Court-Certified Mediator Qualification Requirements by State

General Requirements:

The Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution maintains a roster of court-certified mediators. To be included on the roster, a mediator must satisfy any one of the following criteria: 

1) Be licensed as an attorney in any U.S. state or the District of Columbia and in good standing with at least four years of legal or judicial experience; or be a licensed attorney who, within the two years preceding application, has completed an approved law school clinical mediation course and participated as the sole or co-mediator in at least 10 mediations.

2) Have either a baccalaureate degree and at least five years of management or administrative experience in a professional, business, or governmental entity, or a high school diploma and eight years of such experience, and have served as the mediator in at least 10 mediations. All applicants must complete a 20-hour mediation training program approved by the Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution within the two years preceding application. The training must include Alabama mediator ethics education and mock mediation exercises.

General Requirements:

In Alaska, there are no state licensing, certification, or mandatory training requirements for mediators, and anyone can offer mediation services. Courts and parties may consider training, experience, or credentials when choosing a mediator, but there is no statewide regulator or official certification. Because Alaska imposes no legal requirements, mediator education, training, and experience vary widely. Parties (and, where applicable, judges) decide what level of skill, training, or experience they want in a mediator and may use professional credentials, training certificates, or professional affiliations to guide that decision. The Alaska Court System does not maintain a mandatory roster or licensing process for mediators; instead, court-connected mediation programs typically operate on a case-by-case referral basis, and mediators are chosen by the parties or through local program procedures.

The Alaska Judicial Council has historically published a Consumer Guide to Selecting a Mediator to help parties evaluate a mediator’s training, experience, and skills when choosing one, though this guide is not a licensing or regulatory document. To help parties choose a qualified mediator, the Alaska Judicial Council publishes a free guide titled Consumer Guide to Selecting a Mediator.

General Requirements:

For court-connected family mediator rosters (such as Maricopa County Superior Court), applicants are typically asked to document professional mediation experience, including the number of family mediations conducted and related ADR services. Local court applications require proof of training and experience, but do not prescribe a single statewide experience requirement for all Arizona mediators.

Educational Requirements:

1. Many court-connected family mediator rosters in Arizona require completion of an approved 40-hour family mediation training program, often completed within a recent time window (such as five years), as part of mediator eligibility for that local roster.

OR

2. Some local court mediator rosters in Arizona (e.g., Maricopa County) require applicants to show completion of a 40-hour basic mediation training, an approved 20-hour advanced family mediation training, and compliance with local procedural requirements for training on issues such as domestic violence and child abuse (including periodic continuing training) to maintain eligibility on that roster.

General Requirements:

Refer to the Arkansas Judiciary’s Minimum Standards for Basic Mediation Training and Continuing Mediation Education Requirements for Certified Mediators. The Arkansas Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission maintains the Roster of Certified Mediators for Arkansas Circuit Courts, listing mediators qualified to serve in Civil, Domestic Relations, Probate, and Juvenile matters. 

To be included on the roster, applicants must complete at least 40 hours of mediation training approved by the Commission. For divisions such as Domestic Relations and Juvenile, applicants may also qualify by completing a 40-hour basic course plus a 20-hour family mediation component or a 40-hour family mediation course approved by the Commission, with training generally completed within the certification period. Applicants who took training outside Arkansas must also complete the Commission’s Mediator Ethics, Law and General Practices in Arkansas course. 

Education requirements for certification on the Arkansas Circuit Court mediator roster vary by division but generally require a strong academic or professional background. Applicants may qualify with a master’s degree or higher, a juris doctorate, or a bachelor’s degree combined with a graduate certificate in conflict resolution. In some divisions, a bachelor’s degree accompanied by relevant professional experience in family or related fields may also qualify. Alternatively, the Commission may approve applicants who demonstrate substantial, satisfactory knowledge, skills, and experience in mediation appropriate to the division for which they are applying.

General Requirements:

California does not impose a single statewide certification requirement for civil mediators; instead, each superior court establishes its own qualifications for inclusion on court-connected ADR panels. The Judicial Council of California provides Model Qualification Standards for Mediators in Court-Connected Mediation Programs for General Civil Cases to guide courts in developing their local requirements. The Model Standards recommend a minimum of 40 hours of basic mediation training covering core mediation skills and ethics, along with observation or co-mediation of at least two mediations totaling at least 4 hours under the supervision of a qualified mentor mediator. The Standards also recommend that mediators demonstrate knowledge of the California court system and civil litigation process through legal education, professional experience, or equivalent training.

General Requirements:

Colorado does not license mediators at the state level; however, the Colorado Judicial Branch’s Office of Dispute Resolution (ODR) maintains qualification standards for mediators seeking inclusion on its statewide roster for court-referred cases. The ODR establishes training, competency, and experience requirements depending on the type of roster for which an applicant seeks inclusion. Generally, applicants must complete at least 40 hours of approved mediation training that includes core mediation skills, ethics instruction, and supervised practice components. Experience requirements vary by roster category, and mediators may qualify through approved training pathways and demonstrated competency rather than a fixed minimum number of previously mediated cases. Applicants are also expected to demonstrate familiarity with Colorado court procedures and the litigation process relevant to the types of disputes they handle.

General Requirements:

Connecticut does not have a statewide licensing or certification requirement to practice mediation, and a law degree is not required to work as a mediator. However, the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch operates a broad set of court-sponsored ADR programs—such as arbitration, attorney trial referee proceedings, court-annexed mediation, foreclosure mediation, and family services mediation—each with its own procedures and, where applicable, its own panel or program expectations. As a result, training and qualifications can vary depending on the type of case (civil, family, foreclosure, etc.) and whether the mediation is court-connected or private. 

General Requirements:

Delaware does not have a single statewide mediator license, but the Delaware Superior Court runs a court-connected ADR program and maintains a court-approved mediator roster/directory for Superior Court matters; mediators are generally expected to meet the Court’s roster standards (including completion of Superior Court–sanctioned mediation training/recertification as set out in Superior Court administrative directives and related program materials), and eligibility requirements can differ depending on the court and the specific ADR program involved.

General Requirements:

The DC Courts’ Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division trains and places volunteer mediators into program-specific rosters (e.g., Family, Child Protection, Small Claims, Landlord/Tenant, Civil), and the onboarding path generally includes selection into a program, completing that program’s training and required mentorship, mediating an initial set of cases as part of the training progression, and serving a probationary period with expectations that vary by program. Civil, Tax, and Probate mediation applicants must be attorneys admitted to the bar in any U.S. state, while Multi-Door’s other mediation programs do not require a specific professional credential to apply (though rosters may not always be open).

General Requirements:

Florida mediators who want to handle court-referred matters must be Florida Supreme Court–certified through the Florida Dispute Resolution Center (DRC), which requires applicants to be at least 21, meet good-moral-character standards, and qualify under a points-based system that credits education, mediation experience, and mentorship. Applicants must also complete a Florida Supreme Court–certified mediation training program (typically a minimum of 30 hours, with the training counting toward the required points).

General Requirements:

Georgia does not “certify” mediators statewide; instead, neutrals who want to handle court-connected cases must be registered with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution (GODR) and listed on the public registry. Training and practicum requirements vary by registration category (for example, General Civil requires an approved training course plus observation and a practicum, and Domestic Relations requires a longer approved training course plus additional practicum/observation steps).

General Requirements:

Hawaii does not have a statewide “license” or “certification” requirement for mediators; the Hawaii State Judiciary’s Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution (CADR) provides court ADR information and encourages mediators to follow the Guidelines for Hawaii Mediators. Court-connected referrals are often routed to community mediation centers or private mediators, and training/participation requirements are typically set by the local center or program rather than a single statewide credential. 

General Requirements:

In Idaho, each trial court administrator maintains a list of mediators who meet the qualifications in Idaho Court Administrative Rule (I.C.A.R.) 73, and the Administrative Director of the Courts compiles and distributes that list at least annually. To be included, a mediator must be a member of the Idaho State Bar, have been admitted to practice law for at least five years, and have completed a minimum of 40 hours of mediation training; to remain on the list, mediators must complete at least 5 hours of additional training every 3 calendar years.

General Requirements:

Illinois does not have a single statewide civil mediator “certification” for court referrals; instead, the Illinois Supreme Court authorizes circuits to establish mediation programs and adopt local rules, so mediator qualifications are set at the circuit level. As a result, requirements to be “court-approved” vary by circuit (for example, some circuits require retired judges or Illinois attorneys in good standing, plus Chief Judge–approved mediation training and other experience criteria). 

General Requirements:

Indiana maintains a statewide Mediator Registry and sets mediator qualifications in the Indiana Rules for Alternative Dispute Resolution (effective January 1, 2025). For civil cases, a registered mediator must be an attorney in good standing and must complete 40 hours of Commission-approved civil mediation training (recently or paired with CME); all registered mediators must complete at least 6 hours of approved Continuing Mediation Education in each three-year education period, and domestic-relations mediators may qualify as attorneys or with an approved degree pathway.

General Requirements:

Iowa maintains a statewide list of approved family law mediators, and the Judicial Branch notes that mediators must have at least 40 hours of mediation training to be on the list. Individual judicial districts may set additional roster pathways or experience thresholds (for example, some district rosters allow eligibility through 60 hours of divorce/custody mediation training plus recent case experience).

General Requirements:

Kansas court-approved mediators are approved under the Kansas Supreme Court Rules administered through the Kansas Judicial Branch dispute resolution program. Applicants must complete approved core mediation training (typically 16–24 hours, depending on the approved course) and satisfy the co-mediation/mentor requirement (three cases under an approved mentor mediator); additionally, program-specific training is required for certain case types (e.g., domestic, juvenile dependency, general civil).

General Requirements:

To be listed on Kentucky’s roster of court-approved mediators, applicants must complete 40 hours of mediation training through an approved program and also complete 15 hours of hands-on experience in at least three cases under the guidance of a qualified mentor mediator. Family mediators must also complete training that addresses topics such as domestic violence/interpersonal violence, either within the 40-hour program or in addition to it.

General Requirements:

Louisiana maintains separate mediator registers (including Civil, Juvenile, and Child Custody/Visitation) with requirements that vary by register and are tied to Louisiana statutes and registry rules. For example, the Louisiana Mediator Registry Requirements outline the training, eligibility, and renewal standards for each register, and applicants must meet the specific criteria for the register(s) they seek.

General Requirements:

Maine’s Judicial Branch (CADRES) maintains statewide rosters of neutrals for court ADR, and qualifications differ by roster and process type (e.g., mediation, arbitration, ENE). Generally, Maine’s roster standards require documented training and experience in mediation plus subject-matter/court-procedure competence, with ongoing continuing professional education required to remain active on the roster. 

General Requirements:

A minimum 40 hours of basic mediation training is a requirement for anyone who wishes to mediate in the courts. Other basic qualifications include experience mediating or co-mediating at least two civil cases and completion of four hours of continuing mediation education per year. Court-designated mediators must also meet additional requirements to be listed on specific mediation rosters (e.g., Business and Technology, Economic Issues in Divorce and Annulment, Healthcare Practice). Mediators may also become “certified” by the Maryland Council for Dispute Resolution (MCDR) and Community Mediation Maryland (CMM) through a performance-based assessment process.

General Requirements:

Mediators of the courts must undergo specific training. In Massachusetts, mediators do not apply directly to the court; the court contracts with approved programs to provide mediators. It is the responsibility of these approved programs to ensure that their mediators meet the requirements of Massachusetts’ Guidelines for Implementation and Qualification Standards for Neutrals. General qualifications for court-connected mediators include completion of at least 30 hours of basic mediation training, at least one observation of a mediation and one mediation with, or observed by, a skilled mentor.

General Requirements:

Michigan’s State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) Office of Dispute Resolution (ODR) publishes the qualification standards used for court mediator rosters, with different requirements for general civil and domestic relations mediators. In general, civil roster mediators qualify through a JD/graduate conflict-resolution degree or by documenting recent mediation experience, while domestic relations mediators may qualify through a degree pathway or an experience-based waiver and must complete required advanced training to remain roster-eligible.

General Requirements:

Minnesota requires mediators of the court to undergo training in the type of law. Court rosters are overseen by the State Court Administration. To become a court-qualified neutral, mediators must take an ADR that meets the requirements in Rule 114.13: (a) Civil mediation–30 hours of basic training including at least 15 hours of role-play, or (b) family mediation–40 hours of basic training including at least six hours each of family law and domestic abuse, five hours of family economics, four hours each of conflict theory, psychological issues, and issues of children in divorce and two hours of ethics training. Qualified neutrals must also complete at least 18 hours of continuing ADR education within each three-year period.

General Requirements:

Mississippi courts are encouraged (not required) to select mediators from the Mississippi Bar’s Mediators Directory (the Court-Annexed Mediation Program list), and inclusion is limited to Mississippi Bar members in good standing who have completed at least 14 hours of approved mediation training and at least 6 hours of continuing education every two years thereafter.

General Requirements:

Missouri does not license mediators statewide, but courts may use approved rosters and impose local qualifications; statewide authority for court-connected mediation is anchored in Missouri Supreme Court Rules, including Rule 17 (ADR in civil matters) and Rule 88 (domestic relations/paternity mediation programs, including mediator qualification provisions). 

General Requirements:

Montana does not impose a statewide mediator licensing requirement, and courts may refer cases to mediators through local practices. The Montana Supreme Court also operates Mandatory Appellate Mediation for certain appeals under Montana Rules of Appellate Procedure Rule 7, with mediation administered through the Clerk’s Office program.

General Requirements:

Nebraska’s Office of Dispute Resolution (ODR), created under the Nebraska Dispute Resolution Act, supports court-connected mediation primarily through a statewide network of ODR-approved nonprofit mediation centers that provide services to the courts and communities. Individuals who want to mediate court-connected cases typically do so by affiliating with a local ODR-approved mediation center, which sets its own onboarding, training, and apprenticeship requirements consistent with ODR standards.

General Requirements:

Nevada’s court-annexed mediation operates under statewide rules, and each ADR commissioner creates and maintains mediator panels, including a panel of Nevada-licensed attorney mediators and a separate panel of non-attorney mediators, with appointments and additional requirements governed by local court rules. Under the Nevada Mediation Rules, mediators must generally have at least 10 years of civil experience as a practicing attorney or judge, or at least 5 years’ experience as a mediator, or be a senior judge/justice, though judicial districts may impose additional roster requirements. 

General Requirements:

The New Hampshire Judicial Branch provides court-connected mediation and, for certain family matters (such as divorce/parenting mediation), the court contracts with New Hampshire Certified Family Mediators. Certification and public listings of Certified Family Mediators are maintained by the state’s professional credentialing authority (OPLC), while court programs use certified mediators and may have case-type specific participation requirements. 

General Requirements:

New Jersey does not license private mediators, but mediators who want court appointments must be approved for the Judiciary’s mediator rosters under Court Rule 1:40-12. For example, admission to the Superior Court civil roster requires completion of an approved 40-hour mediation training and a mentoring requirement (at least 5 hours in at least 2 Superior Court cases), along with any additional educational/experiential criteria required by the Judiciary for the specific roster.

General Requirements:

In New Mexico, most court mediation services are administered locally through district court ADR programs with their own policies and approved neutrals, while some statewide programs (including Children’s Court Mediation and others) are administered through the Judiciary’s ADR office. The New Mexico Judiciary ADR site maintains up-to-date information on district court ADR programs and notes that judicial districts may establish domestic relations mediation programs by court rule, subject to Supreme Court approval.

General Requirements:

Anyone can volunteer as a mediator in NY. Court rosters require experience and training. A District Administrative Judge in New York may compile rosters in his or her judicial district of neutrals who are qualified to receive referrals from the court. Court-based mediation rosters generally require a combination of mediation training and experience. General requirements for appointment to a court roster include at least 40 hours of approved training. Individual jurisdictions may impose additional requirements. Contact your local court for more information.

General Requirements:

The North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission (DRC) certifies mediators for four court-based programs: Superior Court Mediated Settlement Conference (MSC), Family Financial Settlement (FFS), the Clerk Mediation Program, and the District Criminal Court Mediation Program, and each program has its own certification standards and application materials. Mediators who want to take court referrals must apply under the specific program category they intend to serve. 

General Requirements:

In North Dakota, the State Court Administrator maintains statewide ADR rosters, and parties may also select a neutral who is not on the roster (with certain exceptions for contested child matters). Civil roster mediators must complete 30 hours of mediation training, including at least 15 hours of role-playing, plus 9 hours of continuing mediation training every three years, while domestic relations/contested child rosters require 40 hours of domestic relations mediation training (including 2 hours of domestic abuse training) plus continuing training and specified degree/license prerequisites. 

General Requirements:

Ohio does not license mediators statewide; instead, courts set local mediation rules consistent with Sup.R. 16, including mediator education/training requirements. Under Sup.R. 16.23, mediators must complete Supreme Court–approved Fundamentals of Mediation Training, and for domestic relations/juvenile referrals (e.g., divorce, parenting, protection orders), mediators must also meet degree/experience prerequisites and complete Supreme Court–approved Specialized Family/Divorce Mediation Training and Specialized Domestic Abuse Issues and Mediation Training (with limited co-mediation/law-student exceptions). 

General Requirements:

Under Oklahoma’s District Court Mediation Act, a district court may maintain a list of qualified mediators to help parties select a mediator, and the minimum qualifications depend on the case type. For civil and commercial matters, mediators must either be certified under the Dispute Resolution Act or complete at least 24 hours of mediation training (as specified in the statute), while divorce and family mediators must complete at least 40 hours of training in family and divorce mediation; local courts may have additional requirements.

General Requirements:

In Oregon, qualifications for court-referred mediators are governed by the Oregon Judicial Department’s court-connected mediator qualification framework, with requirements varying by roster type (e.g., General Civil, Domestic Relations Custody/Parenting Time, and Domestic Relations Financial mediators). The Oregon Judicial Department directs applicants to the controlling standards in UTCR 12.060 (civil), UTCR 12.070 (domestic relations custody/parenting), and UTCR 12.080 (domestic relations financial), and local courts provide instructions for applying for roster inclusion.

General Requirements:

In Pennsylvania, minimum mediator qualifications depend on the program and case type; for custody actions, Pa.R.C.P. 1940.4 sets statewide minimum qualifications and allows local courts to maintain rosters and impose additional criteria. Rule 1940.4 requires, among other things, a bachelor’s degree with relevant practical experience, approved training in domestic/family violence or child abuse and an approved divorce/custody mediation program, professional liability insurance, and supervised case experience before serving as a custody mediator. 

General Requirements:

Rhode Island’s Family Court Mediation Program provides a court-based mediation service for eligible matters before the Family Court, and many cases are referred through the court (including automatic referrals in certain “miscellaneous” parentage/custody matters). Rhode Island does not license or certify private mediators statewide, so private mediators typically follow voluntary standards set by professional organizations (for example, the Rhode Island Mediators Association) or by the specific programs they work with. 

General Requirements:

South Carolina court-referred mediators are certified under the South Carolina Supreme Court’s ADR Rules, with applications reviewed by the Board of Arbitrator and Mediator Certification, which is supported administratively by the South Carolina Bar and maintains the official roster of active certified mediators. Certification requirements vary by Circuit Court versus Family Court mediator categories and are governed by Supreme Court rule, rather than a general statewide “mediator license.”

General Requirements:

South Dakota’s minimum qualifications for court-appointed family court mediators are set by SDCL § 25-4-58.1, which requires 40 hours of mediation training plus consultation/experience in actual mediation sessions (at least three sessions with an approved mediator), unless the court approves an experience-based alternative of five years’ custody/visitation mediation experience with at least 20 mediations during that period. The state maintains approved mediator rosters consistent with these statutory requirements. 

General Requirements:

In Tennessee, mediators who want to handle court-referred mediations must be listed under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31, which is administered by the Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission; private-sector mediation is not subject to Rule 31 listing requirements. Rule 31 has two listing categories—General Civil and Family—and applicants may seek one or both, but listing requires meeting Rule 31’s education/work-experience qualifications and completing ADR Commission–approved training: 40 hours for General Civil and 46 hours for Family (with additional family-law/court-procedure training requirements applicable to Family listing). 

General Requirements:

Under the Texas Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, courts appoint mediators as “impartial third parties,” and the baseline statutory qualification is at least 40 classroom hours of training in dispute resolution techniques in a course conducted by an ADR system or other dispute resolution organization approved by the appointing court. For disputes relating to the parent–child relationship, the mediator must also complete an additional 24 hours of training in family dynamics, child development, and family law, including at least 4 hours of family-violence dynamics training. In appropriate circumstances, a court may still appoint a mediator who does not meet the standard training requirements based on the mediator’s legal or other professional training or experience in relevant dispute resolution processes.

General Requirements:

The Administrative Office of the Courts maintains the Utah State Court Roster. To be eligible to be on the Court Roster, applicants must have successfully completed at least 40 hours of formal mediation training, at least 10 hours of experience observing a court-qualified mediator conduct mediation and at least 10 hours either conducting mediations singly or co-mediating with a court-qualified mediator. Mediators must meet additional requirements to be included on the Court Roster for Qualified Divorce Mediators.

General Requirements:

Court-connected family mediators in Vermont must meet the qualification standards established by the Vermont Judiciary for the Superior Court Family Mediation Program, which include substantial training in divorce mediation, family dynamics, domestic abuse, and Vermont family law, as well as significant family mediation experience (including solo mediation experience in divorce or parentage matters). Training and experience requirements are detailed by the Judiciary and exceed basic mediation training thresholds common in other states.

General Requirements:

In Virginia, individuals may practice mediation privately without certification, but court-referred mediators must be certified by the Supreme Court of Virginia’s Dispute Resolution Services (DRS) in accordance with the state’s certification guidelines. Certification requires at least a bachelor’s degree, completion of approved mediation training, and additional court-specific instruction, with separate certification categories for General District Court, Circuit Court–Civil, Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, and Circuit Court–Family.

General Requirements:

Washington does not license mediators statewide; instead, court-connected mediation services are often provided through local Dispute Resolution Centers (DRCs) or court-approved rosters, each with its own training and participation requirements. Many DRC programs require foundational mediation training and periodic continuing education, though standards vary by center and program.

General Requirements:

Court-connected mediator qualifications are governed by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals’ court rules (not a State Bar certification system), and Family Court mediators are subject to separate oversight by the West Virginia Judiciary; approved training and eligibility standards vary by court and case type.

General Requirements:

For court referrals in custody/placement matters, Wis. Stat. § 767.405 requires 25 hours of mediation training (or 3 years’ mediation experience) plus 3 hours of domestic violence training, and individual counties may impose additional roster requirements.

General Requirements:

Wyoming does not have a single statewide licensing or certification requirement for court-connected mediators generally, and courts may set their own expectations when approving mediators for referrals. However, the Wyoming Department of Agriculture operates a statewide Agriculture & Natural Resource Mediation Program with formal mediator qualifications. To serve as a program mediator, applicants must complete at least 30 hours of Board-approved mediation training. Mediator certificates are reviewed and renewed biennially; for recertification, mediators must provide evidence of at least 8 hours of additional mediation-process skills training completed since their last certification.