Referee/Official Resources

Please visit the USA Hockey site to obtain all pertinent information for referring for the current season.

LEVEL 1 REFEREE 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 REFEREE 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.

AFFILIATED (NON-SKATING) MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS:

• Submit online L0 Non-Skating Affiliate Officiating Membership application and fee ($45.00)
• 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.
• "Complete" membership registration means that an official has completed all education steps at the level for which they have applied.
• "Incomplete" means that an official has submitted a membership application but has not completed all the necessary steps to be complete at any level.
• A new incomplete official may not officiate any USA Hockey sanctioned games until they are completely registered and receive their current season referee card and sweater crest.
• Once complete, a membership is valid through November 30 of the following season (e.g. a 2024-25 membership is valid through November 30, 2025). If the member does not complete their current season membership prior to November 30, their membership expires and they become ineligible to work USA Hockey sanctioned games until they complete their current season membership registration.
• To be eligible to officiate in any State, District or National Tournaments, an official must be completely registered on or before December 31 of the current season.

Thank you for your interest in the USA Hockey Officiating Program. Due to recent events we must preface our outline of the Registration process by mentioning that a few states have been experiencing conflicts with child labor laws. USA Hockey has no age restrictions for officiating; however in an effort to prevent people from registering and not being able to work due to labor laws we encourage you to contact your USA Hockey District Referee-in-Chief before registering with us. RIC 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 five steps each year:

USA HOCKEY MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION (this step must be completed first):

Go to USAHockey.com. At the homepage you will click on “Become a Member” and submit your application as an Ice Official. This is where you will provide us with your personal information for our database and pay your annual membership fee (and local USA Hockey Affiliate Fee if applicable). 

Once submitted, you will receive a registration confirmation email within 24-hours and new Level 1 officials will receive a copy of the USA Hockey Playing Rules & Casebook (all officials will receive a rulebook during rule change seasons) within a week along with some additional information to help you along with the registration process.

New Level 1 officials will also receive a second email giving them further membership instructions and will include your USA Hockey Officiating Number.

U.S. CENTER FOR SAFESPORT TRAINING (if born in 2008 or earlier):

All officials who were born in 2008 (or earlier), must complete the U.S. Center for SafeSport training program. This online based program trains coaches, officials, and key volunteers in detecting and preventing detrimental behavior (hazing, abuse, etc.) on and off the playing surface. Once core-fundamental training is completed, a brief recertification 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 May 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 EDUCATION VIDEO MODULES:

All officials must complete online education module training. The modules include both written and video content on various topics including player safety, body contact, psotioning and mechanics. The modules can be found in the USA Hockey Learning Center.

PLAYING RULES EXERCISE:

Each official must complete a membership level specific playing rule exercise. These exercises require the official to answer questions based on the current written playing rules using their rulebook. Once the official answers enough questions correctly, the exercise is complete. 

CLASSROOM SEMINAR:

All USA Hockey Officials must complete their USA Hockey Officiating classroom seminar requirements annually. To find seminar schedules, go to the USA Hockey Learning Center at the Officials section of USAHockey.com.

Most seminars are scheduled between June and early November (the schedules begin to appear online starting in late May), and any questions about the seminars should be directed to your USA Hockey District Staff (following the links at the main Directory under Officials Materials).

Once you complete these steps, and the USA Hockey National Office receives your Registration Fee and Seminar Attendance confirmation, you will receive your USA Hockey Officiating Card and Sweater Crest 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.