Certification Requirements for Mediators

Our courses are open to anyone who is interested in seeking quality mediation training. However, if you are taking a course to become eligible to mediate in the courts of North Carolina, you should know that one must be certified by the Dispute Resolution Commission to mediate those disputes.

Requirements for certification as a mediator in the NC courts are set out in Rules of the NC Supreme Court. To find out if you are eligible for certification, you should review Rule 8 of the Rules for the mediation program in which you are interested. To find out more information about the eligibility requirements for each program, click on the appropriate link below.

If you still have questions about your eligibility after reviewing Rule 8, you should contact the Executive Director of NC Dispute Resolution Commission to discuss your situation. Her name is Tara Koslowski, and she can be contacted at 919-890-1415.

We have worked with a significant number of lawyers and non-lawyers from other states to help them obtain certification and obtain credits for continuing education in their states. If you are seeking continuing education credits in another state or in some profession other than law, please contact Shannon Manoogian at 919-967-6611. If you are seeking certification in another state, please contact the Dispute Resolution Commission staff at 919-890-1415.

Civil Superior Court

If you are an attorney, and you meet all eligibility requirements set out in Rule 8, then you must do the following before applying for your certification with the Dispute Resolution Commission:

  • Take a 40-hour Civil Superior Court Mediation Training with a DRC-approved trainer,
  • Observe two mediations from start to finish as outlined in Rule 8, and
  • Complete the DRC application for certification.

Note! If you have any question about your eligibility to be certified as an attorney, contact the Dispute Resolution Commission at 919-890-1415. We recommend that you contact the DRC for a pre-training review of your eligibility for certification prior to taking any course for certification.

If you are not an attorney, or are an attorney who is a member of the Bar in another state, then you must do the following before applying for your certification with the Dispute Resolution Commission:

  • Complete a 4-year college degree from an accredited university or college,
  • Take a 6-Hour Introduction to NC Courts course,
  • Take a 40-hour Civil Superior Court Mediation Training with a DRC-approved trainer,
  • Observe five mediations from start to finish as outlined in Rule 8,
  • Provide 3 letters of character reference to the Dispute Resolution Commission, and
  • Complete the DRC application for certification.

Note! If you have any question about your eligibility to become certified, contact the Dispute Resolution Commission at 919-890-1415. We recommend that you contact the DRC for a pre-training review of your eligibility for certification prior to taking any course for certification, especially if you are not an attorney.

Family Financial Mediation

If you are an attorney and you meet all of the eligibility requirements set out in Rule 8, then you must do the following before applying for your certification with the Dispute Resolution Commission:

  • Take a 40-hour Family Mediation Training with a DRC-approved trainer,
  • Observe two mediations from start to finish as outlined in Rule 8,
  • Take a two-day basic family law CLE course or have family law experience, and
  • Complete the DRC application.

Note! If you have any question about your eligibility to be certified as an attorney, contact the Dispute Resolution Commission at 919-890-1415. We recommend that you contact the DRC for a pre-training review of your eligibility for certification prior to taking any course for certification.

If you are not an attorney, or are not eligible as an attorney, and you meet all of the eligibility requirements set out in Rule 8, then you must do the following before applying for your certification with the Dispute Resolution Commission:

  • Complete a 4-year college degree from an accredited university or college ,
  • Take a 6-Hour Introduction to NC Courts course,
  • Take a two-day basic family law CLE course,
  • Complete a 40-hour Family Financial Mediation Training with a DRC-approved trainer,
  • Observe five mediations from start to finish as outlined in Rule 8, and
  • Complete the DRC application for certification.

Note! If you have any question about your eligibility to become certified, contact the Dispute Resolution Commission at 919-890-1415. We recommend that you contact the DRC for a pre-training review of your eligibility for certification prior to taking any course for certification, especially if you are not an attorney.

Dual Certification in 40-hour Programs

If you are certified as a mediator by the DRC for one of these programs, wish to become certified in the other as well, and you meet all of the eligibility requirements set out in Rule 8, then you may become certified in the other by doing the following:

  • Complete a 16 hour course for that program’s training (the last 3 days of our courses),
  • Complete all the other requirements for that certification as outlined above, and
  • Complete the appropriate DRC application for certification.

Note! If you have any question about your eligibility to become certified, contact the Dispute Resolution Commission at 919-890-1415. We recommend that you contact the DRC for a pre-training review of your eligibility for certification prior to taking any course for certification.

Clerk Mediation Program

If you are either a DRC-Certified Civil Superior Court Mediator or a DRC-Certified Family Financial Mediator, you will need to do the following before applying for your certification with the Dispute Resolution Commission:

  • Complete a 10-hour Clerk Mediation Training with a DRC-approved trainer, and
  • Complete the DRC application for certification.

Note! If you have any question about your eligibility to become certified, contact the Dispute Resolution Commission at 919-890-1415. We recommend that you contact the DRC for a pre-training review of your eligibility for certification prior to taking any course for certification.

NC Workers Compensation

One does not have to be certified to mediate compensation cases in this forum by agreement of the parties, but if you wish to be on the appointed list of mediators, you must be certified as a Superior Court mediator by the NC Dispute Resolution Commission and have 6 hours of Workers’ Compensation CLE every two years.

Office of Administrative Hearings

One does not have to be certified to mediate OAH cases by agreement of the parties, but if you wish to be on the appointed list of mediators, you must be certified as a Superior Court mediator by the NC Dispute Resolution Commission.

NC Federal Courts

Western

To be on the list of mediators, one must be certified by the NC Dispute Resolution Commission as a Superior Court mediator.

Middle

To be on the list of mediators, one must be an attorney with eight years of experience and certified by the NC Dispute Resolution Commission.

Eastern

To be on the list of mediators, one must be an attorney with eight years of experience and certified by the NC Dispute Resolution Commission.