Competence
Mediators maintain high standards of competence. Recognizing the boundaries of their competence and the limitations of their techniques, they only provide services or use techniques for which they are qualified by training and experience, using consultation from other professionals as appropriate. They maintain knowledge of current professional information related to the services they render. Mediators accurately represent their competence, education, training, and experience.   
The role of the mediator is to serve as an impartial third party with responsibility for structuring and monitoring the process of decision making between the parties. Mediators can serve effectively only when all parties to the dispute are confident of the mediator's impartiality. Mediators shall disclose to both parties any ties, association, or potential biases they may have in working with either party. This includes acknowledgment of any prior relationship with either of the parties to the dispute. Mediators have a duty to disclose at the earliest appropriate time to the parties involved all contacts between the mediator(s) and either party or any other relevant third party, including the clients' attorneys. Mediators assume the responsibility for withdrawing from a case if they believe or perceive that there is a clear conflict of interest, or if a bias emerges that interferes with the mediation, regardless of the expressed desires of the parties.

Formal Education / Training
Mediators may hold a bachelor's degree; a master's degree; a J.D. degree; or equivalent training or experience in mental health or related disciplines. Mediators are to be members in good standing in the professional organizations of their disciplines.

Training
Most mediators have undergone at least forty hours of training specifically in mediation, led by qualified mediators and/or by a recognized training organization before representing themselves to the public as mediators. Some may have learned mediation through teaching related courses, providing training, judging mediation competitions, etc. Qualified divorce mediators should have at least a basic awareness of applicable family law and training in the divorce process, conflict management, family systems and therapy, child development, and the effect of divorce upon children. Mediators ideally are able to recognize the impact of culture and diversity on the mediation process

Self-Monitoring, Personal Functioning, and Bias
Mediators recognize that their capacity to mediate successfully depends in part on their ability to maintain effective interpersonal relations. They  refrain from undertaking any mediation in which their personal problems are likely to lead to inadequate professional services or harm to a client.

A mediator should recognize a family situation involving child abuse or neglect and shall take appropriate steps to shape the mediation process accordingly. Terms such as child abuse or neglect are defined by applicable state law. A mediator should not undertake a mediation in which the family situation has been assessed to involve child abuse or neglect without appropriate and adequate training. If the mediator has reasonable grounds to believe that a child of the participants is abused or neglected within the meaning of the jurisdiction's child abuse and neglect laws, the mediator shall comply with applicable child protection laws.

Confidentiality
Mediation proceedings and all information obtained from and about the participants through the mediation process are treated as confidential subject to state law. This requirement may only be waived by informed written consent of both parties and the mediator. The mediator shall refrain from knowingly or intentionally releasing information that might possibly impact legal proceedings. Where there is clear and imminent danger to an individual or to society, the obligation of the mediator to maintain confidentiality may not apply.