Certification Eligibility Requirements

 

Candidates must demonstrate knowledge of the organizational ombuds function by passing a written examination. Candidates must also demonstrate relevant education and experience.  View a flowchart of the eligibility and recertification process.

Requirements for Certification

Written Examination:  A candidate must have passed the written certification examination within three years prior to the date of Schroeder Measurement Technologies, Inc. (SMT) receipt of the application for certification. There are no training, educational, or work experience requirements needed to register for and sit for the certification examination. The certification application requires a copy of the certification examination results statement documenting the date of passing the examination. Passing the exam is only once piece of the process to become certified. Once you pass the exam you will still not be considered certified until you are able to meet the experience, education and standards of practice requirements listed below.

Education:  Certification requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited institution of higher education. Those who do not hold a bachelor's degree may submit evidence of a comparable university degree. The Eligibility Committee may also consider relevant professional experience or academic work in place of a bachelor's degree. Candidates may submit proof of relevant professional experience to the Eligibility Committee for individual consideration.

Work Experience:  Certification requires at least one year of full-time experience, or 2000 hours, in practice as an organizational ombudsman, (not including positions of mediator, ADR consultant, etc.) performing the full scope of Ombuds duties and adhering to the IOA Code of Ethics (CoEs) and Standards of Practice (SoPs). Two years of 50% time experience, or four years of 25% time experience, in a qualifying organizational ombuds role would also satisfy this eligibility requirement. This professional experience must be within the four-year period preceding the date of SMT's receipt of the application for certification. In order to demonstrate that the requirement of experience practicing as an organizational ombuds with adherence to the IOA CoEs and SoPs has been met, the candidate should submit copies of an office charter and/or brochure, reference to an office website, job description and standards of practice, and verification of length of employment from the relevant employer(s) of record. A representative of the Eligibility Committee may contact an applicant if additional information or clarification of submitted information is required.

Application for Certification:  Certification also 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, and a signed copy of the Certification Agreement Form, in which the applicant agrees to comply with Board of Certification policies and procedures.

There are no training, educational, or work experience requirements needed to register for and sit for the certification examination. An individual who has passed the examination, but who does not meet the other eligibility requirements for certification, may not claim to hold certification status. Any individual who uses the certification designation before having been awarded certification by the Board of Certification may be ineligible for certification in the future.