Certification Requirements

New Officials (Never Been Registered)

All persons who have never registered with USA Hockey as an Ice Hockey Official must register at Level 1 for the first season. All registration requirements must be completed, and you must have your Card and Crest in hand before you may accept assignments.

LEVEL 1 REQUIREMENTS:

• Submit online Officiating Membership application and fee ($55.00)
• Complete a L1 officiating classroom seminar sanctioned by USA Hockey
• Complete L1 Online Education Module training
• Complete online L1 Playing Rules Exercise
• Complete SafeSport training (if 2008 Birth Year, or older)
• Complete and maintain a USA Hockey sanctioned NCSI Background Screen if 18(+) years old on May 1, 2025.

 LEVEL 2 REQUIREMENTS:

• Must have complete Level 1 membership within the last two seasons
• Submit online L2 Officiating Membership application and fee ($110.00)
• Complete a L2 officiating classroom seminar sanctioned by USA Hockey
• Complete L2 Online Education Module training
• Complete online L2 Playing Rules Exercise
• Complete SafeSport training (if 2008 Birth Year, or older)
• Complete and maintain a USA Hockey sanctioned NCSI Background Screen if 18(+) years old on May 1, 2025.

LEVEL 3 REFEREE REQUIREMENTS:  

• Must have complete Level 2 (or higher) membership during previous season
• Submit online L3 Officiating Membership application and fee ($110.00)
• Complete a L3 officiating classroom seminar sanctioned by USA Hockey
• Complete L3 Online Education Module training
• Complete online L3 Playing Rules Exercise
• Complete SafeSport training (if 2008 Birth Year, or older)
• Complete and maintain a USA Hockey sanctioned NCSI Background Screen if 18(+) years old on May 1, 2025.

LEVEL 4 REFEREE REQUIREMENTS: 

• Must have complete Level 3 or Level 4 membership last season
• Submit online L4 Officiating Membership application and fee ($110.00) 
• Complete a L4 officiating classroom seminar sanctioned by USA Hockey
• Complete L4 Online Education Module training
• Complete online L4 Playing Rules Exercise
• Complete SafeSport training (if 2008 Birth Year, or older).
• Complete and maintain a USA Hockey sanctioned NCSI Background Screen if 18(+) years old on May 1, 2025.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
An official may not change their membership level to a higher level once their online membership application is submitted.

Classroom Seminar Attendance

Attendance at a sanctioned USA Hockey Officials Classroom Seminar is required for all applicants, regardless of level.

NOTE: An official is not required to attend a seminar in their respective state or USA Hockey District. An official may attend any sanctioned seminar in any district and receive credit toward registration.

USA Hockey SafeSport Education Program

As part of USA Hockey’s continued effort to create a safe playing environment for all participants, those officials who are a 2006 Birth Year or older at the beginning of the registration season are required to complete the online U.S. Center for SafeSport education program.

The online program is free of charge and is hosted on the U.S. Center for SafeSport web platform.

FOR 2025 SEASON: Per United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and U.S. Center for SafeSport policy, all returning officials must renew SafeSport training within 12-months of the previous season’s training (e.g. if you completed training on September 15, 2024, you must renew your training by September 15, 2025). An official that does not maintain annual training within 12 months will become ineligible to work any USA Hockey sanctioned game.

USA Hockey Background Screen

All officials who are 18(+) years-old or older by June 1 of the current year, must submit to a USA Hockey coordinated Criminal Background Screen. More information about screening can be found at this page.

Background screens are valid for two seasons, and no background screen performed by an outside entity or governing body will be accepted.