Parenting classes by state · New York
Court-Ordered Parenting Classes in New York
New York’s Parent Education and Awareness Program is a statewide court-system program, but a judge orders it case by case. There is no automatic requirement.
Based on 4 cited official sources · Reviewed Jul 2026
- Required?Often, by county or courtNot uniformly required statewide
- Typical lengthAbout 4 to 6 hoursSet by each certified provider
- Online?Online acceptedConfirm your court accepts the course
- CostWaived or reduced for hardshipProviders may charge a reasonable fee
At a glance
| Is a parenting class required? | Often — required by many counties/courts (not uniformly statewide) |
|---|---|
| Who takes it & when | Parents with children under 18 in a New York Supreme Court or Family Court case for divorce, separation, annulment, or custody/visitation (or a modification of custody/visitation) — but only when the judge, in their discretion, orders it; there is no automatic statewide requirement. |
| Typical length | Set by each certified provider (Part 144 fixes no length); commonly about 4-6 hours, delivered in one session or split into shorter sessions (e.g., two 3-hour sessions). |
| In person or online? | Online classes accepted |
| Format & approval | PEAP is a single statewide court-system program governed by court rule 22 NYCRR Part 144, but attendance is not automatic — a Supreme Court or Family Court judge orders it in their discretion in a given divorce/separation/custody case, so whether you must take it depends on your judge and your court order. The state's official certified-provider list (Unified Court System) includes both in-person ("in class") and state-approved online/virtual programs, so online completion is widely accepted; still, follow any format your specific court order requires and use only a provider on the state's certified list. (Find the PEAP page and its certified-provider list on the NY courts site, nycourts.gov.) The Supreme Court or Family Court handling your case decides what counts — confirm the course and format before you enroll or pay. |
| Program name | Parent Education and Awareness Program (PEAP) |
New York-specific rules to know
- Discretionary, not automatic: under 22 NYCRR 144.3(b) the court 'in its discretion, may order both parents to attend' in Supreme/Family Court divorce, separation, annulment, custody or visitation (or modification) cases involving children under 18 — there is no blanket statewide mandate.
- If ordered, BOTH parents must attend, but the rule says they 'shall not attend the same class session,' and the order is made 'as early in the proceeding as practicable' (144.3(b)).
- Domestic-violence protection: where there is any history, allegation, or pleading of domestic violence or other abuse, the court 'shall not mandate' attendance; a parent who is a domestic-violence victim may opt out by contacting a program administrator (144.3(c) and (e)).
- You must use an OCA-certified provider; the certified list is organized by county and includes both in-person and online programs (rev. 11-25-25). Providers may charge a reasonable fee that must be waived or reduced for hardship (144.4, 144.5).
- Attendance cannot delay the underlying case (144.3(d)), and anything a parent says in the program is confidential and not usable as evidence (144.6).
Find an approved parenting class in New York
Start with the official state or court list — that's the one the Supreme Court or Family Court handling your case is most likely to accept — then confirm the specific course with your court or clerk:
New York doesn't publish one central approved-course list — the Supreme Court or Family Court handling your case, your clerk of court, or your county's family-law self-help center will tell you which courses are accepted for your case.
Prefer to look on a map? Search Google Maps for parenting classes in New York — then check any provider against the official guidance above and your court's order before enrolling.
Can you take it online? New York generally accepts approved online parenting courses. An approved online course can be the fastest way to finish — but confirm the Supreme Court or Family Court handling your case accepts your specific course first. How court-approved online parenting classes work →
Source & accuracy: compiled from New York State Unified Court System — Office of Court Administration (OCA), NYS Parent Education and Awareness Program and official New York court sources. Requirements change and vary by county and case — always confirm the course, format, hours, and deadline with your court before enrolling. Sources: nycourts.gov/parent-education-and-awareness-program, nycourts.gov/parent-education-and-awareness-program/parents, nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/ip/parent-ed/CertifiedPEAPProviderList.pdf, ww2.nycourts.gov/rules/chiefadmin/144.shtml.
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.