Any entity, including the Administrative Office of the Courts, "certifying" mediators for its program shall make clear in all communications regarding the "certification" that the mediator is "certified" for that program only. Any mediator certified under the Dispute Resolution Act or qualified under the District Court Mediation Act shall be considered "certified" for purposes of any federal programs that require the use of "certified mediators" or "certified programs". The intent of this provision is to avoid the misconception that there is one certifying body for mediators in Oklahoma and to permit agencies to utilize available state and federal funds for operation of mediation programs and, where appropriate, for the compensation of mediators.
§ 1838.Program Certification - Intent of Provision
Chapter 38A: Choice in Mediation Act · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceRequires programs that certify their own mediators to make clear the certification is good only for that program, while deeming mediators certified under the Dispute Resolution Act or qualified under the District Court Mediation Act "certified" for any federal program that requires certified mediators.
Full Text of § 1838
Amendment History
Added by Laws 2002, HB 1939, c. 468, §18, eff. 11/1/2002.
Plain-English Summary
Section 1838 heads off a common misconception. Any entity -- including the Administrative Office of the Courts -- that "certifies" mediators for its own program has to make clear, in every communication about that certification, that the mediator is certified for that program only. At the same time, any mediator certified under the Dispute Resolution Act, or qualified under the District Court Mediation Act, counts as "certified" for any federal program that requires certified mediators or certified programs.
The point, the statute says, is to avoid the misconception that Oklahoma has a single body certifying all mediators, and to let agencies tap available state and federal funds to run mediation programs and, where appropriate, pay mediators.
Frequently Asked Questions
If a program calls its mediators "certified," does that mean statewide certification?
No -- the entity has to make clear in its communications that the certification is good only for that particular program.
Do Dispute Resolution Act or District Court Mediation Act mediators qualify for federal grant requirements?
Yes -- they're treated as "certified" for purposes of any federal program that requires certified mediators or certified programs.
Why does this section exist?
To avoid the misconception that one single body certifies all mediators in Oklahoma, and to let agencies use state and federal funds for mediation programs and mediator compensation.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Last verified August 3, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: what does mediator certification mean oklahomacertified mediator federal program requirements12 O.S. § 1838