Certification Training

Registration for the fall course is now closed. Any elected or appointed magisterial district judge or arraignment court arraignment court magistrate who needs to be certified in order to assume office in January 2024 should contact the Administrative Office immediately, if you are not currently registered for the fall course. The course will be conducted in-person at the Pennsylvania Judicial Center (PJC), 601 Commonwealth Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17120, from November 13 - December 14, 2023. The orientation webinar is scheduled October 23, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Email MJEB@pacourts.us or call 717-231-9515.  

Online registration for the spring 2024 certification course will open March 4, 2024, on this webpage. The spring certification course is currently scheduled for May 29 - June 28, 2024. 

Magisterial District Judges and Arraignment Court Magistrates who are not members of the bar of this Commonwealth shall complete a course of training and instruction in the duties of their respective offices and pass an examination prior to assuming office." Judicial Code (42 Pa C.S.A. §3112, as mandated by 42 Pa C.S.A. §1127)

Justices of the peace shall be members of the bar of the Supreme Court or shall complete a course of training and instruction in the duties of their respective offices and pass an examination prior to assuming office. Such courses and examinations shall be as provided by law." Constitution of Pennsylvania (Article V, §12b)

Individuals who are not members of the Pennsylvania Bar seeking to hold the office of Magisterial District Judge or Philadelphia Arraignment Court Magistrate must be certified prior to assuming office.

For information on the Board's Nonstandard Testing Accommodations, consult the Board's Administrative Office. Forms can be obtained by calling 717-231-9515 or email MJEB@pacourts.us. You may also review the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) http://www.ada.gov/ for more information on federally approved accommodations procedures.

Requests for nonstandard testing accommodations (NTA) must be made no later than one month prior to the examination. This policy also applies to recertification students.

Updated as of October 16, 2023.