In the meantime, we encourage you to keeping up on training, experience, etc. If you're not yet involved with your local Community Dispute Resolution Center, NYSDRA encourages you to contact them - just find your county here:
http://www.nysdra.org/whatisdr/CDRCWebsites.aspx for the center near you. And, also consider a NYSDRA membership!
NYSDRA lauched a pilot certification program at its Annual Conference in October of 2007. The pilot gathered feedback to guide the eventual launch of NYSDRA's full certification program for mediators.
Pilot participants helped pioneer this quality assurance process for mediators practicing in New York. Their input and insights will help NYSDRA’s Certification Committee determine the efficacy of forms, application process, and the focus of continued learning requirements. It will also inform the design of observation and mentoring processes.
Pilot participants also provided reflections into how preparing and completing each certification step helped them assess their skills and connect with others in the field. The peer review component allows NYSDRA Certified Mediators to build their knowledge base as mentors and mentees. Pilot members also laid the foundation for tracking the relationship between certification and business development for mediators. This information will help NYSDRA educate the dispute resolution community on certification’s effect on referrals, mediator skill development, mediation business development and public awareness.