Parenting classes by state · California
Court-Ordered Parenting Classes in California
California has no single statewide parenting class. When custody is contested, a court orientation comes before mandatory mediation, and many counties also order a parent-education class.
Based on 5 cited official sources · Reviewed Jul 2026
- Required?Often, by county or courtNot uniformly required statewide
- Typical lengthAbout 1 to 4 hours1-hour orientation; classes often about 4 hours
- Online?VariesDepends on your court or county
- CostOrientation is freeClass fees vary by county
At a glance
| Is a parenting class required? | Often — required by many counties/courts (not uniformly statewide) |
|---|---|
| Who takes it & when | Parents of minor children whose custody or visitation is contested must complete a court orientation before their mandatory Family Court Services mediation, and in many counties a judge additionally orders a parent-education class — but no class is uniformly required of all divorcing parents statewide. |
| Typical length | Court orientation is typically about 1 hour and free; county-ordered parent-education classes are commonly around 4 hours or a multi-session workshop and may charge a fee — varies by county. |
| In person or online? | Varies by court / county |
| Format & approval | California has no single statewide mandatory parenting course for divorce; what is statewide is mandatory child-custody mediation (Family Code section 3170) whenever custody/visitation is contested, preceded by a required orientation ("You must attend an orientation before going to mediation" — official self-help; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.210(e)(2) requires "orientation or parent education"). Many counties additionally order a separate parent-education class by local rule. Orientations and classes are offered online, in person, or a mix depending on the county, and there is no single statewide approved-provider list — approval is decided court-by-court. Your county Superior Court (Family Court Services) decides what counts — confirm the course and format before you enroll or pay. |
| Program name | Family Court Services parent orientation / court-ordered parent education (no single statewide named course) |
California-specific rules to know
- No statewide mandatory parenting course: unlike states such as Florida or Utah, California does not automatically require every divorcing parent to take a class — the Family Code authorizes courts to order education but does not make a class universal.
- Mediation is mandatory statewide when custody/visitation is contested (Family Code section 3170: 'the court shall set the contested issues for mediation'), and a pre-mediation orientation is required before it (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.210).
- Both parents are generally required to complete the orientation (and any ordered class) separately; where there is domestic violence or a restraining order, the court provides separate sessions (rule 5.215).
- High-conflict track: under Family Code section 3190 a judge may order parents (and the child) into counseling for up to one year, with the parents paying the cost, when the dispute poses a substantial danger to the child's best interest.
- Requirements vary widely by county — many counties order parent education by local rule (e.g., San Diego's Parent Orientation plus the court-approved Kids' Turn workshop; Los Angeles maintains a high-conflict parent-education referral list) — so parents must check their own county Superior Court.
Find an approved parenting class in California
Start with the official state or court list — that's the one your county Superior Court (Family Court Services) 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 California — 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 Between Two Parents — documented by at least one court in California, with the official sources.
Can you take it online? Whether an online parenting course is accepted in California depends on your court or county. An approved online course can be the fastest way to finish — but confirm your county Superior Court (Family Court Services) accepts your specific course first. How court-approved online parenting classes work →
Source & accuracy: compiled from Judicial Council of California / California judicial branch sets the statewide rules (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.210); each county Superior Court's Family Court Services administers the orientation and any parent-education program locally. and official California court sources. Requirements change and vary by county and case — always confirm the course, format, hours, and deadline with your court before enrolling. Sources: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=FAM§ionNum=3170, leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=FAM§ionNum=3190, courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/five/rule5_210, selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/child-custody/what-to-expect-mediation, leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=3200.5.&lawCode=FAM.
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.