Education · 1 of 4

The path

There is no single path. Most mediators come from law, social work, human resources or business.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   Focus on English, social studies and any debate or leadership activity.

2. 2

   A degree in a related field

   3 to 4 years

   Law, social work, psychology, business or labour relations. Some colleges offer conflict resolution certificates alongside.

3. 3

   Work in your field first

   2 to 5 years

   Lawyer, counsellor, HR (human resources) manager, union rep. Mediation skills grow out of real disputes.

4. 4

   Mediation training

   80 to 180 hours

   Q.Med (Qualified Mediator) with the ADR (alternative dispute resolution) Institute of Canada needs at least 80 hours of training. C.Med (Chartered Mediator) needs 180 hours, 15 mediations as lead mediator, and a live assessment.

5. 5

   Build a roster

   Ongoing

   Court rosters, family mediation lists, insurer and union panels. Word of mouth from lawyers is the main way cases arrive.