Certification Requirements

For people who want to become a volunteer mediator, there are several options. The Department of Dispute Resolution of the Supreme Court of Virginia, (DDR) certifies mediators for both General and Family Mediation. There are a number of requirements in order for someone to be certified as either a General or Family mediator. In addition, after one is certified as a mediator they must be recertified every two years. If you are interested in becoming a mediator, click on any of the links below to see more information about the certification options the Center offers:

General Certification (General District Court)

Family Certification (Juvenile and Domestic Relations Mediations)

Mentor Certification

Recertification Requirements

Additional Information

Useful Documents

Non-Certification Practicum

1. Bachelor’s degree, relevant life experience, or an exemption from this requirement (see below)
2. Completion of a 20-hour certified Basic Mediation Training Course ($395)
3. Completion of a four-hour Orientation to the Virginia Judicial System ($95)
4. Two observations with a mentor mediator ($85/event or $125 if not trained at CMC)
5. Three co-mediations totaling at least five hours with a mentor mediator ($85/event or $125 if not trained at CMC)

Note: DDR may require applicants to conduct more than three co-mediations depending upon the evaluations of the Mentor(s).

In certain circumstances, applicants can have the first requirement waived by sending a letter of request to the Office of the Supreme Court. Click here to learn more.

Watch this video - the first 3 minutes outline the certification requirements and the last 7 minutes address specific responsibilites for mediators in training. Click here to see the video.

1. Bachelor's Degree, relevant life experience, or an exemption from this requiement. (See note above)
2. Completion of a 20-hour certified Basic Mediation Training Course ($395)
3. Completion of a 20-hour certified Family Mediation Training Course ($425)
4. Completion of a four-hour Orientation to the Virginia Judicial System ($95)
5. Completion of an eight-hour training in Domestic Violence in the Context of Mediation ($130)
6. Two family mediation observations with a mentor mediator ($85/event or $125 if not trained at CMC)
7. Five family co-mediations with a mentor mediator ($85/event or $125 if not trained at CMC)

Watch this video - the first 3 minutes outline the certification requirements and the last 7 minutes address specific responsibilites for mediators in training. Click here to see the video.

Mentor Certification

1. Certification as a General and/or Family Mediator
2. Completion of at least one recertification cycle (each recertification cycle is two years long)
3. Completion of Mentoring Others in Mediation ($95)

Recertification Requirements

1. Application from VA Supreme Court FORM ADR-1003 1/00 www.courts.state.va.us/drs/forms or call (804) 786-6455
2. Evidence of 5 complete cases OR total of 15 hours
3. General type cases for General Re-certification
4. Domestic Relations cases for JDR & Circuit Court Family (Circuit Court cases are not necessary to retain Circuit Court certification.)
5. Community Mediation Case Log listing: date, Center Case #, clients, # of hours, outcome, issues mediated (signed by Center staff) OR Agreement to Mediate forms & case tracking information
6. Evidence of 6 or 8 hours of approved training / education for General (ADR Forms) AND / OR
7. Evidence of 6 or 8 hours of approved training / education for Family (ADR Forms) PLUS
8. Evidence of 2 hours in mediation ethics
9. You may be able to use other professional training if it relates to mediation. Check out with Department of Dispute Resolution Services (DRS).You may need an agenda, proof of attendance, number of hours, etc.
10. Repeating Basic Courses such as Domestic Violence & Mediation DO NOT count toward re-certification. An advanced class updating Child Support skills & information would count. Mentoring Others in Mediation is approved for 4 hours General re-certification only.
11. Community Mediation Center trainings will indicate if they have been approved for Family, General, or Ethics. (MCEU’S). Virginia Mediation Network has 2 conferences a year with training.
12. Extensions or partial waivers to meet requirements may be requested from DRS, Office of the Executive Secretary. (They often do this.)
13. Client Evaluations or other communications concerning performance may be considered by DRS.

Additional information

• All certification requirements must be completed within 24 months after completing the core training.
• For both General and Family Certification, the final mediation must be completed primarily by the trainee
• All training must be approved and certified by the Department of Dispute Resolution Services.
• Mentors must be certified mediators in general and/or family mediation.
• The observations must be completed prior to co-mediating.
• Certified mediators must be re-certified every two years.
• Certification currently runs on a November-November cycle.

Useful Documents

• Retreive all mediator forms at the Virginia Supreme Court's website, mediation forms section.

Non-Certification Practicum

The Community Mediation Center wants to make it easy for people, not interested in mediator certification, to integrate communication skills into their daily personal and business life. After taking the Conflict Resolution and Mediation Skills Training, the Center will coordinate three practicum events (the first must be an observation) for $190. As the participant, you choose to either observe or co-mediate the next two. It is through these sessions that you have the chance to absorb the skills and put them into practice in a setting where you have a mentor mediator to debrief with. Contact the training coordinator at 757-480-2777 for more information on the practicum or certification process.

You may contact the Department of Dispute Resolution Services at (804) 786-6455 for further information regarding Mediator Certification Requirements. The above is a summary of requirements from the full explaination available through DDRS.

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