About these requirements

These guidelines establish the independent international criteria used to review mediator assessment programs seeking recognition as IMI Qualifying Assessment Programs (QAPs).

They apply to programs designed to assess experienced mediators against IMI’s standards for mediator experience, mediation knowledge, and mediator skills. 

Recognition & Outcome

Organizations must demonstrate consistent alignment with these standards during both the initial application and through the biennial audit process required to maintain recognition.

A successful appraisal grants QAP status, confirming that the program has been recognized by IMI as capable of assessing experienced mediators against IMI’s applicable standards. Organizations with recognized QAPs may use the IMI Qualifying Assessment Program logo when marketing the recognized assessment program.  

Candidates who successfully complete a recognized QAP may be eligible to be submitted to IMI for IMI Certified Mediator status.

Successful completion of a QAP does not, by itself, grant IMI Certification. Certification is confirmed only once the applicable IMI processes and requirements for individual recognition have been fulfilled.

For further guidance, please review the IMI Certified Mediator page.

How to Apply

QAP  applications are submitted exclusively via our online portal. We recommend that organizations review all criteria thoroughly before beginning the application or preparing for an audit to ensure their program meets IMI’s high-quality international standards.

To assist with your preparation, you may preview the application requirements and form contents by downloading the resources below:

Criteria & Application Guidance

The criteria below set out the requirements that an IMI Qualifying Assessment Program (QAP)  must meet, together with guidance on the information organizations should provide when applying for recognition or preparing for an audit.

1. Mediator Experience

The QAP must include a methodology for ensuring that Applicants have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Program’s Assessors a substantial level of experience as a mediator.  The QAP must include clearly identified criteria on this requirement.  Mediators without 200 hours or 20 mediations are unlikely to be sufficiently experienced.

Commentary: The application should describe how the program establishes and verifies applicants’ mediation experience. This may include, for example, the use of logbooks, court records, case records, declarations, references, or other forms of evidence. The application should also specify the minimum level of mediation experience required for eligibility.

2. Mediation Knowledge

The QAP must include a methodology for determining that Applicants have demonstrated a strong understanding of general mediation theory and practice which may be based on written tests, essays, reports, theses interviews and/or other testing platforms.

Commentary: The application should describe how mediation knowledge is assessed and identify the content areas covered by the assessment. The application should also include or describe any relevant assessment tools.

3. Mediator Skills

The QAP must include a methodology for the evaluation of candidates’ performance in terms of the occurrence and effectiveness of mediation process and mediation techniques, against high competency benchmarks. Because of the wide variety of mediation processes and styles, and to allow for innovation and creativity in the field, program criteria will vary and consequently fixed competency benchmarks are not prescribed. The Evaluations/Assessments may be based on roleplay or live action assessments, and may include videotaped and online assessments such as web dramas, self-assessments, interviews, peer reviews, user feedback and other in-practice skill evaluations.

Commentary: The application should include the competency framework used to assess mediators. This should set out the skills and knowledge assessed, how each competency is assessed, the scoring or grading system used, and the applicable pass/fail threshold. The application should also explain how the assessment process ensures consistency, fairness, and reliability across candidates and assessors.

4. Program Transparency

The assessment benchmarks applied by the QAP must be published and openly accessible on the organization’s website.

Organizations must maintain an active public webpage for the recognized program for as long as the program holds IMI recognition. This webpage should clearly identify the recognized program, describe the applicable assessment criteria or benchmarks, and provide sufficient information for candidates and the public to understand the basis on which candidates are assessed.

The webpage should also include practical information about the program, including the frequency of program delivery, mode of delivery, and applicable pricing.

Commentary: Details of recognized QAPs are listed on the IMI website and include a direct link to the organization’s webpage for the recognized program.

Organizations should provide the link to the public webpage where the program submitted for appraisal is displayed. Programs submitted for recognition are expected to be publicly available on the organization’s website at the time of application. If the program webpage is not yet publicly available, the organization should explain why and indicate when it will be published. Once recognition has been granted, the program webpage should include any applicable IMI logo and references to IMI recognition alongside the recognized program.

5. Program Integrity

Each Assessor must have substantial experience of assessing the performance of mediators.  At least one of the Assessors on each Program must be independent of the QAP.

Commentary: The application should describe the criteria used to appoint assessors, including the experience, qualifications, and expertise required for the role.

The application should also identify whether any assessors are independent of the organization and/or the training faculty. Where assessor independence is required, the application should explain how independence is determined. Where assessors are connected to the organization or training faculty, the application should explain the nature of that relationship.

6. Ongoing monitoring of Programs

The QAP must include a process for the ongoing monitoring of the performance and practice of the Assessors. IMI will liaise closely with all recognized program organizers to maintain a sustainable quality control system.

Commentary: The application should describe how assessor performance is, or will be, monitored, including any review, feedback, or quality assurance measures used by the program to support consistency and quality.

Organizations must also agree to provide relevant information to IMI and to participate in IMI monitoring or audit processes where required, in order to support a sustainable quality control system.

7. Commitment to Diversity

The QAP must be accessible on an equal basis to experienced mediators regardless of their professional affiliations, gender, race, ethnicity, age, religion, sexual orientation or other personal characterization.

Commentary: The application should describe how the QAP is made available and promoted on an equal basis to eligible experienced mediators. The application should also identify any diversity, equity, inclusion, or accessibility measures adopted by the organization in relation to the program.

Additional Requirements

1. Passing Criteria

Please describe clearly how applicants pass or fail the assessment. This should include any assessment details not already covered above, as well as the applicable scoring system, grading criteria, and pass/fail thresholds.

We recommend attaching example exams, questionnaires, assessment forms, scoring rubrics, and any other materials used to determine whether an applicant has passed or failed.

2. Post-Assessment Outcomes and Reattempts

Please explain what happens if an applicant does not pass the assessment.

Be specific about whether applicants may re-sit the full assessment or specific components, any waiting periods or conditions that apply before reattempting, and the maximum number of reattempts allowed.

3. Privacy Policy

Please provide a link to, or upload a copy of, your organization’s privacy policy. The policy should explain how applicant and participant data is collected, processed, stored, protected, and shared, with particular reference to applicable data protection laws, including GDPR for participants in the European Union and CCA for participants in California, where applicable.

4. Additional Comments Regarding Application

Please include any additional information that may assist IMI in reviewing your application.

This may include a general description of other programs offered by your organization, how long those programs have been running in their current form, and any mediation training or assessment programs specifically designed for experienced mediators.

Related Guidance

Organizations with recognized QAPs may submit eligible assessed mediators to IMI for IMI Certified Mediator status, subject to the applicable IMI processes and requirements.

For information on individual certification requirements, please review the IMI Certified Mediator page.

For guidance on submitting eligible individuals to IMI, adding reviews or feedback where applicable, and managing individual profiles, please review Guidance for organizations submitting individuals for IMI recognition.