Preface
The Professional Development Committee, at the direction of the Board of Directors of the Southern California Mediation Association (SCMA), was asked to recommend a set of standards for those who wish to be designated as a Professional Member of the SCMA. The following has been adopted by the Board as constituting standards for such a designation. It is contemplated that the standards be subject to periodic Board review.
General Principles
The standards have been formulated with these principles in mind:
- The standards should be easily understood and accessible to a broad range of SCMA members.
- The standards should recognize the diverse backgrounds and practices of SMCA members.
- The standards should reflect proficiency in core mediation skills.
- The standards should encourage continuing education and training in the mediation process.
I. Minimum Required Education and Training
A. Forty (40) hours of training covering those subjects described in California Administrative Code section 3622 dealing with the orientation and training of neutrals.
B. Eight (8) hours of continuing education and training in mediation during the twenty-four (24) months prior to application for Professional Membership status.
Note: The education and training requirement may be satisfied through any provider that the applicant selects, and is not limited to SCMA programs and events. Attendance at the SCMA Annual Conference shall constitute six (6) hours of continuing education, and attendance at the SCMA Employment/Workplace Disputes Program, shall constitute five (5) hours of continuing education, toward this requirement. Attendance at an SCMA Roundtable, shall constitute one (1) hour toward this requirement.
II. Minimum Required Experience
An applicant for Professional Membership status shall satisfy the requirements stated in paragraphs A, B, and C, below.
A. Certify that he or she has mediated 25 matters;
B. During the 12-month period prior to application for Professional Membership status, and at all times while maintaining such status, spend no less than an average of 12 hours per month engaged in any of the following activities:
1. Mediating disputes;
2. Writing, speaking, teaching, training, or consulting in the mediation field;
C. Provide certification of competency as a mediator, mediation consultant, trainer, or conflict manager by any one (1) of the following means:
1. Six (6) certification forms provided by SCMA and completed by parties or attorneys in three (3) different mediations conducted by the applicant, attesting to the applicant’s competency as a mediator;
2. Certification from an organization through which the applicant provides mediation services, attesting to the applicant’s competency as a mediator in matters mediated through such organization;
3. Acceptance and attendance at an accredited College or University program, conference or event that requires the applicant to have satisfied criteria for training and experience in the dispute resolution field;
4. Membership on the faculty of any accredited College or University through which the applicant provides instruction in the field of dispute resolution.
5. Conducting twelve (12) mediations as sole mediator, in which the applicant was paid compensation for rendering mediation services.
III. Ethical Conduct
Every applicant for Professional Member status shall affirm his or her commitment, consistent with California law, to abide by the code of mediator conduct promulgated by one (1) of the following organizations: the American Bar Association (ABA), the California Dispute Resolution Council (CDRC), the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR), or the Standards of Practice for Family and Divorce Mediation promulgated by the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.
IV. Maintenance of Professional Membership Status
A Professional Member shall, over a two (2) year period, participate in no fewer than sixteen (16) hours of continuing education on subjects related to mediation practice. A faculty member of any accredited College or University through which the applicant provides instruction in the field of dispute resolution may satisfy this requirement by providing such instruction for a minimum of sixteen (16) hours.
Note: Two (2) hours of continuing education credit per year may be obtained through either of the following alternatives: (A) writing an article on issues relating to mediation that is published in a newspaper, periodical, or newsletter (such as the SCMA newsletter), or mass distribution e-mail; or (B) delivering an oral presentation, either alone or as part of a panel, on issues relating to mediation.
