Whistleblowers Protection
Advocate Certification

                                                                           

You will learn peer support skills, leadership development, and resilience to manage workplace conflict/abuse. Also, learn to mediate between employees and employers to resolve issues without the need for litigation.

Whistleblower Protection Certifications, please note there are four pathways detailed below. Upon completion the participant will receive an individualized certificate and an electronic badge.

Table of Contents


The Whistleblowers Protection Advocate certification “recognizes the need to rebalance access to justice and share information among employees who relate wrongdoing but suffer from retaliation and its psychosocial effects.”


Like Crime Victim Advocates or Ombuds, WPAs will support whistleblowers in decision-making, problem-solving, coping strategies, and resiliency. For example, WPAs could work with unions, law firms, journalists, elected officials, mental health centers, and/or employers.




The 4 Pathways for Whistleblower Protection Advocate

Be able to manage and respond to workplace conflict/abuse using peer support skills, leadership development, resilience. Able to mediate between employees and employers to resolve issues without the need for litigation. Gain Ethics CEUs for completing the class. This is used for professionals in the social services career field. 

General Pathway and Peer Network education for the general community

1.       Application

2.       Resume

3.       10 hours of education and training; Individualized hours and/or WPI Annual Conference

4.       Sign the WoA Code of Ethics

5.       Sign the Workplace Promise (Employee version)

6.       Authorization to join our database; one- paragraph biography, photo, and licensure

7.       Pay certification fee

Whistleblower Protection Mentor, WPM

(Individuals who want to volunteer as mentors through Whistleblower of America)

1.       Steps 1-7 noted above

2.       Sign WPM Mentor Agreement

3.       Cover letter to the committee explaining why you seek certification.

4.       Gather two letters of recommendation from people who can confirm your ability to advocate for and support individuals facing a challenge. Your recommenders should address their letters as follows: “Dear Whistleblower Protection Advocate Certification Committee:”

5.       An interview hosted by a WPI or WoA representative

Whistleblower Protection Mental Health Clinician, WP-MHC

(Mental Health Clinicians who want to service whistleblowers in their practice and/or clinicians who serve as expert witness in complex employment law, continued education required every two years)

1.       Steps 1-7 noted above

2.       Sign WP-MHC code of ethics

3.       10 additional mental health clinical hours; examples of subjects to be covered whistleblower retaliation, safety screening, identity disruption, psychological impact, utilization of screening tool. CEU certification pending

4.       Read “The Psychosocial Impacts of Whistleblower Retaliation: Shattering Employee Resilience and the Workplace Promise" by Jacqueline Garrick, Martina Buck

5.       Participate in 1 hour of a live clinical consultation

6.       Pass WP-MHC certification test

Workplace Promise Employer, WPE

(Employers who wish to establish a culture of whistleblower protection, investing in prevention and the educational skillset to respond to whistleblower concerns)

1.       Employer Application

2.       Company Letter of endorsement

3.       Sign the WoA Code of Ethics

4.       Sign the Workplace Promise (Employer version)

5.       Participate in 1 hour live discussion regarding implementation of WPE structure

6.       Authorization to join our Employer database; one- paragraph biography, photo, and licensure

7.       Pay certification fee

Application Process

You will complete your Whistleblower Protection Advocate (WPA) application by uploading several documents via Whispli. Some of these documents need to be filled out and signed; some will certify your completion of specific requirements. Some must be supplied to you by other people.

If a document must be signed, we will accept a scan of the printed and signed copy or a digital signature.

Please prepare your documents for upload as follows:

Whispli Application

Once you have gathered and completed these documents, click on the “Go to WPA Application on Whispli” button . You will be connected to the Whispli site, where you will set up a confidential account that will allow you to submit your application materials.


Please keep a record of your Whispli username because you will need it to revisit the site. Your Whispli username cannot be recovered if you forget it.


Other tips for using Whispli: All uploaded documents must be in a standard format (.doc or .pdf), virus-free, and cannot exceed 1GB in size.

If you need support when using Whispli, please send an e-mail describing your problem to info@whistleblowersofamerica.org.

Your information is entirely confidential.

Applications are seen only by WoA “Whistleblower Protection Advocate” Certification Committee members.

Our application platform is hosted securely by Whispli, a leader in privacy for whistleblowers. Whispli is GDPR compliant and ISO 27001 certified.

You can start the application process at any time and return to complete it at your leisure.

However, you MUST remember your Whispli username to log in again. Make a note!