Parenting classes by state · Arizona
Court-Ordered Parenting Classes in Arizona
Arizona requires both parents to complete a court-approved Parent Information Program in divorce, separation and annulment cases, and in paternity, custody and parenting-time cases, involving a minor child. Each county runs its own.
Based on 8 cited official sources · Reviewed Sep 2026
- Required?Yes, statewideFor divorcing parents with minor children
- Typical length2 to 6 hoursEach county sets its length (ACJA 3-202)
- Online?Online acceptedConfirm your court accepts the course
- Court feeCapped at $50The provider’s course fee is separate; waivers are available
At a glance
| Is a parenting class required? | Yes — required statewide for divorcing parents with minor children |
|---|---|
| Who takes it & when | Both parents must complete it in any divorce (dissolution), legal separation, or annulment involving a minor child common to the parties — and in paternity, custody, parenting-time, or child-support cases — and it is ordered early in the case, with a court-set deadline. |
| Typical length | 2 to 6 hours under the statewide standard (ACJA § 3-202); each county sets its own length within that range (Pinal County's class is 4 hours) |
| In person or online? | Online classes accepted |
| Format & approval | Arizona requires both parents to complete a court-approved Parent Information Program (two to six hours under the Arizona Supreme Court's minimum standards, with the exact length set by each county) when a divorce, legal separation, or annulment involves minor children. Classes are offered both in person and online, and court-approved online courses are widely accepted — but there is no single statewide provider list; each county Superior Court maintains its own approved-provider list, so confirm your class is approved by the county where your case is filed. Your county's Superior Court (the family court) decides what counts — confirm the course and format before you enroll or pay. |
| Program name | Parent Information Program (PIP) |
Arizona-specific rules to know
- Mandatory statewide by statute: A.R.S. 25-351 requires every Arizona county's Superior Court to adopt and implement the program, and A.R.S. 25-352 requires the court to order the parents to complete it in qualifying divorce/legal-separation/annulment and paternity/custody cases.
- Both parents must complete it — and they attend separate classes/sessions as a domestic-violence safety precaution; one parent finishing does not excuse the other.
- The completion deadline is set by the court's order — commonly within about 45-60 days (Maricopa County's Order and Notice to Attend requires completion within 45 days of the petition being served).
- A parent can be excused if the court finds participation isn't in the best interests of the parties or child, if the parent is enrolled in a comparable program, or if the parent already completed a comparable program.
- State law (A.R.S. 25-355) caps the court's fee at $50; the provider's course fee is separate, fee waivers/deferrals are available, and approved providers, formats, and prices vary by county.
County requirements
Because Arizona sets its parenting-class requirement court by court, the biggest counties run their own named program with their own approved provider and deadline. Here's what the court requires in these Arizona counties — always confirm the current rule with the specific court handling your case.
Maricopa County (Phoenix)
Parent Information Program (PIP) — any Maricopa County court-approved PIP provider (in person or online, English or Spanish). In Maricopa County, both parents in a divorce, legal separation, or paternity case that decides legal decision-making, parenting time, or child support must complete the Parent Information Program, and the court's order directs each party to finish within 45 days of being served with the petition. Classes come from court-approved providers, in person or online; the statewide standard is two to six hours, and the court's page does not publish a Maricopa-specific length, so check the length with the provider you choose. The court's fee is capped at $50 per person (the provider's course fee is separate). Always confirm the deadline and an approved provider with the Maricopa County Superior Court before you enroll or pay.
Full Maricopa County guide: rule, deadlines & how to file →
Maricopa County Superior Court — Family Conciliation Services → · Sources: superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/departments/superior-court/family/conciliation-services, azleg.gov/ars/25/00352.htm
Find an approved parenting class in Arizona
Start with the official state or court list — that's the one your county's Superior Court (the family court) is most likely to accept — then confirm the specific course with your court or clerk:
Prefer to look on a map? Search Google Maps for parenting classes in Arizona — then check any provider against the official guidance above and your court's order before enrolling.
Order names a specific program? See our guide to Parent Information Program (PIP) — documented by at least one court in Arizona, with the official sources.
Can you take it online? Arizona generally accepts approved online parenting courses. An approved online course can be the fastest way to finish — but confirm your county's Superior Court (the family court) accepts your specific course first. How court-approved online parenting classes work →
Source & accuracy: compiled from Arizona Judicial Branch — each county's Superior Court runs its own program under minimum standards set by the Arizona Supreme Court / Administrative Office of the Courts (ACJA § 3-202) and official Arizona court sources. Requirements change and vary by county and case — always confirm the course, format, hours, and deadline with your court before enrolling. Sources: azleg.gov/ars/25/00351.htm, azleg.gov/ars/25/00352.htm, azleg.gov/ars/25/00355.htm, azcourthelp.org/browse-by-topic/custody-information/pip, azcourts.gov/familylaw/Child-Support-Family-Law-Information/Parent-Education-Program, superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/media/z33pzqrc/dr12fz.pdf, azcourts.gov/Portals/0/0/admcode/pdfcurrentcode/3-202%20Parent%20Education%20Programs%2004-2024.pdf, pinalcourtsaz.gov/250/Parent-Education-Class.
Going through a divorce? Many courts also require a divorce-education class for parents — compare requirements, hours, cost, and online rules in our divorce classes by state guide.