Does the Supreme Court of Ohio certify or license mediators?
Neither the State of Ohio nor the Supreme Court of Ohio licenses or certifies mediators. The Supreme Court of Ohio Advisory Committee on Dispute Resolution has advised against certification and licensure because mediation research shows that there is no particular training or educational credential that ensures a good mediator. The Committee supports the use of a variety of approaches, such as training and mentoring, to ensure that mediators are highly skilled. The Supreme Court of Ohio has established specific guidelines for qualifications for family court mediators. See Rule 16 of the Rules of Superintendence for Ohio Courts at www.supremecourtofohio.gov/Rules/superintendence/Superintendence.pdf#Rule16. Courts may set additional qualifications for mediators in their local court rules.
