Requirements for Certification
Becoming a Certified Organizational Ombuds requires completing the application form in full, and submitting it for review by the Board of Certification, with all requisite supporting documentation and payment of a non-refundable certification application administrative fee.
Before starting your application, please review all required materials and information. The application must be completed in a single session, so be sure to have all necessary details and uploads ready before you begin. You can also download a checklist of these requirements and the questions you'll need to answer in the application for your reference and convenience.
Required uploads for the application:
- Verification that you have passed the exam, including the date you passed
- Confirmation materials that you have 2,000 hours of experience working as an organizational Ombuds
- In order to demonstrate that the requirement of experience practicing as an organizational ombuds has been met, the candidate should submit verification of length of employment from the relevant employer(s) of record and/or Relevant contracts that detail hours.
- Detail where you have provided services over the last four years and also, how (as an embedded/in-house ombuds, as a contract ombuds, or as an outsources/housed outside the organization ombuds), and whether you had additional roles (collateral duty or dual role ombuds).
- Confirm that you have direct experience handling visitors, addressing their concerns, and providing appropriate support, guidance, and conflict resolution services in alignment with recognized ombuds standards and best practices.
- A representative of the Eligibility Committee may contact an applicant if additional information or clarification of submitted information is required.
- Completed Education Summary Form noting 80 hours of ombuds-related education
- Using the Education Summary Form, please detail all applicable training to support your role and understanding of organizational ombuds work. You'll need to include:
- Date of the course
- Title of the course
- Number of hours
- What core competencies the course satisfied
- Letter of Completion for Foundations course or a certificate and transcript for another equivalent course
- Equivalent courses may include: Forum for Canadian Ombuds (FCO) Osgoode Hall Course, European Network of Higher Education Ombuds (ENHOE) basic training, Master's in conflict resolution or dispute resolution with equivalent coursework on workplace conflict or ombudsing. We are looking to see that you have taken coursework in organizational ombuds and are applying a set of standards to the practice.
- A written response that details the specific training you have taken to build competency in Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and Organizational Conflict Management
- Completed Case Scenarios
- You will be asked to upload a written or video response to two case scenarios. Please see the case scenarios document and choose one case scenario from each category: visitors and organization.
- A character statement
- This character statement will need to be from your current or past employer or supervisor (within the last four years), your IOA mentor, or someone else who is certified as an organizational ombuds who has detailed understanding about your ombuds work
- The statement should address the candidate's personal and professional integrity, ability to instill trust, ask the right questions, and to demonstrate patience.
- You may also upload any additional supplemental information that you believe would be helpful to assist the Eligibility Committee with their decision
- Please note that being currently employed as an ombuds is not a pre-requisite for this application.
Ready to complete your application?
