required standards of mediation practice
• take part in at least 12 hours per year of continuing mediation education
• have at least 100 hours of mediation training
• have mediated at least 50 cases for 200 hours over at least three years

4. What are the requirements to be a Senior Mediator in the QDP?

Senior Mediators

• subscribe to Mediate.com’s required standards of mediation practice
• take part in at least 12 hours per year of continuing mediation education
• have at least 100 hours of mediation training
• have mediated at least 100 cases for 400 hours over at least five years

5. What training qualifies for the QDP?

At least 30 hours of training must be in a single integrated basic mediation training offered by a lead instructor who meets Senior Mediator standards. Additional mediation training may be obtained at any international, national, regional, provincial or state mediation conference, as well as through private advanced mediation training, academic programs and online training. Note that all training must be mediation training. As an example, training in financial matters per se will not qualify, whereas training regarding how a mediator manages the discussion of financial issues will qualify.

6. What standards of practice must I subscribe to as part of the QDP?

Participating mediators must subscribe to these Standards of Mediation Practice and, as applicable, these Standards of Practice for Family and Divorce Mediation.

7. How is “mediation” defined for the MQDP?

For purposes of the QDP, “Mediation” is defined as: “a process in which a mediator facilitates communication and negotiation between parties to assist them in reaching a voluntary agreement regarding their dispute.”

8. How is a “mediator” defined for the QDP?

A “Mediator” is defined as: “an individual, of any profession or background, who conducts a mediation.”

9. What continuing education qualifies for the QDP?

Continuing mediation education may be obtained at any international, national, regional, provincial or state mediation conference, as well as through private advanced mediation training, academic programs and online training.

10. What if I do not meet some or all of the requirements?

In the event that you do not meet the requirements for a certain desired mediator status, you are encouraged to work toward satisfying these requirements! The reason that the QDP has credibility is that the stated requirements are, in fact, substantial and taken seriously.

11. Do I need to disclose my specific number of cases in specific areas of practice?

While we strongly encourage you to, in fact, disclose your specific number of cases mediated in various areas of mediation practice, this is not a requirement. We offer you this opportunity to provide this information to consumers. Do, however, note that providing this information makes a mediator much more “findable” in specific area of practice searches.

12. Do I need to list references?

While we strongly encourage mediators to list references, this information is not required. This is an opportunity to provide this information to consumers. Do note that should references include actual mediation participants, mediators should first obtain such participants’ approval.

13. How do I participate in the QDP?

If you have an existing Mediate.com Directory Listing or Premium Referral Listing, go to www.mediate.com/account and enter your user id and password. Once you have accessed your record, click “Order More” and order the QDP service. Be sure to then click on “Mediator Qualifications Disclosure Program” when you are returned to your record, to complete your information.

If you do not have an existing listing with Mediate.com, please go to www.mediate.com/services and order a Mediator Qualifications Disclosure Program listing.

14. How do I update my QDP information?

Go to www.mediate.com/account and enter your user id and password. (If you forget your user id and password, you can request that this information be sent to you.) Once you have accessed your record, click on “Mediator Qualifications Disclosure Program” to update or complete your information.

15. How does the QDP relate to a Mediate.com Premium Membership?

The Mediate.com Premium Membership includes the QDP and is $29/month or $299/yr. Your Mediate.com Premium Membership and Directory Listing allow you to be found by last name, business name, all geographic (country, state, province, city) searches as well as area of mediation practice, additional professional service and key word searches at www.mediate.com/Search. Your Premium Membership and listing also uniquely allow you to receive referrals from our “short form” referral system at www.mediate.com/mediator.