Ark. ADR Comm'n Req. Certification Mediators B

1. A mediator seeking certification shall make application on a form to be provided by the

2. The application for certification shall be accompanied by a $75 application fee.

3. The application shall contain or be accompanied by the following:

a. Certified transcript or letter from a college or university verifying the applicant’s

educational background;

b. Evidence of successful completion of the appropriate mediation training for the

Roster;

c. Appropriate forms authorizing the Commission to run background checks

d. Statement of experience/areas of expertise;

e. Statement of adherence to the Arkansas Alternative Dispute Resolution

Commission’s Requirements for the Conduct of Mediation and Mediators; and

f. Statement certifying accuracy of information contained in the application and a

statement of adherence in which the applicant agrees to submit to the jurisdiction

of Arkansas Courts and the ADR Commission.

4. Application for certification shall be acted upon by the Coordinator of the Commission.

Any applicant denied certification shall have the right to request reconsideration of such a

denial by the Commission.

5. Applicants may request a waiver of one or more requirements. Such waiver is to be made

in writing and addressed to the Coordinator of the Commission. The Commission, at its

discretion, may waive any of the certification requirements, recertification requirements,

or continuing mediation education requirements set forth of these standards.

6. Notification of certification shall be made by letter and shall indicate in which

categories the person is certified: Civil, Probate, Domestic Relations, and/or Juvenile.

A letter denying certification, or certification as to one class of case, shall state the

grounds for the denial and make reference to the right of the applicant to request

reconsideration of the denial. Such request by the applicant must be in writing and

addressed to the Coordinator of the Commission and must be made within 30 days of

receipt of notification of denial. Within 30 days of the reconsideration, the Commission

shall render a final decision.

7. An applicant denied certification may reapply six months after the date of denial.

8. In order to maintain certification, each mediator must renew annually on a form

supplied by the Commission which must be accompanied by a $75 renewal fee.

Recertification applications must be received by the Commission office by August 31st

of each year. The date for renewal will be September 1st of each year.

9. Applicants who reside outside the state of Arkansas must agree to submit to the

jurisdiction of Arkansas courts and designate an agent of service in Arkansas.

10. “Bachelor’s degree” and “master’s degree” are only those degrees awarded by an

institution of higher education accredited by an agency recognized by the Council for

Higher Education (CHEA) and approved or listed by the United States Department of

Education as a recognized accredited agency. “Juris Doctorate” degrees are only those

degrees earned from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. Degrees

earned outside the United States shall be evaluated on a case by case basis by the

Commission in order to determine whether the degree is substantially equal to a like and

similar degree earned in this country and which degree if earned in this country would

have been subject to the standards and academic quality which would be mandated by

the foregoing accreditation process and procedure in this country.

11. Temporary Certification: The following applicants are eligible for temporary

certification while completing the process for full certification, if the applicant is the

holder in good standing of a substantially equivalent certificate issued by another state.

a. Active duty military service members stationed in the State of Arkansas,

b. Returning military veterans who were discharged under circumstances other than

dishonorable and who are applying within one year of discharge from active duty,

and;

c. Spouses of active duty military service members or spouses of returning military

veterans applying within one year of discharge from active duty.

The applicant must notify the Commission on their application that they fall into one of

the categories eligible for temporary certification and provide documentation verifying

eligibility.

12. Expedited Application Process: The Commission will expedite the process and

procedures for full certification for the following applicants:

a. Active duty military service members stationed in the State of Arkansas,

b. Returning military veterans who were discharged under circumstances other than

dishonorable and who are applying within one year of discharge from active duty,

and;

c. Spouses of active duty military service members or spouses of returning military

veterans applying within one year of discharge from active duty.

The applicant must notify the Commission on their application that they fall into one of

the categories eligible for expedited application processing and provide documentation

verifying eligibility.

13. Military Training and Experience: When considering an application for full certification

for an active duty military service member stationed in the State of Arkansas or a

returning military veteran applying with one year of his or her discharge from active

duty, the Commission will consider the applicant’s military training and experience and

if it is determined to be substantially similar to experience or education required for

certification, the training and experience will be accepted in lieu of experience or

education required for certification.