How to Become a Certified Mediator in Florida

Familiarize yourself with the types of Florida certified mediators and the certification point system. Florida certifies four types of mediators: county court, family, circuit court, and dependency. Each type must earn a total of 100 points across three point categories: mediation training, education/mediation experience and mentorship from other mediators. The category point requirements vary slightly for each type of mediation. Refer to the 'How to Become a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator' certification guide for detailed point requirements (see References 1).
Attend a required mediation training program. Each type of mediator must complete an authorized training program in that area of mediation. For example, if you want to do mediation in circuit-court cases, you need to complete a course in circuit-court mediation. Refer to the certification guide for a list of approved programs. Each type of mediator receives the required 30 training points when completing a course.
Make a plan to earn at least 25 points for education and mediation experience. The only exception to this is a county-court mediator, who needs only 10 points. Educational degrees start at 10 points for a high school degree. You can fill this 25-point requirement with any master's degree. Refer to the certification guide for other degree-based point values.
Obtain a higher degree or mediation work experience to make up any deficit in the 25-point requirement for education and work experience. You may earn a maximum of 5 points for completing at least 100 mediations over a consecutive 5-year period. However, you may earn 1 point per year that you complete at least 15 mediations as a Florida Supreme Court certified mediator. This additional rule applies to mediators who are already certified but seek to obtain an additional type of Florida mediation certification.
Obtain at least 60 mentorship points for county-court mediation certification, 30 points for circuit-court certification, 40 points for dependency certification and 30 points for family certification. You earn 5 points for observing each mediation session of the same type for which you are seeking certification. Earn 10 points for each mediation session that you complete under the supervision of a certified mediator. Mentorship sessions must include at least two certified mediators.
Earn any necessary additional points to reach your 100-point requirement. The three categories for each type of certification do not add up to 100 except in the case of county-court mediators. You need additional points somewhere in those categories to add up to 100 points. You may earn more than the minimum per category by obtaining more education, experience, or mentoring. The certification guide also has some miscellaneous ways to earn points.
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