Certification

Join a distinguished pool of Certified Arbitrators.

An ARIAS•U.S. Certification demonstrates competence of the core principles and skills that are essential for parties involved in a dispute. Obtaining certification as an ARIAS•U.S. Certified Arbitrator is an accomplishment attained only by those who have demonstrated knowledge and experience in the industry and have completed a rigorous set of standards including training through ARIAS•U.S. educational programs to obtain the necessary skills to serve effectively on an insurance/reinsurance arbitration panel. Once certified, arbitrators are required to participate in ongoing professional development by completing recertification requirements every two years.

Certification Procedures

Application Process

1. Review the Eligibility Requirements for each certification program below
2. Complete an application once you’ve met all of the eligibility requirements

3. Submit the completed application to certification@arias-us.org.

CATEGORIESELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
  
MembershipARIAS·U.S. Member in good standing
Industry Experience Must have at least 10 years of specialization in the insurance/reinsurance industry
Arbitrator Experience/ Knowledge May be satisfied by either Option A, B or C listed here:
Option AParticipation as an Arbitrator or Umpire in two or more qualifying reinsurance arbitrations, totaling, in the aggregate, at least six (6) days of evidentiary hearings on the substantive merits of the parties’ dispute. Each arbitration must have included at least one (1) full day of hearings on the substantive merits of the parties dispute.
Option B1. Participation in an ARIAS·U.S. Intensive Training Workshop
AND
2. Participation as Arbitrator or Umpire in one or more qualifying insurance or reinsurance arbitrations, totaling, in the aggregate, at least three (3) days of evidentiary hearings on the substantive merits of the parties’ dispute. Each arbitration must have included at least one (1) full day of hearings on the substantive merits of the parties dispute.
Option C1. Have taken the Intensive Arbitrators Workshop within five (5) years prior to their application submission
AND
2. Earning of two (2) credits in one of five ways, as listed below:
Service as an insurance/reinsurance employee, company representative, lead trial counsel for arbitration, ARIAS·U.S. seminar, three live or on-demand webinars (or any combination), or Faculty at ARIAS seminar, conference or workshop. Click here to review the Option C credit options. (Have fulfilled the seminar or webinar requirement within five (5) years prior to their application submission.)
Recommendation Component1. Three (3) Sponsor recommendations from individual ARIAS·U.S. members you have known for at least five years
OR
2. Three (3) professional Sponsor recommendations from non-ARIAS members in addition to an interview with an ARIAS Board member.
OR
3. Any combination of three (3) ARIAS or non-ARIAS members. The use of non-ARIAS sponsors will require an interview.
Conference ComponentHave attended an ARIAS Conference within two (2) years prior to their application submission.
Ethics ComponentHave completed the ARIAS Ethics exam within two (2) years prior to their application submission.
CATEGORIESELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
  
MembershipARIAS·U.S. Member in good standing
Pre-requisite ARIAS·U.S. Certified Arbitrator
Signed Pledge Signed statement by applicant to serve in insurance and reinsurance disputes only in a neutral capacity.
CATEGORIESELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
  
MembershipARIAS·U.S. Member in good standing
Pre-requisite ARIAS·U.S. Certified Arbitrator
Arbitrator ExperienceMust satisfy requirements section II & III of the application as listed below:
Section II.Participation as an arbitrator or umpire in five (5) or more insurance or reinsurance arbitrations, each through to final award after completion of an evidentiary hearing of at least three (3) full days on the substantive merits of the parties' dispute ("Qualifying Arbitrations")
Section III.Completion of at least one (1) of the five (5) Qualifying Arbitrations described in Section II, above, within five (5) years prior to applying for umpire certification

Certification Applications

Ready to submit an application?  Download one of the applications below:

Application for Certification as an Arbitrator

Sponsor Questionnaire

Application for Certification as an Umpire

Application for Certification as a Neutral Arbitrator

For questions about the certification process, please review the Certification Procedures or contact certification@arias-us.org or 773-913-2004.

Recertification

For certified arbitrator status to be renewed, an arbitrator must be a current member of ARIAS•U.S. and satisfy the following additional requirements within the two years preceding the date of expiration. The renewal process is different and separate from meeting the certification requirements for the first time. You applied and were certified under the basic requirements. However, renewal takes place every two years from the end of the year of initial certification. See below for the renewal requirements.
Categories Requirements
Membership ARIAS·U.S. Member in good standing
Conference Requirement Attend at least one ARIAS·U.S. conference
Online Ethics Requirement Completion of an online Ethics Course
Educational Seminar Requirement Completion of an ARIAS•U.S. educational seminar, or three ARIAS•U.S. live webinars, or service as a faculty member at an ARIAS•U.S. conference, workshop, or training session.
To renew your Certified Neutral, Certified Umpire, or Qualified Mediator status, you must maintain the Certified Arbitrator status as described above.

Renewal FAQ’s

A: No. ARIAS•U.S. will keep track of your meeting attendance, faculty participation, and online ethics completion, although we suggest that you keep track as well. If, however, your participation as a faculty member was in a secondary role, such as a small group discussion leader or reporter, it does not apply. The year in which you are expected to renew, ARIAS•U.S. Staff will send you a list of remaining requirements. Upon expiration, if you have met the renewal requirements, your renewal certificate will be sent to you for the new certification period, based upon the ARIAS records.

A: If you do not meet the renewal requirements by the time of your expiration, your certification will be suspended and your name and arbitrator profile removed from the list of ARIAS certified arbitrators.
Become a Member
Since 1994, ARIAS•U.S. has been the leading not for profit trade association for the insurance and reinsurance industry. Join ARIAS•U.S. today and take advantage of the growing benefits and unique opportunities offered to members.
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