USA Hockey official certification must be renewed annually. If you are registered with USAH as a player and/or coach, you must complete registration a second time with USA Hockey as an official as the memberships are treated independently.
Submission of USA Hockey Officiating Program membership applications for the 2024-25 Season begins on June 1, 2024. Applications for registration close 11:59pm MT, October 31, 2024 or you will be unable to register as an official for the 2024-2025 season. All registration requirements must be completed by 11:59pm MT, December 31, 2024. No referee cards and sweater crests will be issued after this date. Membership is valid for the entire season within the United States.
All officials, new and returning, must register with USA Hockey. First year officials must enter at Level 1.
Click here for more information on registration rules and policies
Step 2 – Register for a USA Hockey seminar – https://www.usahockey.com/officialseminars
Every official must attend a seminar to complete registration. Select the appropriate course for your intended level for the season and sign up. Officials are not restricted to attend a class session in their home district and/or state.
Tenured officials do not need to complete a seminar as a part of their tenured status.
Step 3 – Complete the Open Book Exam
This independent requirement has been waived for the 2024-2025 season by USA Hockey. Material should be included in your seminar.
Tenured officials can skip this requirement for this season only.
Step 4 – Complete the Online Seminar Curriculum
This independent requirement has been waived for the 2024-2025 season by USA Hockey. Material should be included in your seminar.
Tenured officials do not need to complete any online seminar modules as a part of their tenured status.
Step 5 – Safesport Training – https://www.usahockey.com/safesporttraining
As part of USA Hockey’s continued effort to create a safe playing environment for all participants, those officials who are 18 years or older (2007 and older) during any portion of the registered season are annually required to complete the online U.S. Center for SafeSport education program. New officials take the Core Center SafeSport Training while returning officials complete refresher courses.
The online program is free of charge and is hosted on the U.S. Center for SafeSport web platform.
Step 6 – Background Screening – https://www.usahockey.com/backgroundscreen
All officials 18+ years of age by June 1 of the current year must submit to a USA Hockey Criminal Background Screening. These screenings are valid for 2 consecutive years. USA Hockey does not accept screenings from outside entities or other governing bodies.
Step 7 – Buy your equipment
Required equipment:
- Black helmet and visor
- Striped jersey
- Whistle
- Black pants
- Skates – player hockey skates only. Goaltender, recreational, or figure skates are not permitted
Brand new first-year Level 1 officials (of any age) with CHOA are eligible for a $100 credit towards equipment after working 5 youth hockey games. To redeem, submit a Scholarship form on Reftown and fill it out with equipment reimbursement as the reason, then email copies of receipts to the Treasurer. The $100 will show up on the next pay period after the form has been approved by the Treasurer.
Step 8 – CHOA Registration
New registrants and returning officials who did not complete their credentials in the prior season need to send proof of USA Hockey completion (card and crest) to the youth and/or adult assignors before working games.
You will also need to submit a W-9 form to the CHOA Treasurer.
Click here to register for CHOA with Reftown
2024-2025 Changes
USA Hockey registration is undergoing massive changes and the system has been decommissioned for the season. Therefore, there are no open-book exams or online video modules to complete. Seminars will be slightly longer to accommodate for the learning material being moved into the seminar.