APFM Membership | Join or Renew
Membership in APFM brings together the collective wisdom of advanced mediation practitioners, researchers and educators. APFM offers various levels of membership, ranging from new mediators to those who have practiced for thirty years or more. Further, APFM is developing a competency-based certification process for Family Mediators that will guide a member from entry into the field through certification. APFM also encourages professional development in other areas of mediation practice such as elder mediation, parent-child mediation, family business mediaton, conflicts within intact families, intergenerational conflicts, family-centered real estate transactions, home renovation and construction, and conflicts involving non-traditional families, such as same sex couples and adoptions.
APFM Member Benefits
As a member of APFM, you will have the opportunity to enjoy some or all of the following benefits based upon your membership category:
- Free access to future APFM Webinars
- A premier family and divorce mediation education program
- Invitations to professional conferences
- Access to a future repository of mediation education curricula
- Subscription to a professional newsletter
- Access to a digital library of articles on innovative developments in mediation processes, mediation research, and other cutting-edge topics
APFM Membership Categories
To join or renew your APFM Membership simply scroll through the membership categories listed below and choose the level that fits your current level of training and experience or involvement in the field of family mediation. Please note that APFM Certified Memberships require a completed and approved application.
Certified Advanced Practitioner Member ($300):
- Learn more about or apply for APFM Certified Advanced Practitioner membership here: https://apfmnet.org/membership/certified-membership/
- Mediated 100 or more divorce cases to completion (including developing an equitable distribution plan and a memorandum of understanding, or a mediated marital settlement agreement) or a minimum of 500 total session-hours; or
- Mediated 100 or more mixed types of family cases (e.g. divorce, parenting plans, elder disputes, post-divorce issue(s), court-connected custody/visitation, parent-child disputes) or a minimum of 500 or more total session-hours; and
- Completed 40 hour basic family mediation training with training in domestic violence dynamics; and
- Completed an additional 40 hours of training or continuing education in family mediation; and
- Completed an additional 20 hours of training/practicum or continuing education in mediation practice skills; and
- Continues to complete at least 15 hours of on-going professional development every two years.
- Completed and approved application ($100.00 one time application fee)
- Attestation questions at application and each renewal:
- Member carries current malpractice insurance
- Member has completed the required Continuing Education requirement
- Member has never lost a previously held license or certification in any field due to sanctions
- Member pledges to follow the APFM Ethical Standards for Professional Family Mediator
Certified Practitioner Member ($250):
- Learn more about or apply for APFM Certified Practitioner membership here: https://apfmnet.org/membership/certified-membership/
- Mediated 20 or more divorce cases to completion (including developing an equitable distribution plan and a memorandum of understanding, or a mediated marital settlement agreement) or a minimum of 100 total session-hours, or
- Mediated 20 or more mixed types of family cases (e.g. divorce, parenting plans, elder disputes, post-divorce issue(s), court-connected custody/visitation, parent-child disputes) or a minimum of 100 total session-hours; and
- Completed 40 hour basic family mediation training with training in domestic violence dynamics; and
- Completed an additional 40 hours of training or continuing education in family mediation; and
- Continues to complete at least 15 hours of on-going professional development every two years.
- Attestation questions at application and each renewal:
- Member carries current malpractice insurance
- Member has completed the required Continuing Education requirement
- Member has never lost a previously held license or certification in any field due to sanctions
- Member pledges to follow the APFM Ethical Standards for Professional Family Mediators
Advanced Practitioner Member ($250):
- Mediated 100 or more divorce cases to completion (including developing an equitable distribution plan and a memorandum of understanding, or a mediated marital settlement agreement) or a minimum of 500 total session-hours; or
- Mediated 100 or more mixed types of family cases (e.g. divorce, parenting plans, elder disputes, post-divorce issue(s), court-connected custody/visitation, parent-child disputes) or a minimum of 500 or more total session-hours; and
- Completed 40 hour basic family mediation training with training in domestic violence dynamics; and
- Completed an additional 40 hours of training or continuing education in family mediation; and
- Completed an additional 20 hours of training/practicum or continuing education in mediation practice skills; and
- Continues to complete at least 15 hours of on-going professional development every two years.
- Learn about or apply for APFM Certified Advanced Practitioner membership here: https://apfmnet.org/membership/certified-membership/
Practitioner Member ($200):
- Mediated 20 or more divorce cases to completion (including developing an equitable distribution plan and a memorandum of understanding, or a mediated marital settlement agreement) or a minimum of 100 total session-hours, or
- Mediated 20 or more mixed types of family cases (e.g. divorce, parenting plans, elder disputes, post-divorce issue(s), court-connected custody/visitation, parent-child disputes) or a minimum of 100 total session-hours; and
- Completed 40 hour basic family mediation training with training in domestic violence dynamics; and
- Completed an additional 40 hours of training or continuing education in family mediation; and
- Continues to complete at least 15 hours of on-going professional development every two years.
- Learn more about or apply for APFM Certified Practitioner membership here: https://apfmnet.org/membership/certified-membership/
Mediator Member ($150):
- Completed 40 hour basic family mediation training with training in domestic violence dynamics but has not yet met the requirements of a practitioner member; and
- Is engaged in on-going professional development.
Student Member ($75):
- Is a full-time matriculated student.
- A student member will receive all APFM benefits except the student member will not have a profile on the website.
Associate Member ($150):
- Does not currently practice mediation (may be a friend, contributor, researcher, trainer, or educator to the profession).
Institutional Subscriber Member ($75)
- Is an institution (e.g., a university) that wishes to support and/or promote family mediation and stay abreast of developments in the field. Please note that Institutional members are allowed one directory listing and one registration or member discount per event.