Any non-skating official regardless of league affiliation is eligible to become a WFTDA certified NSO. Referees and skaters may also apply for NSO certification.
If you are not currently certified, you can apply for Level 1 or Level 2.
If you are currently certified, you can apply for a single level higher one year after the date you received your current certification level. e.g., a WFTDA NSO certified at Level 2 on 7/1/2012 may apply for Level 3 no sooner than 7/1/2013. However, they may not apply for Levels 4 or 5 at that time.
If you are currently certified and wish to renew at the same level, you may do so when your current certification is up for renewal (2 years after your Certification date).
A Certification Level is a general mark of excellence. A Certification Endorsement signifies specialization in specific NSO positions. To be certified, an NSO must have earned a Certification Level. An NSO may be a Level 1 or Level 2 without the need to have an endorsement. An NSO must have a minimum Level 2 Certification before applying for a Certification Endorsement. An NSO may not have Certification Endorsements without also having a Certification Level.
A Certification Level is valid for two years. However, after being certified for one year, the certified NSO can apply for a higher level if he or she so chooses. If a certified NSO waits the full two years, he or she must re-apply for the same level or a level higher, or else the certification will expire.
Once earned, a Certification Endorsement does not expire; however, an NSO must hold a valid Certification Level in order to maintain his or her Certification Endorsements. That is, if an NSO allows his or her Certification Level to lapse, he or she also loses all of the Certification Endorsements earned.
Once an NSO has achieved Level 2 certification, he or she may apply for Certification Endorsements.
The WFTDA NSO Certification Panel reviews applicants at the end of each month. Documents for an applicant who has not yet met the requirements to be reviewed will be accepted until the 10th of the month. For applicants who have met the requirements, the Panel will accept documents until the day before reviews will take place.
One month between test attempts.
The NSO Certification Rules and Procedures test and Certification Endorsement tests must be administered by a WFTDA League Rep who is appointed by the league, a Certified NSO, or another person who has already passed the most recent version of the test.
An evaluation card must be written by a WFTDA member league that participated in either a WFTDA regulation or sanctioned bout:
A WFTDA sanctioned bout is a WFTDA Interleague Bout between two chartered teams that counts toward the leagues’ rankings
A WFTDA regulation bout is a bout between two WFTDA leagues that follows all current WFTDA rules but does not count toward rankings
A bout between WFTDA Apprentice leagues or between a WFTDA Member league and an Apprentice league
Intraleague bouts between teams from the same WFTDA Member league.
Bouts between teams where one or both teams is not a WFTDA Member or Apprentice league.
Check the NSO Certification Application Status Google Doc.
All documents will be verified for accuracy. Once verified, the Panel Members review all documents and vote whether or not to grant certification or endorsement. An applicant must receive at least 3 out of 5 votes for certification or endorsement to be granted. The NSO Certification Panel can award a lower level of Certification at their discretion.
If an NSO does not receive enough votes, he or she may reapply after 6 months.
Each level of WFTDA NSO Certification has a color-specific patch:
Level 1 - Blue
Level 2 - Red
Level 3 - Silver
Level 4 - Gold
Level 5 - Pink
We're happy to help answer questions that are not listed in this FAQ. Send an email to nsocert@wftda.com with the specifics of anything not listed here.
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