How to become a mediator in Ohio
Who certifies or lists mediators in Ohio?
No statewide certification: neither the State of Ohio nor the Supreme Court of Ohio licenses or certifies mediators. The Rules of Superintendence set qualifications for mediators who handle the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities, and local courts may add requirements by local rule.
This is general information, not legal advice. It covers Ohio only. Rules change, so check the official source before you enroll in a course.
What training and continuing education does Ohio require?
These are the court mediator credentials and rosters we could confirm from Ohio’s official sources. Where a detail isn’t confirmed, we say so instead of guessing.
| Credential or roster | Initial training | Continuing education |
|---|---|---|
| Court-referred mediator - Fundamentals of Mediation (Sup.R. 6.04(A), all court referrals) Supreme Court of Ohio, Dispute Resolution Section (standards set by Commission on Dispute Resolution) | 16 interactive, or 13 interactive plus 2.25 hours Fundamentals eLearning plus 1 hour Implicit Bias eLearning | No statewide requirement found |
| Domestic relations / juvenile court mediator (Sup.R. 6.04(B)(1)) Supreme Court of Ohio, Dispute Resolution Section (standards set by Commission on Dispute Resolution) | Fundamentals (16) plus Specialized Family or Divorce 32.25 plus Specialized Domestic Abuse Issues 14: 62.25 | No statewide requirement found |
| Child protection (abuse, neglect, dependency) mediator (Sup.R. 6.04(B)(2)) Supreme Court of Ohio, Dispute Resolution Section (standards set by Commission on Dispute Resolution) | Domestic relations requirements plus Specialized Child Protection Mediation 32 | No statewide requirement found |
| Parenting coordinator (Sup.R. 6.44; court-appointed) Supreme Court of Ohio, Dispute Resolution Section (standards set by Commission on Dispute Resolution) | Fundamentals plus Specialized Family/Divorce plus Specialized Domestic Abuse plus Parenting Coordination Training | 6 hours (per calendar year) |
Other requirements
- Court-referred mediator - Fundamentals of Mediation (Sup.R. 6.04(A), all court referrals): No certification or license (Ohio does not certify mediators). Mediator must meet each referring court's local rule (Sup.R. 6.02). Exemptions for pre-2020 trained/experienced mediators (Advanced Mediation Workshop) and supervised law students.
- Domestic relations / juvenile court mediator (Sup.R. 6.04(B)(1)): Bachelor's degree (or equivalent satisfactory to the court) plus 2 years professional experience with families. DA training not needed if co-mediating with a trained mediator.
- Child protection (abuse, neglect, dependency) mediator (Sup.R. 6.04(B)(2)): Significant experience mediating family disputes
- Parenting coordinator (Sup.R. 6.44; court-appointed): Licensed mental health professional, Ohio attorney, or education/experience satisfactory to court; extensive experience with children
Do I need a state credential to mediate in Ohio?
State credentials and court rosters mainly matter for court-ordered or court-connected cases, where a court may require a mediator from its own list. If you plan to mediate cases that people bring to you privately, check whether Ohio or your profession has any rule that applies. See do I need a mediator certified in my state?
Official sources
- Dispute Resolution Section, Supreme Court of Ohio
- Dispute Resolution Rules & Legislation, Supreme Court of Ohio
- Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio (PDF)
- supremecourt.ohio.gov/docs/JCS/disputeResolution/resources/trainingProgramStandards/FundMe
- supremecourt.ohio.gov/docs/JCS/disputeResolution/resources/trainingProgramStandards/SupRTr
- supremecourt.ohio.gov/docs/JCS/disputeResolution/resources/trainingProgramStandards/trainP
- supremecourt.ohio.gov/courts/services-to-courts/dispute-resolution/outside-mediation-train
- supremecourt.ohio.gov/docs/JCS/disputeResolution/resources/trainingProgramStandards/specFa
- supremecourt.ohio.gov/docs/JCS/disputeResolution/resources/trainingProgramStandards/specDo
- supremecourt.ohio.gov/docs/JCS/disputeResolution/resources/trainingProgramStandards/specCh
Checked Oct 8, 2026. Found an error or a newer rule? Email hello@mediationlist.com.
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