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Basic Mediation Trainings

Civil mediators (for example, small claims and landlord tenant):

  • ​12 hours every two years
    • One hour must relate to confidentiality
    • One hour must relate to mediator ethics
    • Six hours may be completed through continuing education required for the mediator’s professional license, as long as that licensure is reasonably related to the practice of mediation.​

Domestic relations mediators:

  • 24 hours every two years
    • Two hours must relate to confidentiality
    • Two hours must relate to mediator ethics
    • Twelve hours must relate to either custody and parenting issues or on financial issues, depending on the mediator’s area of approval.
    • An additional twelve hours may be completed through continuing education required for the mediator’s professional license, as long as that licensure is reasonably related to the practice of mediation

​

Do you mediate in a central reporting county?

If so, report your continuing education hours to the Office of the State Court Administrator using either of the following options:
  • Electronic reporting system
    • If you haven't used the electronic reporting form before, or you are not sure which email address to use, contact the Statewide ADR Analyst to confirm your email is in the electronic reporting system. 
    • Note: The system will not log your hours if your email is not already in the system.
  • Paper reporting form​

Not in a central reporting county?

Ask your local court’s mediation coordinator or Trial Court Administrator how to report your continuing education hours.​​


Central reporting counties include:
  • Baker
  • Benton
  • Clatsop
  • Columbia
  • Crook
  • Deschutes (volunteer mediators only)
  • Douglas
  • Gilliam
  • Grant
  • Harney
  • Hood River
  • Jackson
  • Jefferson
  • Lincoln
  • Malheur
  • Morrow
  • Multnomah (Domestic Relations mediators ​only)​
  • Polk
  • Sherman
  • Tillamook
  • Umatilla
  • Union
  • Wallowa
  • Wasco
  • Washington (for FED and Small Claims mediators only)​
  • Wheeler
  • Yamhill​ (Domestic Relations mediators ​only)​​

UTCR 12.140 states that continuing education topics may include, but are not limited to, the following examples:

  • Topics outlined in UTCR 12.100, UTCR 12.110, and UTCR 12.120 
  • Practical skills-based training in mediation or facilitation 
  • Court processes
  • Confidentiality laws and rules
  • Changes in the subject matter areas of law in which the mediator practices
  • Mediation ethics
  • Domestic violence
  • Sexual assault
  • Child abuse and elder abuse
  • Gender, ethnic, and cultural diversity
  • Psychology and psychopathology
  • Organizational development
  • Communication
  • Crisis intervention
  • Program administration and service delivery
  • Practices and procedures of state and local social service agencies
  •  Safety issues for mediators.

Continuing education shall be conducted by an individual or group qualified by practical or academic experience. (UTCR 12.140)


An hour is defined as 60 minutes of instructional time or activity and may be completed in a variety of formats, including but not limited to:
  • Attendance at a live lecture or seminar
  • Attendance at an audio or video playback of a lecture or seminar with a group where the group discusses the materials presented
  • Listening or viewing audio, video, or internet presentations
  • Receiving supervision as part of a training mentorship
  • Formally debriefing mediation cases with mediator supervisors and colleagues following the mediation
  • Lecturing or teaching in qualified continuing education courses
  • Reading, authoring, or editing written materials submitted for publication that have significant intellectual or practical content directly related to the practice of mediation. 
​Continuing education activities should enhance the participant’s competence as a mediator and provide opportunities for mediators to expand upon existing skills and explore new areas of practice or interest. ​​

Oregon Judicial Department Training Resources

​

​Oregon Specific Opportunities


National Organizations

Oregon Specific Opportunities

Basic Mediation Trainings

  • ​Resolutions Oregon is a great starting place to research upcoming Dispute Resolution Center Basic Mediation trainings. The centers utilize different training modalities: some offer fully remote trainings and others only offer in-person trainings.

  • Oregon Mediation Association maintains a mediation training calendar where many Dispute Resolution Centers (and others) announce upcoming trainings.

  • Mediate.com offers a broad selection of trainings (including options outside Oregon) and on-demand recordings.

Before registering, prospective mediators should verify with the trainer that:

  • ​The basic mediation training

    • ​Meets the minimum required number of hours

    • Guarantees at least six hours of role plays

    • Covers the topics listed in 12.100 (see below) and the corresponding curriculum.

  • The lead trainer meets the lead‑trainer requirements outlined in UTCR 12.100(4).

Under UTCR 12.100, the basic mediation curriculum is a single curriculum that is designed to integrate the elements outline in UTCR 12.100 and in the corresp​onding State Court Administrator guidelines​.

The basic mediation training shall: ​
  1. ​Be at least 30 hours.
  2. Include training techniques that simulate real mediation interactions and provide effective feedback. This must include at least six hours of role‑play for each trainee, with both trainer feedback and trainee self‑assessment.
  3. Include instruction to help the trainee:
    • ​Understand conflict resolution and mediation theory
    • Prepare effectively for mediation
    • Create a safe and comfortable mediation environment
    • Facilitate effective communication between all participants
    • Use techniques that support problem‑solving and agreement‑seeking
    • Conduct mediation fairly and impartially
    • Understand mediator confidentiality and ethical standards adopted by Oregon and national organizations
    • Conclude a mediation and document agreements
  4. ​​​​​​Be conducted by a lead trainer who has:
    • ​​ Met the qualifications of a general civil mediator
    • ​​Mediated at least 35 cases to conclusion or completed 350 hours of mediation experience beyond the requirements for an approved general civil mediator
    • Completed one of the following:
      • ​​Served as a trainer or assistant trainer for this basic mediation curriculum at least three times, or
      • Taught 1,000 hours of accredited adult education or training

​If your local court does not require a local court-system training, you have several options.

  1. You can attend an in-person or remote training through a court or Resolution Center.
  2. Complete the recorded modules below.
  3. Substantially similar training: Some candidates may meet the court‑system training requirement through “substantially similar training or education.” For example, many courts allow attorneys to qualify based on previous education, training, and experience. Your court’s determining authority decides whether prior training meets this standard.
​​

Under UTCR 12.130, the Court-System Training shall include, but not be limited to:
​​​
  1. At least six hours including, but not limited to, the following subject areas:
    • Instruction on the court system, including:
      • Basic legal vocabulary
      • How to read a court file
      • Confidentiality and disclosure
      • Availability of jury trials
      • Burdens of proof
      • Basic trial procedure
      • The effect of a mediated agreement on the case, including finality, appeal rights, remedies, and enforceability
      • Agreement writing
      • Working with interpreters
      • Obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act
    • Information on the range of available administrative and other dispute resolution processes
    • Information on the process that will be used to resolve the dispute if no agreement is reached, such as judicial or administrative adjudication or arbitration, including entitlement to jury trial and appeal, where applicable.​
    • How mediators appropriately use legal information in mediation, including avoiding the unauthorized practice of law
  2. For mediators working in contexts other than small claims court, at least two additional hours including:
    • Working with represented and unrepresented parties, including:
      • The role of parties’ attorneys in the mediation process
      • Attorney-client relationships, including privileges
      • Understanding Oregon State Bar disciplinary rules when working with attorneys
      • Attorney fee issues
    • Understanding motions, discovery, and other court rules and procedures
    • Basic rules of evidence
    • Basic rules of contract and tort law

​Under UTCR 12.110, the domestic relations custody and parenting mediation curriculum shall:​

  1. Include at least 40 hours in a domestic relations custody and parenting mediation curriculum consistent with the State Court Administrator's guidelines.

  2. Include multiple learning methods and training techniques that closely simulate the interactions that occur in a mediation and that provide effective feedback to trainees.

  3. Provide instruction with the goal of creating competency sufficient for initial practice as a family mediator and must include the following topics:
    • General family mediation knowledge and skills;
    • Knowledge and skill with families and children;
    • Adaptations and modifications for special case concerns; and
    • Specific family, divorce, and parenting information.

  4. ​Be conducted by a lead trainer. Under UTCR 12.070(7), a qualified domestic relations custody and parenting time mediation supervisor is an individual who has:
    • Met the qualifications of a domestic relations mediator
    • Completed at least 35 cases, including a total of at least 350 hours of domestic relations custody and parenting mediation beyond the experience required of a domestic relations mediator in UTCR 12.070, and
    • Have an understanding of court-connected domestic relations programs. ​
​

Below are resources to help prospective custody and parenting plan mediators meet the training requirements outlined in Chapter 12.070 of the Uniform Trial Court Rules. 

O​​nce prospective applicants complete the required trainings, they must obtain mediation experience as outlined in UTCR 12.070(3) (for custody and parenting plan mediators) and/or UTCR 12.080(3)​​​(for domestic relations financial mediators). 

​Here are potential avenues to fulfill those experience requirements.​​
  • Multnomah County Fami​ly Resolution Servic​​es
    • Offers a robust internship to help prospective med​iators meet the requirements outlined in 12.070(3).
    • Structured application windows and internship dates.
    • Contact Multnomah County Family Resolution Services for more information.

  • Clackamas County Resolution Services
    • Offers a Family Law Mediation Internship to help prospective mediators meet the requirements outlined in 12.070(3) and 12.080(3)
    • Structured application windows and internship dates.
    • Contact Clackamas County Resolution Services for more information.

  • Lane County Family Mediation
    • Occasionally offers internship opportunities to help prospective mediators meet the requirements outlined in 12.070(3).
    • Contact Lane County Family Mediation​ for more information.

  • Supervision by Local Mediators (if Qualified Supervisors)
    • While it can be challenging to find someone willing to serve as a qualified supervisor outside the structured internship programs listed above, prospective applicants may also seek supervision from an experienced court‑connected mediator from outside the above listed counties. Verify the prospective supervisor meets the qualified‑supervisor requirements under UTCR 12.070(7) and/or 12.080(8).
    • ​A court‑connected mediator who provides supervision should first obtain permission from their local court's Trial Court Administrator (or mediation program supervisor) and, if applicable, from the county that contracts with them before using court‑assigned cases for mentoring.​​​​

See UTCR 12.040 for more information, but generally, court-connected mediators are expected to inform parties about:

  1. Basics of Mediation
  2. Roles, approach & process
  3. Voluntary nature
  4. Confidentiality
  5. Informed Consent
  6. Conflicts of Interest
  7. Appropriateness of mediation
  8. Good-faith participation
  9. Independent legal advice
  10. Mediator's information (See, UTCR 12.050)
  11. Any applicable supervision​

​​​The minimum training and experience requirements for becoming a court-connected civil mediator are outlined in Chapter 12 of the Uniform Trial Court Rules (UTCR), and include specific training, experience, and conduct requirements. 



​Below are resources to help prospective civil ​mediators meet the training requirements outlined in Chapter 12.070 of the Uniform Trial Court Rules. 
​

​Once prospective applicants complete the required trainings, they must obtain mediation experience as outlined in UTCR 12.060(2). Here are potential avenues to fulfill those experience requirements.​​​​

  • ​If your court offers mediation, contact your local court or its contracted dispute resolution center (if applicable) to ask about opportunities to observe mediations and to mediate/co mediate cases under the supervision of a qualified general civil mediation supervisor (see UTCR 12.060(6)). 

  • ​​​​If your court does not offer mediation or does not have anyone available to supervise your required experience hours, email the Statewide ADR Analyst for help connecting with an established mediation program.​​​​​


To apply for a fee waiver or reduced-rate OJCIN Online subscription, court-connected domestic relations mediators should follow these steps:
  • If you already have an OJCIN account:Email the OJCIN Online Business Office at OJCIN.Online@ojd.state.or.us to request more information.
  • ​If you are a new user: ​
    1. Visit the Oregon Judicial Department's OJCIN Online Sign-U​p webpage.​​
    2. Scroll to the section for court-connected domestic relations mediators and follow the instructions for opening an OJCIN Online Subscription Account.
​​​

The minimum training and experience requirements for becoming a court-connected custody and parenting plan mediator are outlined in Chapter 12 of the Uniform Trial Court Rules ​(UTCR), and include specific education, training, experience, and conduct requirements.

​

Chapter 12 of the Uniform Trial Court Rules outlines the minimum qualification requirements to become a mediator for an Oregon circuit court. These rules apply to three types of court-connected mediators:
  1. General civil mediators (Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 36.200(1))

  2. Custody and parenting mediators (ORS 107.775(2))

  3. Domestic relations financial mediators (ORS 107.755(4))
​​Summary of Court-Connected Mediator Qualifications by Case Type​

The qualification rules apply only to court-connected mediation, meaning mediation services that operate under the court’s oversight. At this time, there are no qualification requirements in Oregon to mediate non-court-connected cases privately. To learn more about becoming a non-court-connected mediator, please review the corresponding webpage.
​

Civil Mediation

  • Some courts, but not all, offer court-connected civil mediation services, such as landlord-tenant, small claims, or debt collection mediation. 

Family Law Mediation

  • Every court offers family law custody and parenting time mediation. 

  • Only a handful of courts offer domestic relations financial mediation.

There is no statewide application or approval process. Each court has its own application process to become a court-connected mediator. Please contact the court directly to find out how to apply.

​

The minimum training and experience requirements for becoming a court-connected custody and parenting plan mediator are outlined in Chapter 12 of the Uniform Trial Court Rules (UTCR), and include specific education, training, experience, and conduct requirements. 

​

In courts where domestic relations financial mediators are independent contractors, the determining authority must appoint a review panel made up of specific local representatives to evaluate applications from prospective financial mediators. (UTCR 12.090).

Even if a mediator has been approved as a domestic relations financial mediator in one court, they may not provide court‑connected financial mediation services in another court until that court's determining authority grants approval, following the formal review and recommendation of its independent review panel.

​

Below are resources to help prospective custody and parenting plan mediators meet the training requirements outlined in Chapter 12.080 of the Uniform Trial Court Rules. 
​