Just because a mediator claims to be “certified” does not necessarily make it so. Many people confuse earning a “certificate of completion” with being “certified”. Certification as a mediator requires demonstrating advanced skills of mediation and being evaluated by an objective certification board or organization. The following excerpt from A Consumer Guide to Selecting a Mediator created by State Justice Institute addresses this confusion. “Sometimes, a person has a certificate of training completed. Such a certificate is a confirmation that the person has successfully completed training, but does not confirm that the person has attained any level of competence. In other cases, the person has been granted certification by a public or private entity to indicate that the person has attained a certain level of competence in accordance with experience, training and other standards. Consumers may use this type of certificate to determine the qualifications of the practitioner. A smart consumer always asks what the particular certificate means.” Understanding this distinction will help you to make an informed decision when choosing a mediator.
