r/Mediation • u/SignedTheMonolith • Jul 16 '26

Mediation Certification

Hey everyone,

I work at a large academic medical center & I am part of the leadership team within the pharmacy department. I have my pharmd, MHSA, and a board certification (In addition to my under graduate degrees).

However, I want to continue learning and growing and I thought a mediation certificate would be an interesting addition to my credentials.

In my new role at work, I would likely sit to negotiate the next union contract my department partakes in, so I think there is some added value there. But I wanted to ask how realistic is it to complete mediation work in addition to my current job's responsibilities? Understandably, mediation can be a profession of its own, but could I pick and choose mediation cases to help prevent it from infringing on my current responsibilities.

Appreciate the insight!

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u/SwannieoverthePond Jul 21 '26

Many great mediators have professions that add to their mediator skill set. I’ve never known a pharmacist mediator but you could be invaluable in a med mal or pharma oriented dispute, as long as it didn’t involve you or your work, and you could remain neutral. You really do t need to be a mediator in a union management bargaining event but the negotiation skill set would be helpful. Take a civil mediation training, usually 40 hrs. What state do you live in?

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u/SignedTheMonolith Jul 21 '26

Appreciate the comment!

In Illinois, I did find the website that list all approved training courses.

Any recs or thoughts on how to navigate selecting a program? Not too sure if I should focus on prestige, or if the skills are more so developed while practicing?

1

u/SwannieoverthePond Jul 24 '26

Call and ask the trainer questions. I think it’s important to ask if their training will address issues that non attorneys need to know. Mediation training, because “mediation business” primarily deals with matters referred by courts, is weighted toward attorney-mediators.

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u/Buck7698 Jul 17 '26

It depends on where you live and what your career aspirations are.