CESSATION OF THE SIMI CREDENTIALLING SCHEME

The Singapore International Mediation Institute will cease its Credentialing Scheme for mediators on 31 March 2027 and terminate its Partner Scheme for all mediation training and service providers on 30 October 2026. SIMI Accredited Mediators will continue to be accredited at their current level until 31 March 2027. 

SIMI will begin winding down its operations after 30 October 2026, in tandem with the above. 

1.   Questions on the outcome of the review of SIMI’s accreditation schemes

1.1   Will there be a new accrediting body?

• There will not be a new accrediting body following SIMI’s cessation.  
  

1.2.  How will parties/clients continue to be assured of mediators’ professional standards without accreditation? 

• Mediation institutions, including both training providers and service providers, have strong governance frameworks in place to refine their training processes, empanel mediators and address any complaints of mediators’ misconduct. 
• These institutional processes, together with mediators’ demonstrated competence, experience and professional track record, are the primary means by which quality and user confidence are maintained.

2.   Continuity of Accreditation Status

2.1   Will my SIMI accreditation status continue in perpetuity? 

• No, your SIMI accreditation status will cease after 31 March 2027. 

2.2   Why will SIMI accreditation cease only after 31 March 2027? 

• Existing SIMI Accredited Mediators will continue to be recognised until 31 March 2027. This provides a reasonable transition period following the announcement, even as SIMI winds down its substantive operations by the end of 2026.

2.3   Can I continue to call myself a SIMI Accredited Mediator? 

• SIMI Accredited Mediators may continue to refer to themselves as such until 31 March 2027. The SIMI register of mediators found at www.simi.org.sg will cease to exist online after 31 March 2027.  After this date, if you wish to refer to your past association with SIMI, please refer to Qn 2.5 below.  

2.4   Can I continue to use the SIMI logo on my resume, website, LinkedIn, or business proposals?

• You may continue to do so until 31 March 2027. SIMI Accredited Mediators should not use the SIMI name and logo after 31 March 2027.    

2.5   Can I continue to refer to the fact that I had attained SIMI accreditation? 

• After 31 March 2027, you may refer to your SIMI accreditation during the period for which you were accredited by SIMI, e.g. SIMI-accredited mediator (DD/MM/YYYY to 31 March 2027). The proof of the start date of your accreditation status can be evidenced by the Welcome Letter issued to you upon your SIMI accreditation. Alternatively, you may indicate you were a SIMI Accredited Mediator “until 31 March 2027”.
• If you no longer have a copy of your Welcome Letter, or are unsure if you had received one, you may write to SIMI to request for a copy at admin@simi.org.sg by 31 August 2026. 

2.6   Will SIMI be able to issue SIMI Accredited Mediators with a letter confirming they are listed on the SIMI register? 

• Your status as a SIMI Accredited Mediator will remain valid until 31 March 2027. The SIMI register of SIMI Accredited Mediators, which can serve as evidence of your SIMI accreditation, will remain available at www.simi.org.sg until 31 March 2027. We will therefore not be issuing letters to individual mediators confirming their accreditation.  
• Regarding evidence of your accreditation status, please refer to Qn 2.5 above. 

2.7   Will SIMI Accredited Mediators receive a formal letter or certificate on the cessation of SIMI Accreditation? 

• Yes, mediators would have received an email on 31 July 2026 informing you about the cessation of the SIMI Credentialling Scheme. 

2.8    I signed up and paid for an event to fulfil SIMI's renewal requirements (to be fulfilled in 2028), but now we are told that accreditation will no longer exist. Will SIMI reimburse me for such expenses incurred? 

• SIMI is unable to reimburse expenses paid towards events by other organisers, and for services rendered by another provider. 

2.9   As a new applicant/newly accredited mediator, the period of accreditation I have is only a very short one. Will SIMI consider extending the accreditation status of newly-accredited mediators beyond 31 March 2027?

• SIMI will:
  
  (i) Accredit all individuals whom SIMI Partners nominate for accreditation by 31 August 2026, assuming they have successfully passed an RTP within the last 2 years from the nomination date.
    
  (ii) Maintain a register of mediators on SIMI’s website up till 31 March 2027.  

3.  Industry Requirements

3.1   What happens if mediation service providers currently require SIMI accreditation for one to be considered for empanelment?

• SIMI Accredited Partners have been informed of SIMI’s cessation and are aware that they will need to adjust their requirements.  

4.  Cross-Recognition and Existing External Accreditations

To support SIMI Accredited Mediators during the period leading to 31 August 2026, SIMI will be facilitating contact with the International Mediation Institute (IMI) or the Alliance of Organisations for Mediation Standards (AMS) for Partners or mediators (as appropriate) who wish to seek accreditation with these organisations.

4.1   Can I be cross-recognised by IMI or AMS in the future? Will SIMI facilitate this application and if so, within what time frame? 

• Please let us know if you would like us to forward your application to be cross-recognised under the relevant scheme:
  
  (i) IMI, under the SIMI-IMI cross-recognition scheme for SIMI Certified Mediators; or
  
  (ii) AMS, under the AMS cross-recognition scheme for SIMI Level 2 mediators and above.

• Applications must be submitted by 31 August 2026, after which no further applications will be processed. All applications remain subject to the final decision of the relevant organisation (i.e. IMI or the relevant AMS member), notwithstanding SIMI’s cessation and the closure of its mediator register on 31 March 2027.

• Your accreditation status with SIMI will remain valid until 31 March 2027.