Certification Process – Every USA Hockey official is required to attend a yearly seminar and pass a yearly exam in order to be certified at any level. There are 4 levels of certifications. New officials begin at Level 1 and progress from there. There are no age requirements to be a USA Hockey official and a growing number of youth hockey players are also officials. Each level attained allows an official to referee at a different age level as follows:

Boys/Men
Level 1 10 and under
Level 2 12 and under
Level 3 16 and under
Level 4 all age levels

Girls/Women
Level 1 10 and under
Level 2 12 and under
Level 3 15 and under
Level 4 all age levels

Seminars – This year, Vermont will hold 3 seminars. Any official regardless of level, with the exception of Level 4, can attend each of these. Those officials wishing to be certified at Level 4 must attend a Regional Seminar. Information on that is available at the New England Officials website. The seminars this year in Vermont are:

9-30-07 St. Michaels College (ice at Cairns)
10-14-07 Woodstock, HS (ice at Union Arena)* $20.00 includes lunch
11-14-07 Rutland, HS (ice at Rutland Field House)

Each seminar will start with registration at 8 am. There will be approximately 5 hours of classroom instruction and 90 minutes of ice time. Seminars last until about 4 pm. You must attend the entire seminar. There is a $15.00 fee for the seminar payable that day.

Each official is required to be in full officiating uniform except new officials. New officials should have skates, helmet and whistle. New officials will receive all necessary forms and manuals at the seminar. Returning officials receive their material in the mail directly from USA Hockey’s national office.