Parent Education Program (PEP), Completed Online Approved by Courts Nationwide
The name attorneys recommend, and courts know.
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Whether court-ordered for divorce, paternity, or custody, or referred by a caseworker or judge, our Co-Parenting and Parenting Classes meet every court and agency requirement.
What a Parent Education Program Is
A Parent Education Program, often shortened to PEP, is the class a court requires parents to complete when they divorce, separate, or change a custody arrangement while they have children under eighteen. The court is not judging whether you are a good parent. It wants both parents to understand how the case affects the children and how to keep them out of the conflict, and it wants proof that each parent completed the program before the case moves forward.
That proof is a certificate of completion. Ours is completed entirely online, at your own pace, and the certificate is issued the moment you finish, with a QR code the court can verify in seconds. If your order, petition, or standing order says Parent Education Program, parenting seminar, or co-parenting class, this is the class.
Which Courts Require a Parent Education Program
Every state lets a family court order parent education, and most require it in divorce cases with minor children. These are the states whose statutes and court rules use the program wording itself.
Massachusetts
Probate and Family Court Standing Order 3-23. This is the state where the name "PEP" is most common.
Illinois
Illinois Supreme Court Rule 924 and 750 ILCS 5/404.1.
Connecticut
Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-69b.
Oregon
ORS 3.425, a parent education program on the impact of family change.
Utah
Utah Code § 81-9-103 and Rule 4-907.
Oklahoma
43 O.S. § 107.2.
Missouri
RSMo § 452.372 and related sections.
Arizona
A.R.S. §§ 25-351 through 25-355.
Iowa
Iowa Code § 598.15.
Maine
4 M.R.S. § 183 and Rule 107(a)(3).
Kansas
K.S.A. § 23-3214.
Ohio
Ohio Rev. Code § 3109.053.
Not listed? Your state page has the rule for your court. Find your state.
What the Court Expects the Program to Teach
The standing orders and statutes differ in wording, but they ask for the same subjects, and our class covers each one.
- How divorce, separation, and conflict affect children at every age
- How to keep children out of the middle of adult disagreements
- Communication between parents that keeps the focus on the child
- Parenting time, transitions, and life in two households
- Child development, so expectations fit the child’s age
- Where to find help when a family needs more than a class
How to Complete Your Program Before Your Court Date
Enroll and start right away
There is no schedule and no waiting list. Enroll, sign in, and the first lesson is open. Many parents finish the same day they start, and you can stop and pick up where you left off any time.
Finish the lessons and the review
The class is fully online and works on a phone. Each lesson is read and signed in order, and a short review at the end confirms you understood the material.
Hand the court your certificate
Your certificate of completion is issued the moment you finish, in your legal name, with your court state and county and your case number. The court verifies it online in seconds, and a copy goes to your attorney if you want one.
Approved by Courts in All 50 States.
We have been teaching this class since 1993 and were the first to bring it online. That history is why attorneys recommend the class by name, and courts know the certificate on sight when you file it for your Parent Education Program.
How the Class Satisfies a Court OrderParent Education Program Questions, Answered
What does PEP stand for?
PEP stands for Parent Education Program. It is the parenting class a court requires when parents with minor children divorce, separate, or modify a custody order. Massachusetts parents use the name most, because the Probate and Family Court calls the requirement by that name, but the same requirement exists under other names across the country.
Is a Parent Education Program the same as a parenting class?
Yes. A Parent Education Program, a parent education class, a co-parenting class, and a parenting seminar are different names courts use for the same thing: a class that teaches parents how to protect their children through a divorce or custody case. Our class satisfies the requirement whatever your court calls it.
Can I complete a Parent Education Program online?
Yes. Our class is approved by courts nationwide and is completed entirely online, at your own pace, from any phone or computer. When you finish, your certificate is issued immediately and the court can verify it online.
My court date is soon. Is there time?
Yes. You can enroll today and finish today. The class is self-paced with no sessions to wait for, so the only schedule is yours. Your certificate is ready the moment you complete the class.
I have a court fee waiver. Does that change the price?
It can. If a court has granted you a fee waiver, or a court or agency has found that you cannot afford the class, write to us at info@puttingkidsfirst.org with a copy of the signed document and we will reply with a reduced fee accommodation.
What if both parents have to take it?
Each parent enrolls separately and receives their own certificate. You do not need to take the class together, and neither parent can see the other’s account or progress.
Satisfy Your Parent Education Program Today
Enroll now, finish at your own pace, and hand the court a certificate it can verify in seconds.