Board certification requires 40 hours of mediator training and 6 hours of arbitrator training, meeting specific requirements and subjects. See Circuit Court ADR Rules 14 (civil mediation training), 15 (civil arbitration training) and Family Court Mediation Rule 11 (family mediation training). Neutrals trained out-of-state might need supplemental South Carolina training; see para. (b) of the above rules. For ADR training opportunities offered by the Bar, visit the CLE pision. Click here for certification application forms.

Important: Training is only one criterion for being certified as a neutral; e.g., certain professional licenses are also required. See Circuit Court ADR Rule 13 and Family Court Mediation Rule 10 for all criteria. Trainers: Pre-approval of a training course is encouraged, but not required; please contact the Board for assistance in assuring those who take your course can be certified afterwards.

Scheduled Trainings
Traditionally, the Bar's CLE pision offers family court mediator certification training in July and civil mediator certification training in February and August. Periodically, it offers arbitrator certification training. To register or to learn more, visit the Bar's CLE calendar, call 803-771-0333 or 800-768-7787 or e-mail jmerrill@scbar.org.

Also, under new rules discussed above, out-of-state trained applicants seeking South Carolina certification often require at least three additional hours of training in South Carolina mediation and arbitration law and rules. Because few persons require this training, it is offered by video from the Bar's CLE Division for $125. To purchase the video, please e-mail kristie.haustovich@scbar.org or call 803-771-0333 or 800-768-7787. For more information about the certification process or whether the video is appropriate for you, please contact Joan Brown at jbrown@scbar.org or 803-799-6653, ext. 165.