Domestic violence classes by state · Florida
Court-Ordered Domestic Violence Classes in Florida
If a Florida court ordered you into a domestic violence class, it almost certainly means the state's certified program — 29-week Batterers' Intervention Program (BIP) — 24 weekly sessions plus intake, assessment, and orientation — not a generic anger-management class. Here's what that program is, how long it runs, whether it can be done online, and how to find one your court will accept.
If you or someone else is in danger right now, call 911. To talk to someone about domestic violence — as a survivor or if you're worried about your own behavior — the National Domestic Violence Hotline is free, confidential, and available 24/7: call 1-800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or visit thehotline.org.
Quick answer: domestic violence classes in Florida
Not confirmed — verify with your court. A Florida BIP follows a cognitive-behavioral or psychoeducational model addressing tactics of power and control — not a generic anger-management curriculum. The statute defines a 29-week program with 24 weekly sessions plus intake, assessment, and orientation. Whether virtual attendance is accepted is not published statewide — confirm the required format with the court or your probation officer before enrolling in any online option. the Florida court that handled your case (county or circuit court) or your probation officer decides what counts — confirm the specific certified program and format before you enroll or pay.
Anger management is not the same thing. Read anger management vs. batterer intervention to make sure you sign up for the right program the first time.
At a glance
| What courts order | 29-week Batterers' Intervention Program (BIP) — 24 weekly sessions plus intake, assessment, and orientation |
|---|---|
| When it's required | Under Fla. Stat. 741.281, a person who is found guilty of, has adjudication withheld on, or pleads nolo contendere to a crime of domestic violence must be ordered to a batterers' intervention program as a condition of the mandatory minimum one year of probation — unless the court states on the record why a BIP would be inappropriate. Courts also order BIP attendance with domestic violence injunctions. Program requirements are set by Fla. Stat. 741.325. |
| Typical length | At least 29 weeks total, including 24 weekly sessions plus appropriate intake, assessment, and orientation programming (Fla. Stat. 741.325). Programs are funded by user fees paid by the attendees. |
| In person or online? | Not confirmed — verify with your court |
| Who certifies / approves it | The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) certifies and monitors batterers' intervention programs under Fla. Stat. 741.32/741.325/741.327 and Florida Administrative Code Chapter 65H-2. DCF's certification role was restored by 2022 legislation (rule chapter 65H-2 took effect September 2022) after roughly a decade in which oversight was left to individual judicial circuits — so ignore older pages saying Florida no longer certifies BIPs. |
Florida-specific rules to know
- CRITICAL DISTINCTION: a Florida batterers' intervention program is NOT a generic anger-management class. By statute a BIP uses a cognitive-behavioral or psychoeducational model addressing power and control over another person, runs 29 weeks with 24 weekly sessions, and holds the batterer accountable — an anger-management certificate generally will not satisfy a domestic-violence order.
- The order is close to automatic: under Fla. Stat. 741.281 a domestic-violence conviction (or withheld adjudication or nolo plea) carries a mandatory minimum year of probation with BIP attendance as a condition, unless the judge states on the record why a BIP would be inappropriate.
- DCF certification is current law again: 2022 legislation restored DCF certification and annual monitoring of BIPs (Fla. Admin. Code Ch. 65H-2, effective September 2022) after years of circuit-by-circuit oversight. Use a currently certified provider from the DCF directory.
- You pay for the program: BIPs are funded by user fees paid by the batterers who attend (Fla. Stat. 741.325); per-session fees vary by provider and are not fixed statewide — confirm cost with the provider by phone.
- Programs report attendance and completion, so missed sessions can become a probation violation. Confirm the specific certified provider and format with the court that ordered you or your probation officer BEFORE enrolling and paying.
Find an accepted domestic violence program in Florida
A certified program is not the same as a class you find on your own, so the safest move is to confirm the specific provider with the Florida court that handled your case (county or circuit court) or your probation officer before you pay:
Prefer to look on a map? Search Google Maps for certified domestic violence programs in Florida — then check any provider against your court's order, and confirm it is on the certified/approved list, before enrolling.
Source & accuracy: compiled from official Florida statutes and certifying-agency sources. Requirements change and vary by court and case — always confirm the certified program, format, length, and deadline with the court that ordered you before enrolling. Sources: myflfamilies.com/bipc, flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/741.325, flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/741.281, flcourts.gov/Resources-Services/Office-of-Family-Courts/Family-Court-in-Florida/Domestic-Violence/Batterers-Intervention-Program-List-of-Providers, flrules.org/gateway/ChapterHome.asp?Chapter=65H-2.