To become a certified mediator in Florida, you apply to the Florida Supreme Court in one of five categories, meet a short list of baseline qualifications, and earn 100 points spread across approved training, education or mediation experience, and mentorship. Renewal every two years keeps the certification active.
Choose Your Certification Category First
The Supreme Court certifies mediators in five areas, and the requirements, training programs, and point distributions all key off which one you pick. Each certification only authorizes you to handle cases within that category.1Florida Courts. Mediator Certification Qualifications and Resources
- County Court — civil disputes within county court jurisdiction, currently capped at $50,000 in controversy.2Florida Senate. Florida Code 34.01 – Jurisdiction of County Court
- Circuit Civil — general civil cases above $50,000, including complex commercial litigation.
- Family — dissolution of marriage, child custody, parenting plans, and related domestic matters.
- Dependency — child welfare cases, typically involving the Department of Children and Families.
- Appellate — disputes that arise during the appeals process.
One useful shortcut: if you already hold Circuit Civil, Family, or Dependency certification, you can apply for County Court certification without completing an additional training program.1Florida Courts. Mediator Certification Qualifications and Resources
Baseline Eligibility
Every applicant, regardless of category, must be at least 21 years old and demonstrate good moral character, which involves background screening.3Florida Courts. Florida Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators – Rule 10.100 Those are threshold requirements. Everything else is the 100-point system.
The 100-Point Requirement
You need 100 total points, distributed across three components: approved training, education or mediation experience, and mentorship. The mix shifts by category.
County Court
County Court has the lowest entry barrier. You need a high school diploma or GED, plus 30 points from completing a Supreme Court-certified county court mediation training program. Education contributes a smaller share (10 points for a high school diploma, more for higher degrees), and mentorship carries the heaviest load at 60 points.3Florida Courts. Florida Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators – Rule 10.100
Family and Circuit Civil
Both require at least a bachelor’s degree. The point total is still 100, but it splits differently: 30 points from a Supreme Court-certified training program in the relevant area, a minimum of 25 points from education or mediation experience, and 30 points from mentorship.3Florida Courts. Florida Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators – Rule 10.100
Clearing that 25-point education threshold is where most Family and Circuit Civil applicants have to think carefully. A bachelor’s degree alone earns only 20 points, so most applicants need a master’s (25 points), a doctorate such as a J.D. or Ph.D. (30 points), or supplemental mediation experience to get to the minimum.4Florida Courts. Florida Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators – Rule 10.105
How Education Points Are Awarded
Points go to your highest completed degree only, and honorary degrees do not count.4Florida Courts. Florida Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators – Rule 10.105
- High school diploma or GED: 10 points
- Associate’s degree: 15 points
- Bachelor’s degree: 20 points
- Master’s degree: 25 points
- Master’s in conflict resolution: 30 points
- Doctorate (J.D., Ph.D., M.D., Ed.D., LL.M.): 30 points
- Ph.D. from an accredited conflict resolution program: 40 points
Mentorship: The Practical Hurdle
Mentorship is where certification stops being coursework and starts being a scheduling problem. It requires observing mediations conducted by certified mediators in the category you are pursuing. You can also conduct mediations under a certified mediator’s supervision, though supervised sessions are optional within the point system.512th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. Mentorship Policies and Procedures
A few ground rules apply across categories:
- You must work with at least two different certified mediators.
- The mediations you observe must match the category you are seeking. A family mediation does not count toward County Court certification.
- Observations and supervised sessions can be done remotely by audio or video. In-person attendance is not required.
- Every certified mediator in Florida must allow at least two observations or supervised mediations per year when asked.
- The certified mediator cannot charge you a fee for observing. They can charge a reasonable fee for supervising a mediation you conduct.
- You cannot collect fees for any case used to complete your mentorship. The certified mediator stays in control of the case and receives the compensation.512th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. Mentorship Policies and Procedures
Structuring the mentorship is on you. That means contacting certified mediators, coordinating around their calendars, and documenting every session with signatures, case numbers, and your mentor’s certification number on the observation log. Mentorship slots can be competitive in some circuits, so start lining them up before you finish your training coursework, not after.
Keeping Your Certification Active
Certification runs for two years. Renewal requires at least 16 Continuing Mediator Education (CME) hours per cycle, and the hours must include specific topics:
- Mediator ethics: at least 4 hours
- Domestic violence education: at least 2 hours, or 4 hours for Family and Dependency mediators
- Diversity and cultural awareness: at least 1 hour
Certified mediators also carry a pro bono obligation. You either provide a set number of mediation hours without charge or pay a fee to the Dispute Resolution Center in lieu of service. The Supreme Court has statutory authority to set certification and renewal fees, which fund the administration of the program.6Florida Senate. Florida Code 44.106 – Standards and Procedures for Mediators and Arbitrators; Fees
Where to Verify Your Listing
Once certified, you appear on the official statewide roster maintained by the Florida Supreme Court’s Dispute Resolution Center. The roster is publicly searchable by name, certification type, or location, and it shows whether a mediator’s certification is current and which categories they are authorized to practice in.7Florida Courts. Alternative Dispute Resolution Check your own entry after your certification is issued to confirm the category and status are listed correctly.