General Membership Standards

A candidate for General Membership must demonstrate acceptability as a professional mediator of commercial disputes.

Criteria

A. Active Caseload. Must have an active caseload of at least 100 compensated days during each of the preceding three years. There may be a different standard for applicants residing outside of North America.

B. Mediation Experience.
1. Must have maintained an active caseload for over five consecutive years.
2. Must have completed a formal mediator training program or obtained formal governmental certification.

C. Demonstrated Ability. Application of generally accepted qualifications, credentials, or attributes.

For example, National Institute for Dispute Resolution (NIDR) in its March 1993 publication Interim Guidelines for Selecting Mediators lists the following "Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Attributes" (KSAOs) for mediators. They are:

Reasoning, Analyzing, Problem Solving, Reading Comprehension, Writing, Oral Communication, Non-Verbal Communication, Interviewing, Emotional Stability/Maturity, Sensitivity, Integrity, Recognizing Values, Impartiality, Organizing, Following Procedure and Commitment.

D. Adherence to Ethical and Professional Standards. Practice according to the standards of the Code of Professional Responsibility for the International Academy of Mediators. This may ultimately be the same Standards of Conduct of Mediators as developed by a Task Force led by the American Arbitration Association, American Bar Association, and Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution.

E. Credentials and Reputation. References, publications, and professional activities.