By Allison Monyei Whaley, CO-OP®, President of the Board of Certification, and Ellen Miller, Executive Director of IOA.
For those who attended last week’s conference, you likely had the pleasure of hearing the Mary Rowe Lecture delivered by Paul Sotoudeh, University Ombuds at the University of Rochester.
Among the many insights he shared was the compelling argument to elevate the global visibility of ombuds through a certification program that supports all ombuds, regardless of model or sector. IOA has done just that when it re-imagined its CO-OP certification program by creating the new Ombuds Certification Program —an inclusive umbrella designed to expand certification opportunities across and within ombuds models.
As many of you know, IOA sunset the CO-OP designation*, which certified individual organizational ombuds whose offices demonstrated compliance with IOA’s Standards of Practice. While valuable, the program presented challenges. The threshold for certification was difficult for many ombuds to meet, and the model itself limited certification to organizational ombuds and to a single designation.
Recognizing these limitations, the IOA Board and the Board of Certification set out to create a more flexible and scalable approach. Their goal was to expand certification pathways while leveraging the strong infrastructure already in place. In 2025, this vision materialized in the creation of the Ombuds Certification Program, designed not only to house IOA’s certifications but also to support designations developed in partnership with other ombuds organizations.
Current IOA Designations:
Under the Ombuds Certification Program umbrella, we currently offer two designations: individual certification called Certified Organizational Ombudsand certification to support offices called Certified Ombuds Program. Looking ahead, the Board of Certification has begun exploring additional pathways, including intermediate and advanced certifications, as well as sector-specific and role-based designations.
Potential Partnerships:
A promising early collaboration is underway with the United States Ombudsman Association (USOA) (see October 9 IV Blog Post). As USOA explores certification options for its members, IOA’s established infrastructure positions it as a natural partner.
Why This Matters:
As Paul emphasized, there is far more that ombuds have in common than our differences. Across models and sectors, ombuds serve as problem-solvers, pattern identifiers, and champions of fairness and effectiveness.
While IOA continues to focus globally on the organizational ombuds model, it also recognizes the importance of supporting peer associations and their efforts to acknowledge and elevate the contributions of their members. The Ombuds Certification Program reflects this broader commitment—one that strengthens the profession as a whole.
What You Can Do:
The Board of Certification invites those that are interested in being a part of this effort to serve as volunteers on committees. You do not have to be certified in order to volunteer. Serving provides an excellent opportunity to provide input and offer expertise as we continue to evolve this program. Please email [email protected] to express interest.
The Board of Certification will also host two information sessions - one for those who are currently certified ombuds and programs and one for those who might be interested in one or more designations. Both sessions will give attendees opportunities to learn more about the respective programs.
*Those currently certified as CO-OP are being transitioned to the new Certified Organizational Ombuds designation over the next few years.