How to become a mediator in West Virginia
Who certifies or lists mediators in West Virginia?
Family court: the Supreme Court of Appeals approves Court-Approved Family Court Mediators. Circuit court: the West Virginia State Bar keeps the listing of qualified mediators and sets its minimum qualifications (W. Va. Trial Court Rule 25.04).
This is general information, not legal advice. It covers West Virginia only. Rules change, so check the official source before you enroll in a course.
What training and continuing education does West Virginia require?
These are the court mediator credentials and rosters we could confirm from West Virginia’s official sources. Where a detail isn’t confirmed, we say so instead of guessing.
| Credential or roster | Initial training | Continuing education |
|---|---|---|
| Court-Approved Family Court Mediator Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia (Administrative Office, Family Court Program Coordinator) | 40 hours basic family mediation course approved by the Supreme Court (submit the course for approval before taking it) | 7 hours (every 2 years) |
| Circuit court mediator listing (W. Va. Trial Court Rule 25.04) West Virginia State Bar (ADR Committee) - maintains the listing and sets minimum qualifications under Rule 25.04 | The State Bar's Basic Mediation Training and Advanced Mediation Training programs (the guidelines give no hour figures) | No statewide requirement found |
Other requirements
- Court-Approved Family Court Mediator: Four-year (bachelor's) degree from an accredited college or university; two co-mediations with experienced family court mediators; application to the Administrative Office
- Circuit court mediator listing (W. Va. Trial Court Rule 25.04): Member in good standing of the West Virginia State Bar (attorney-only listing); application to the State Bar to be listed for circuit courts
Do I need a state credential to mediate in West 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 West Virginia or your profession has any rule that applies. See do I need a mediator certified in my state?
Official sources
- Family Court Mediation (Supreme Court of Appeals)
- West Virginia Trial Court Rules (Rule 25, Mediation)
- WV State Bar Mediator Search (not opened; Cloudflare)
- courtswv.gov/sites/default/pubfilesmnt/2024-04/FMDRAPP.pdf
- wvbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Rule25.pdf
- wvbar.org/members/become-a-mediator
- wvbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/mediatorguidelines.pdf
Checked Oct 8, 2026. Found an error or a newer rule? Email hello@mediationlist.com.
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 West Virginia and which requirements each one is approved for.