Criteria for Credentials
| Credential Designation | Credentialed Distinguished Mediator | Credentialed Advanced Mediator | Credentialed Mediator | Candidate for Credentialed Mediator |
| Application Fee | $150.00 | $125.00 | $100.00 | $50.00 |
| Training | The applicant must meet all requirements for Credentialed Mediator and, in addition, must have completed an additional 40 hours advanced course work in mediation theory, practice, or skills building. | The applicant must meet all requirements for Credentialed Mediator and, in addition, must have completed an additional 20 hours advanced course work in mediation theory, practice, or skills building. | The applicant must have completed a minimum of 40 classroom hours of mediation training pursuant to Chapter 154.052 (a) Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code and the standards of the Texas Mediator Credentialing Association. | The applicant must have completed a minimum of 40 classroom hours of mediation training pursuant to Chapter 154.052 (a) Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code and the standards of the Texas Mediator Credentialing Association. |
| Experience | After completing the requisite mediation training specified above, the applicant must have conducted a minimum of 200 mediations or 1000 hours of mediation. Such mediation experience may include observation of a Credentialed mediator in five (5) mediations or for 30 hours in mediation. | After completing the requisite mediation training specified above, the applicant must have conducted a minimum of 50 mediations or 300 hours of mediation. Such mediation experience may include observation of a Credentialed mediator in five (5) mediations or for 30 hours in mediation. | After completing the requisite mediation training specified above, the applicant must have conducted a minimum of 20 mediations or 125 hours of mediation. Such mediation experience may include observation of a Credentialed mediator in five (5) mediations or for 30 hours in mediation. | The applicant who has completed less than 20 mediations or mediated less than 125 hours after completing the requisite mediation training specified above is eligible for the designation of Candidate for Credentialed Mediator. |
| Adherence to TMCA Standards, Rules, and Procedures | Regardless of Credential designation, an applicant must affirm that the applicant has read, understands, and will adhere to the TMCA Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics, as well as the TMCA Grievance Rules and Procedures. | Regardless of Credential designation, an applicant must affirm that the applicant has read, understands, and will adhere to the TMCA Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics, as well as the TMCA Grievance Rules and Procedures. | Regardless of Credential designation, an applicant must affirm that the applicant has read, understands, and will adhere to the TMCA Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics, as well as the TMCA Grievance Rules and Procedures. | Regardless of Credential designation, an applicant must affirm that the applicant has read, understands, and will adhere to the TMCA Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics, as well as the TMCA Grievance Rules and Procedures. |
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TMCA Credential Renewal/Maintenance: To maintain a TMCA Credential, a Credential holder must meet the following requirements on an annual basis: |
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| Credential Designation | Credentialed Distinguished Mediator | Credentialed Advanced Mediator | Credentialed Mediator | Candidate for Credentialed Mediator |
| Renewal Fee | $150.00 | $125.00 | $100.00 | $50.00 |
| Annual Experience | Conduct a minimum of 25 mediations or mediate for a minimum of 150 hours each year. | Conduct a minimum of 10 mediations or mediate for a minimum of 60 hours each year. | Conduct a minimum of three (3) mediations or mediate for a minimum of 15 hours each year. | N/A |
| Continuing Education | Complete 15 hours of continuing education each year of which at least 10 must relate to the practice of mediation. Of the 10 hours that must relate to the practice of mediation, at least three (3) must consist of mediation ethics, up to four (4) may be mediation-related self-study, and up to five (5) may be as an instructor of mediation training. The remaining five (5) hours may consist of substantive courses which include education in a subject matter area involved in the cases mediated and such substantive coursework may include up to four (4) hours of self-study. However, TOTAL "Substantive Course" and "Substantive Self-Study" hours cannot exceed five (5) and TOTAL self-study hours (both "Mediation Self-Study" and "Substantive Self-Study" hours) cannot exceed four (4). | Complete 15 hours of continuing education each year of which at least 10 must relate to the practice of mediation. Of the 10 hours that must relate to the practice of mediation, at least three (3) must consist of mediation ethics, up to four (4) may be mediation-related self-study, and up to five (5) may be as an instructor of mediation training. The remaining five (5) hours may consist of substantive courses which include education in a subject matter area involved in the cases mediated and such substantive coursework may include up to four (4) hours of self-study. However, TOTAL "Substantive Course" and "Substantive Self-Study" hours cannot exceed five (5) and TOTAL self-study hours (both "Mediation Self-Study" and "Substantive Self-Study" hours) cannot exceed four (4). | Complete 15 hours of continuing education each year of which at least 10 must relate to the practice of mediation. Of the 10 hours that must relate to the practice of mediation, at least three (3) must consist of mediation ethics, up to four (4) may be mediation-related self-study, and up to five (5) may be as an instructor of mediation training. The remaining five (5) hours may consist of substantive courses which include education in a subject matter area involved in the cases mediated and such substantive coursework may include up to four (4) hours of self-study. However, TOTAL "Substantive Course" and "Substantive Self-Study" hours cannot exceed five (5) and TOTAL self-study hours (both "Mediation Self-Study" and "Substantive Self-Study" hours) cannot exceed four (4). | Complete 15 hours of continuing education each year of which at least 10 must relate to the practice of mediation. Of the 10 hours that must relate to the practice of mediation, at least three (3) must consist of mediation ethics, up to four (4) may be mediation-related self-study, and up to five (5) may be as an instructor of mediation training. The remaining five (5) hours may consist of substantive courses which include education in a subject matter area involved in the cases mediated and such substantive coursework may include up to four (4) hours of self-study. However, TOTAL "Substantive Course" and "Substantive Self-Study" hours cannot exceed five (5) and TOTAL self-study hours (both "Mediation Self-Study" and "Substantive Self-Study" hours) cannot exceed four (4). |
| Other | Make him/herself available to the courts and/or to the public to conduct five (5) pro bono mediations each year. | Make him/herself available to the courts and/or to the public to conduct two (2) pro bono mediations each year. | N/A | Candidate status may be maintained for a maximum of four (4) years to allow the candidate time to complete the requirements for TMCA Credentialed Mediator. |
Volunteer Mediator
A volunteer mediator is defined as a pro bono mediator who receives NO compensation or consideration of any kind in the form of, but not limited to, fees, salary, trading, barter, gift, exchange of goods or services, benefits, perquisites, tokens, or cash. An applicant that meets this definition and signs the certification as a volunteer mediator is entitled to pay a reduced application fee of $25.00 and reduced renewal fees of $25.00 for any Credential designation.
Definitions
For the purposes of Credential designation requirements, the following definitions shall apply:
1. Annual – a calendar year that begins on the first day of January.
2. 40-hour Basic Mediation Training – completion of a minimum of 40 classroom hours of training pursuant to Chapter 154.052 (a) Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. For applications submitted after July 1, 2004, all applicants must also attest that the applicant's training meets or exceeds the standards of the Texas Mediator Credentialing Association.
3. Conducted mediation – a process during which the mediator communicates with the parties to a conflict either together or separately to identify with each known party the issues in dispute and possible solutions, and to encourage and facilitate communication, reconciliation, settlement, and understanding between the parties.
4. Mediation or hours of mediation – refers to "conducted mediation" as defined above.
5. Observation of a mediation – that the person observed all of the work of a mediator during a conducted mediation without having any other role in that mediation.
6. Training or continuing education – any training or continuing education approved by TMCA. Continuing education requirements are specifically defined in TMCA's Continuing Education Criteria.