How to become a mediator in Virginia
Who certifies or lists mediators in Virginia?
Mediators who receive court referrals must be certified under guidelines promulgated by the Judicial Council of Virginia (Va. Code § 8.01-576.8), in four categories: General District Court, Circuit Court-Civil, Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, and Circuit Court-Family. Courts keep lists of certified mediators.
This is general information, not legal advice. It covers Virginia only. Rules change, so check the official source before you enroll in a course.
What training and continuing education does Virginia require?
These are the court mediator credentials and rosters we could confirm from Virginia’s official sources. Where a detail isn’t confirmed, we say so instead of guessing.
| Credential or roster | Initial training | Continuing education |
|---|---|---|
| Certified mediator - General District Court (GDC) Dispute Resolution Services (DRS), Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia (Judicial Council Guidelines, eff. 1/1/2026) | 24: basic 20 plus Virginia judicial system 4 | 10 hours (every 2 years (due Oct 31); up to 8 hours carry over) |
| Certified mediator - Circuit Court-Civil Dispute Resolution Services (DRS), Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia (Judicial Council Guidelines, eff. 1/1/2026) | 44: basic 20 plus judicial system 4 plus circuit-civil 20 | 10 hours (every 2 years (due Oct 31); up to 8 hours carry over) |
| Certified mediator - Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court (JDR / family) Dispute Resolution Services (DRS), Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia (Judicial Council Guidelines, eff. 1/1/2026) | 60: basic 20 plus judicial system 4 plus family 20 plus domestic violence screening 8 plus child support 8 | 10 hours (every 2 years (due Oct 31); up to 8 hours carry over) |
| Certified mediator - Circuit Court-Family Dispute Resolution Services (DRS), Office of the Executive Secretary, Supreme Court of Virginia (Judicial Council Guidelines, eff. 1/1/2026) | JDR requirements plus 12 circuit-family | 10 hours (every 2 years (due Oct 31); up to 8 hours carry over) |
Do I need a state credential to mediate in Virginia?
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 Virginia or your profession has any rule that applies. See do I need a mediator certified in my state?
Official sources
- Dispute Resolution Services, Mediation (Supreme Court of Virginia)
- Mediation FAQ (certification)
- Va. Code § 8.01-576.5 (referral to orientation session)
- Va. Code § 8.01-576.8 (qualifications; certified mediator lists)
- vacourts.gov/static/courtadmin/aoc/djs/programs/drs/mediation/training/guidlines_for_cert.
- vacourts.gov/static/courtadmin/aoc/djs/programs/drs/mediation/training/recertification_faq
- vacourts.gov/courtadmin/aoc/djs/programs/drs/mediation/forms/adr1003.pdf
- vacourts.gov/courtadmin/aoc/djs/programs/drs/mediation/forms/adr2001.pdf
Checked Oct 8, 2026. Found an error or a newer rule? Email hello@mediationlist.com.
See the 512 mediators on Virginia’s official rosters →
MediationList Training is coming
We’re building online mediation training and continuing education courses. No dates yet. Join the waitlist and we’ll tell you when courses open for Virginia and which requirements each one is approved for.