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About the Board of Certification

The Board of Certification for Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioners (Board of Certification) is the certifying body authorized to award the Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner® (CO-OP® ) credential. The mission of the Board of Certification aims to:
  • Identify the body of knowledge necessary to perform the organizational ombuds job;
  • Establish the level of experience and other eligibility requirements for certification and recertification;
  • Encourage consistency of standards of practice for organizational ombuds practitioners;
  • Identify to their peers and to the public those organizational ombuds who have voluntarily sought and obtained certification; and
  • Promote the advancement of the organizational ombuds profession.

The Board of Certification is affiliated with the following organizations:

International Ombuds Association (IOA). IOA is the premier organization serving the organizational ombuds profession. The certification program for organizational ombuds practitioners was developed under the auspices of IOA over the course of five years of planning, seeking feedback from members, and assessing the results of a market survey. Although the Board of Certification is, and for the foreseeable future is expected to remain, a division of IOA, the Bylaws of the Board of Certification provide that the Board of Certification, not IOA or any other organization, has the sole discretion to manage and make all decisions relating to certification matters. Certification does not require membership in IOA, participation in IOA training, or attendance at IOA conferences.

Schroeder Measurement Technologies, Inc. (SMT). SMT is the testing service for the examination, successful completion of which is required for the CO-OP® certification credential. SMT is an established, full-service international testing company serving the needs of licensing boards and credentialing agencies with a wide range of test development services and testing services at hundreds of testing centers. Before the Board of Certification was established, IOA worked with SMT to conduct a market survey and a job analysis, which became the basis for the certification examination. SMT's testing products use the most appropriate psychometric and security techniques available.

Board Information & Policies

Board of Directors  

Standing Committees

Board Policies and Ethics Statement

Board of Certification By-laws

Use of Credential Policy

Ethics Complaint Procedure

Annual Reports & Past Exams

Summary of Cut Score Process

Frequently Asked Questions