Application packets are available through the Commission's office or are posted on this web site. To download an application packet, click on "Family Financial Settlement Program" from the Commission's main menu at www.ncdrc.org, then click on "FFS Mediator Certification", then "FFS Application Packet". The Application form itself, without accompanying materials, is available in fillable format on this web site. To access the form, go to the main menu and click on the "Forms" button near the top of the page and when you arrived at the search screen, enter Form # AOC-DR-03. If you have any problems downloading Adobe Acrobat or using the fillable form, contact the Commission's office. If you are using the fillable form, you will still need to review the full application packet and provide other materials as required.

When you have completed your Application, please forward it along with your supporting materials in a single mailing. Please send only mimeographed copies of: the certificate of completion issued to you by your 40-hour trainer, your completed Certificates of Observation, your letters of recommendation (if applicable), and so forth. The only original you should forward to the Commisison's office is the application form itself. Please keep a copy ofthe Application for your own records. All Applications should be mailed to the Commission at: P.O. Box 2448, Raleigh, NC, 27602. The office does not receive mail at its street address.

Please contact Commission staff if you have any questions about the application or the application process. If you would like to drop by the Commission's office in person todiscuss your Application or to drop off your packet, let Commission staff know if advance to insure that someone is here to greet you.

Yes. There is a $140.00 annual certification fee which is pro-rated quarterly the first year in which a mediator is certified. Thereafter, the full $140.00 is due each spring. For mediators holding dual certification, i.e., both superior court civil and district court family financial certification, the Commission has adopted a reduced dual fee of $200.00 which is also pro-rated quarterly the first year.

That Rule requires that attorneys licensed elsewhere demonstate familiarity with North Carolina court structure, legal terminology, and civil procedure. The Commission has posted two documents on its web site that such applicants may read in satisfaction of the requirement. To view the documents, go to www.ncdrc.org and click on "Family Financial Settlement Program", then click on "FFS Mediator Certification", then click on "Apply for FFS Certification" and, lastly, click on "Supporting Documents". From the screen, you may then view,"The Judicial System in North Carolina" and Rule 1 and 1A of theNorth Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure. After you have reviewed these documents and any others which you feel will help familiarize you with NC court structure, legal terminology and civil procedure, you will need to attach a letter to your Application advising Commission staff of your efforts to satisfy this Rule.

The Commission appreciates that it can be difficult to complete the observation requirement set forth in Rule 8.D. Divorcing couples may not want an observer present at their mediation, cases are sometimes postponed at the last minute, or a mediation may involve multiple sessions with an observer unable to attend the second or third sessions. Still, the Commission believes that observations are integral to the training process and asks that you continue to seek out opportunities until you have observed the two required family mediations from start to settlement or impasse. You maywant to look at the List of Family Mediators posted on the Commission's web site. Mediators who personally know you may be more willing to work with you on your obsevations.Y ou may also want contact yourtrainer and ask him or herto help you find observation opportunities.

In addition to observing family financial mediations, you can alsoobserve custody mediations conducted by an Administrative Office of the Courts' mediator (be aware that not all judicial districts permit observations of custody mediations)or private mediationsconducted byAdvanced Practitioner Members of the Association for Conflict Resolution.Contact the Commission's if you need help identifying custody mediators. To identify NC mediators who hold Advanced Practitioner Membership in the Association for Conflict Resolution go to www.acrnet.org/referrals/ap-family.htm . (If you are a non-attorney applicant, you will also need to observe three additional mediations ordered by NC state or federal courts. These additional mediations need not be of family matters.)

Once you are certified, you should check the contact information posted for you on the Commission's on-line "List of Mediators" maintained on this site. (If you hold dual certification, check the contact information on all the lists for the programs you are serving.) In addition, you will have an opportunity to complete an on-line profile form and to provide key words to describe your education, experience and interests.Parties and attorneys use this information in selecting a mediator, so itis important that it be available and correct. You will be able to update all your information during the annual certification renewal period or at any other time as necessary.

If you have selected any districts where you are not known to the Chief District Court Judge, you may want to write or visit him/her for the purpose of introducing yourself. Be sure to verify that the district is including you on its list for purposes of court appointments. If you do not reside in a particular judicial district from which you would like to receive court appointment or in a county contiguous to that district, FFS Rule 2.B. requires that youcontact the district on an annual basis and inform staff of your continuing interest in receiving court appointments. Please be sure to check for local mediation rules in any districts that you have agreed to serve.

Lastly, as noted above, this is a market driven program. Most mediators get their assignments by referral fromparties rather than through appointments. As such, most mediators will need to market their services to members of the Bar at least until they are established in their mediation practice.