How to Certify & Recertify as an Official

Background Information

All Local Swimming Committees (LSC) follow the Standards for Certification of Officials.

Questions about the certification standards are addressed in the LSC Officials Certification FAQ.

Officials join USA Swimming and are certified by the Local Swimming Committee (LSC) where they reside. Check out our LSC Zone Map to see where you can both register and get certified!

Required officials’ clinics including the associated test, the Athlete Protection Training (APT) course, Concussion Protocol Training (CPT) course, and the Background Check initiation process are all located in the USA Swimming University online portal. Completion of these requirements as well as the training and certification status of an individual are tracked in the Officials Tracking System (OTS). See the Officials Tracking System webpage for an explanation of how to access OTS and what information you can find in OTS.

All officiating tests are open book using the current version of the USA Swimming Rulebook.

Please direct any questions you have on the certification or recertification process to your LSC Officials Chair.

BASIC STEPS TO BECOMING A NEW OFFICIAL

New officials start as either an Administrative Official or a Stroke and Turn Official.

To start the process of becoming a certified official, you must first register as a member of USA Swimming. You may initially register as an "apprentice official" or as a "non-athlete member" in the "official" category." Please note that not all LSCs offer the "apprentice official" registration option. Contact your LSC Officials Chair for specific guidance on how to register in your LSC.

Following registration, you will need to complete the following requirements to certify as an official.

Complete the Foundations of Officiating course.
Complete either the Stroke & Turn Certification course or the Administrative Official Certification course (to avoid the $45 non-member fee, first register as an apprentice official or non-athlete member in the officials' category)

Complete a Background Check
Complete Athlete Protection Training
Complete Concussion Protocol Training
Complete on-deck sessions shadowing a certified official

BASIC STEPS TO BECOMING A JUNIOR OFFICIAL

USA Swimming athletes, aged 16-17, can become Junior Stroke and Turn Judges and Junior Administrative Officials. The athlete must be registered as a premium athlete member and complete the same on-deck training requirements as adult trainees. In addition, the athlete must complete the corresponding online Stroke & Turn Certification Course or the Administrative Official Certification Course, Safe Sport for Youth Athletes (13-17) Training, and Concussion Protocol Training. Once the Junior Official turns 18, they must complete Athlete Protection Training and a Background Check.

ADVANCING AS AN OFFICIAL

The positions of Chief Judge, Starter, and Referee all require prior certification in at least one other officiating position as summarized below. Refer to the Standards of Certification of Officials for more details.

To certify as a Chief Judge, an individual must first certify as a Stroke and Turn Official
To certify as a Starter, an individual must first certify as a Stroke and Turn Official
To certify as a Referee, an individual must certify as both a Starter and an Administrative Official

USA SWIMMING & YMCA CERTIFICATION RECIPROCITY

The USA Swimming National Officials Committee and the YMCA Officials Committee have established a reciprocity agreement that facilitates certified officials from one organization becoming certified officials of the other organization. The process for doing so is described in the reciprocity agreement.

RECERTIFICATION

Recertification requirements can be found in the Officials Certification Standards. Questions about the certification standards are addressed in the LSC Officials Certification FAQ.

Recertification is managed at the LSC level. Please check your LSC website or with your LSC Officials Chair for the specifics of how to recertify in your LSC.

Please remember that officials must also remain current in all USA Swimming membership requirements. These requirements include registration as a USA Swimming non-athlete member, athlete protection training, and background check. You can check your membership requirements status by logging into the USA Swimming website and viewing your USA Swimming account.