The International Mediation Institute (IMI) has approved a strategic update to its credentialing framework, renaming its entry-level training recognition to better distinguish between foundational education and professional certification.
Following a unanimous motion by the IMI Credentialing Committee and official approval by the Board of Directors on 16 December 2025, the programs formerly known as Certified Mediator Training Programs (CMTPs) are now officially designated as IMI Recognized Mediator Training Programs (IMI RMTPs)
🔄 Resolving the “Certification Conflict”
The primary driver for this shift is to resolve what has been described as the “Certification Conflict.” Previously, using the term “Certified” for entry-level training caused significant confusion among stakeholders, who often struggled to distinguish between the completion of a foundational course and the achievement of advanced professional certification.
By adopting the term “Recognized,” IMI more accurately reflects the purpose of these programs: verifying that training meets rigorous international standards without implying that a trainee has reached the level of a fully certified professional mediator.
🌍 Key Benefits of the Transition
- Greater Clarity: Clearer distinction between training completion and professional certification.
- Enhanced Inclusion: The new terminology creates a more harmonious and accessible system, particularly for developing markets where clear entry points into the profession are vital.
- Global Benchmarking: The update was informed by comparative analysis of credentialing structures used by other local, regional and international professional organisations to ensure that IMI’s framework remains aligned with global best practices.
⚖️ Recognition by International Policy Frameworks
The relevance of the IMI Training Program Requirements is already acknowledged at the international policy level, including by the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) in its Mediation Development Toolkit (developed jointly with IMI). This toolkit encourages training providers to benchmark their programmes against international standards – specifically through recognition by what is now the IMI RMTP – as a guarantee of the quality, consistency, and credibility required for business success.1
📅 Timeline for Implementation
IMI has established an 18-month transition period to support partner organizations in updating their branding, marketing, and training materials to reflect the new IMI RMTP nomenclature.
IMI remains committed to maintaining high standards while ensuring its credentialing journey remains clear and accessible for mediators at every stage of their professional career.
- European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice, Mediation Development Toolkit, Ensuring implementation of the CEPEJ Guidelines on mediation – Guidelines on Designing and Monitoring Mediation Training Schemes, adopted at the 32nd plenary meeting, Strasbourg, 13–14 June 2019, developed jointly with the International Mediation Institute. ↩︎
