Welcome to the USA Hockey Officiating Program.

Whether you are a brand new Level 1 Official or a returning veteran, you must complete all steps of Officiating membership registration each season to be eligible to work USA Hockey sanctioned games. To learn more about the registration process, please continue down this page.

A complete list of USA Hockey Officiating membership rules and policies are posted at the Registration Rules page. We strongly recommend reviewing these each season to prevent confusion and errors that might effect your registration.

Thank you for your interest in the USA Hockey Officiating Program.

We must preface our outline of the registration process by mentioning that while USA Hockey has no age requirements to become an official, a few U.S. states have been experiencing conflicts with child labor laws. In an effort to prevent people from registering and not being able to work due to local laws, we encourage you to contact your USA Hockey District Referee-in-Chief before registering with us. Contact information can be found using the appropriate links at the main Officiating Directory page under the OFFICIALS tab at USAHockey.com.

To completely register with USA Hockey as an official you need to complete the following steps each year:

USA HOCKEY OFFICIATING MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION (this step must be completed first):
At the USAHockey.com homepage, click on the “Become a Member” link (top-right of the page) to register as an Ice Official and pay your annual membership fee (and local Affiliate Fee if applicable). 

Once you are registered you will receive two emails. The first  email will confirm your membership registration. The second email will contain your USA Hockey Referee Number (your unique referee ID), and additional information regarding completing registration.

Additionally, all new officials will receive a hard-copy of the USA Hockey Playing Rules & Casebook and Basic Officiating Manual a week after completing membership registration. Returning officials will receive a new rulebook each Rule Change Season.

U.S. CENTER FOR SAFESPORT TRAINING (if born in 2005 or earlier):
All officials who were born in 2005 (or earlier) by June 1 of the current year, must complete the U.S. Center for SafeSport training program. This online program trains USA Hockey members in detecting and preventing detrimental behavior (hazing, abuse, etc.) on and off the playing surface. Once core-fundamental training is completed, a brief re-certification course is required each year. SafeSport training can be completed by using the SafeSport link under the OFFICIALS tab at USAHockey.com.

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 sanctioned criminal background screen. More information regarding the screening process can be found here.

USA Hockey Background Screens are valid for two seasons, and no screening process performed by an outside entity will be accepted.

ONLINE SEMINAR VIDEO MODULES (Level 2, 3 & 4 Only):
Once registered with USA Hockey, you will receive instructions regarding the Online Seminar Modules. These modules are a mixture of required and elective topics that teach fundamental skills of officiating using video examples, animation, and testing. You must complete your required hours of training to receive your card and crest. You can access the online modules under the OFFICIALS tab at USAHockey.com.

Returning Level 3 and Level 4 Officials may complete all Elective Category module quizzes prior to completing module videos. Once the module is launched, please use the video scroll bar to advance to the quiz.

NOTE: Level 1 online education is incorporated into the Level 1 Classroom Seminar curriculum. Level 1 officials are not required to complete extra modules.

OPEN BOOK PLAYING RULES EXAM:
Go to the Open Book Exam page at the OFFICIALS section of USAHockey.com and follow the steps to begin your online exam. The exam is designed to allow you to go at your own pace. You may answer all questions at once, or answer ten questions every day until it is completed. Please review all answers before submitting your exam for scoring. The exam will be accessible after completing online registration, and we strongly encourage you to wait until you receive your Rulebook and attend your classroom seminar (see below) before attempting to take the test.

CLASSROOM SEMINAR:
All USA Hockey Officials must attend a USA Hockey Officiating Classroom Seminar annually. To find one in your area, go to the Classroom Seminar page at the OFFICIALS section of USAHockey.com. You must create a USAH Courses System profile to complete registration for a seminar (completing Membership Registration does not automatically create a USAH Courses Profile).

Most seminars are scheduled between late June and early November (the schedules begin to appear online starting in May), and any questions about classroom seminars should be directed to your USA Hockey District and local staff. We strongly recommend you make sure you can attend a seminar before you begin the Membership Registration process (the fee is non-refundable), and do not wait long to register since some seminars do fill up very quickly.

Once you complete all steps, you will receive your USA Hockey Officiating Card and Sweater Crest in the mail and you are ready to work games.

Important Note: Please be sure to record contact information for your local USA Hockey Supervisor of Officials and Local Assignor while at your seminar.

Answers to other questions can be found in the Membership Information menu under the OFFICIALS tab at usahockey.com.