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RPDR

Since 1997, CIIAN has offered the Registered Practitioner in Dispute Resolution (RPDR) – a professional designation for those whose work involves structured dispute resolution.

RPDR is a professional designation that recognises practitioners who combine formal training, verified experience, and ethical practice in their work with conflict.

Designed for more than mediators alone, RPDR applies to any professional whose role involves assisting others through disputes. It provides third-party recognition that a practitioner is prepared to work with conflict in a disciplined, impartial, and professional manner.

RPDR Requirements

RPDR recognises practitioners who combine formal training, real-world experience, and ethical practice. To qualify, applicants must demonstrate each of the following:

RPDR Requirements

  • Completion of CIIAN’s Learning Module I and Learning Module II (or approved equivalent)

  • A minimum of eighty (80) hours of professional practice in dispute resolution, including mediation, facilitation, or internal conflict resolution roles

  • Three (3) letters of reference from participants or stakeholders involved in your dispute resolution work

  • Two (2) letters of reference from professional peers

  • Execution of the following professional standards:

    • Declaration of Principles

    • Code of Conduct

    • Qualities of a Practitioner in Dispute Resolution

  • Registration fee of $525 + GST (one-time)

CONTINUING COMPETENCE PROGRAM (CCP)

As an on-going quality assurance mechanism and to support RPDR’s in their continuing professional development, RPDR’s must annually confirm compliance with the Continuing Competence Program (CCP).

The CCP is a mandatory requirement to undertake reflective learning activities to ensure RPDR’s are continuously meeting professional practice standards and enhancing knowledge and skill development.

There is no fee for the CCP.  RPDR’s must declare compliance with the CPP on an annual basis. 

Download CCP Guidelines

Declare CCP Compliance

RPDR FAQs

The RPDR designation establishes you as a recognised professional in dispute resolution. It signals that you have met rigorous standards for training, experience, and ethical practice, and that you can work competently inside real conflict – not just understand it in theory.

RPDR provides:

  • A clear professional signal of competence in dispute resolution

  • Recognition grounded in both formal training and verified practice

  • A credential that distinguishes you in workplaces, organisations, and consulting contexts

  • Public affirmation of your ethical standards and professional integrity

RPDR is not simply a course outcome. It reflects how you practise. It identifies professionals who can structure difficult conversations, manage dynamics under pressure, and help others move forward when it matters.

As CIIAN expands its professional ecosystem, RPDR holders will form the core community of recognised practitioners, with access to future professional pathways, partnerships, and practice opportunities.

Relevant experience for the RPDR designation includes professional activities in which an individual assists two or more parties involved in a clearly defined dispute, whether working jointly or separately with those parties.

This work must involve a structured conflict resolution process and uphold CIIAN’s ethical standards, including neutrality and impartiality. The intent is to recognise real dispute resolution practice across professions, while maintaining a clear threshold of rigour and professionalism.

This ensures that practitioners from diverse fields – including workplace, organisational, and internal roles – can qualify, provided their work reflects disciplined, process-driven dispute resolution rather than informal or ad hoc problem-solving.

No. RPDR recognises that many dispute resolution roles involve working with parties separately, particularly in workplace, institutional, or early-stage conflict contexts.

Experience may include shuttle-style processes, pre-mediation work, or other structured approaches in which the practitioner assists parties independently while maintaining neutrality, impartiality, and an intentional process.

What matters is not whether parties are in the room together, but whether the work reflects a structured, repeatable dispute resolution process, carried out with neutrality and ethical care – rather than informal back-and-forth or managerial intervention.

The 80 hours of experience needed for RPDR eligibility primarily come from post-training practice and should cover a range of dispute experiences. While up to 27 hours (about one-third) may be gathered before formal mediation training, a minimum of 53 hours must be obtained after completing such training.

For further information, please contact CIIAN to request the “RPDR Dispute Resolution Experience Log Template.” This template offers detailed guidance on identifying qualifying experiences and accurately recording them to meet the eligibility criteria.

There are two paths to becoming a Registered Practitioner in Dispute Resolution (RPDR):

  • Internal Training Path at CIIAN: This path includes completing CIIAN’s Learning Module One and Learning Module Two, followed by meeting the RPDR requirements outlined on this page.
  • Path for Externally Trained Applicants: This pathway allows for applicants who have received their initial training outside of CIIAN. It involves completing CIIAN’s Learning Module One and undergoing an equivalency assessment for Learning Module Two, which includes a role-play assessment. After these steps, externally trained applicants must fulfill the RPDR requirements outlined on this page.

All RPDR candidates must complete CIIAN’s Learning Module I. Equivalencies for Learning Module II may be granted for external mediation training on a case-by-case basis.

For non-approved programs, the equivalency process includes a detailed review of the external curriculum and an online role-playing simulation demonstrating proficiency in CIIAN’s core competencies. The standard fee for this assessment is $725.

For external programs that have been pre-approved by CIIAN, the curriculum review is waived. Candidates from these programs complete only the role-play assessment, at a reduced fee of $325.

This ensures that RPDR remains a personal professional designation, grounded in demonstrated practice, while recognising high-quality external training pathways.

Contact us for more information about your external training and the equivalency process.

Absolutely! CIIAN’s mediation program is accredited by IMI, enabling participants to either pursue the RPDR, the IMI Certified Mediator designation, or both.

Mediation requirements vary by jurisdiction, and in many regions, there is no overarching regulatory body mandating a professional designation to practice. In Canada, for example, there is no federal regulatory body governing mediators, though some provinces have specific requirements for certain types of mediation. While a designation is not always required, obtaining one—such as the RPDR—demonstrates a commitment to professional competence and ethical standards in dispute resolution. We recommend checking with your local jurisdiction to confirm any specific regulations or qualifications that may apply in your area.

Successful applicants may hold the designation of RPDR indefinitely provided that they annually submit their declaration of compliance with the Continuing Competence Program.

Please visit this page to declare compliance with CCP.

f you miss reporting compliance with the CCP, your designation will become inactive until CCP compliance is met.  Inactive RPDR’s are ineligible for membership benefits.  RPDR’s who do not report CCP for a period of three (3) years will be subject to a $225 RPDR reactivation fee.

No, there is no fee for renewal of the RPDR designation.  The only requirement is to self-report compliance with the Continuing Competence Program.

Begin by enrolling in Learning Module One at CIIAN, required for all applicants. If you have prior mediation training, contact CIIAN to determine if it’s pre-approved, in which case you’ll need to complete the role-playing simulation. If your training is not pre-approved, a full equivalency assessment will be necessary. Recognizing that professionals from various fields engage in dispute resolution, not just traditional mediators, CIIAN encourages you to consult with us to ensure your activities qualify as relevant experience to meet the 80-hour RPDR requirement.