Are these courses right for you?
If you want to become a family justice counsellor, family mediator, or want professional development in various family justice areas then these courses are for you.
Please note these courses are stand-alone courses. They are not a program. Taking these courses will not meet all the requirements to become a family mediator or a family justice counsellor.
Gain a Solid Foundation
Gain a solid foundation with the services mediators provide and the key areas they must understand when assisting families with family justice matters.
Obtain Training Hours to Meet BC's Mediator Qualifications and Standards
To become a family mediator (private or family justice counsellor), you must have the specific qualifications outlined in the Family Law Act (Section 4 - Family Dispute Resolution Professionals). JIBC is listed under these regulations as a training provider and provides courses to meet both 'mediation theory and skills' and 'family justice' (e.g., family violence) educational requirements.
If you are interested in becoming a member of a mediation roster or organization - such as Mediate BC, Family Mediation Canada, and/or ADRBC, please contact these organizations to see how the JIBC courses meet their requirements.
These courses are for people interested in acquiring some of the training and educational hours that are required to become a family mediator (private) or family justice counsellor. These courses can also be helpful to a range of different professionals (e.g., legal professionals) who are seeking a better understanding of family justice issues.
If you are interested in becoming a:
- Family justice counsellor - review the information sheet.
- Family mediator (private) - review the Family Law Act Regulation (S. 4 Family Law Mediators) or contact the applicable mediation organization to see their requirements for membership.
These courses educate individuals on a range of family justice and family law matters during the process of separation and divorce. Topics include: the family justice system in B.C., substance use, family violence, working with diverse clients, and effects of separation and divorce on children and adults.
Course Format
All courses are offered online.
Activities, self-tests, discussions, assignments and typically a final quiz are used in the courses to make the material relevant and practical to the student.
Computer skills are an asset.
Upcoming Family Justice Courses
Click on the links to the courses at the bottom of the page for upcoming course offerings and descriptions for each course.
If you are interested in becoming a family justice counsellor, please review the requirements to apply. This course schedule is not a list of course requirements to become a family justice counsellor.
There is no required application process to enrol in family justice courses.
You can register for courses online, or phone the JIBC Registration Office at 604.528.5590 (toll-free 1.877.528.5591), 8:15 a.m.-3:45 p.m. weekdays.
Tuition
The tuition fees for each course vary depending on the number of course credits. Check the individual course descriptions for current tuition information.
There is no application process for these courses. These courses are available and open to all members of the public. You must first register as a student with the JIBC and then you are able to enrol in the family justice course you are interested in.
Taking these courses does not guarantee employment as a family justice counsellor nor fulfill all requirements to become a family mediator.
Admission Requirements
These courses are open to anyone. There are no formal admission requirements.
Your first step is to register as a student at JIBC. Then you can enrol in various family justice courses. You can see the costs and available dates for an individual course by clicking on the course below. You can also click 'register' and formally enrol in that course.
Course Requirements
Students must have access to a computer and an internet connection that meet JIBC's hardware and software requirements before starting the course. If you cannot meet the technology requirements and still choose to take this online course, performance may suffer noticeably. JIBC cannot be held responsible.
Q: I work full-time. How much time do these courses take?
A: Each course identifies the approximate amount of study hours required to complete the course. The time allocated is considered adequate for working adults to finish the course. However, a student can complete them in a shorter time period if they wish to do so.
Q: What do I need to apply for a position as a Family Justice Counsellor?
A: If you are interested in applying for a family justice counsellor position (Family Justice Services Division, Ministry of Attorney General), please review the information sheet.
COURSES
Note
The Ministry of Attorney General may give preference to family justice counsellor applicants who have completed courses marked with an asterisk *