The FMSB will commence re-accreditation of family mediators in October 2017.
The requirements for renewal of accreditation themselves are set out in the Standards Framework, as are provisions for late re-accreditation, appeals against refusal to re-accredit and people seeking re-accreditation after their accreditation has lapsed.
Re-accreditation is required once every three years, but for mediators who transferred in to FMCA on 1.1.15, the first re-accreditation date may be different. This is to help avoid the administrative problems that would arise if a vast amount of mediators have to re-accredit at the same time every three years.
Mediators who transferred in to FMCA on 1.1.15 will be required to re-accredit as follows:
| Mediators with surnames beginning | Date of re-accreditation application |
| A – D | October – December 2017 |
| E – L | March – May 2018 |
| M – R | June – August 2018 |
| S – Z | September – November 2018 |
You will be able to apply for re-accreditation at any time during the given period.
To apply for re-accreditation, you will need to complete and submit the re-accreditation form. Please read the guidance carefully before you complete the form. There is no additional fee for re-accreditation.
If all criteria in the standards are met, re-accreditation will be awarded. If the criteria are not met, or if there is uncertainty about whether they have been met, the FMSB will ask for clarification and for you to propose an action plan. Following unsuccessful recourse to these measures, the FMSB may refuse to re-accredit. An appeals process will be available in this instance.
Mediators who are PPCs are also required to renew their PPC status at the same time as their accreditation.
If you successfully renew your accreditation, you will be told the date on which this was awarded. Your next re-accreditation date will be three years from that point (i.e. if your first re-accreditation date is 31.5.18, you will next need to apply for re-accreditation before 31.5.21).
If you are a member of the Law Society’s Family Mediation Accreditation, you can choose to wait to hear further regarding the renewal of your FMCA status with the Law Society and its own re-accreditation process, or renew your FMCA status with the FMC following this process and in accordance with this timetable. If you are a PPC, you must ensure you renew your PPC registration through the FMSB’s published re-accreditation process, irrespective of your route to FMCA status.
