The issue of mediation certification is a complex one.  In most cases, the mediation process is governed by provisions of state law, which means that any certification process is likely to be state-based.  A mediation attorney certified as "approved" to practice in one state might possess credentials that are recognized by only a few other states, or indeed, none others at all. 

Mediation Certification: The New Hampshire Example

The state of New Hampshire provides an example of what mediation certification looks like in practice.  There, a public law created the New Hampshire Marital Mediation Certification Board.  This board has been in existence since 1990, but 20 years after its formation, the name was changed to the more inclusive "Family Mediation Certification Board.”  The board currently consists of 11 members who obtain their position by appointment or statute.

The board meets once each month to consider applications for certification and discuss matters related to the certification of mediation attorneys who will work to resolve marital and family disputes.

When it comes to mediation certification, New Hampshire is ahead of the curve.  Most states have no form of certification at all.  This is due in part to disagreements in the profession itself about the proper role and strategies of a mediation attorney.  Mediation is a fluid field subject to personal interpretation because at heart it deals with helping people find hopefully flawless solutions to their disagreements.

Find Mediation Attorneys in the National Mediation Directory.