On-Ice Officiating Program - Level Requirements
The following are the Hockey Canada Officiating Program level definitions along with the necessary requirements to attain each level.
Clinics are held annually by Hockey Manitoba to certify officials from levels I to III. Levels IV to VI are invitation based certification clinics only.
For more information about clinics and registration process please visit our Officials Clinics page.
Click desired Level below to open information
LEVEL I
Eligibility
- any person who is 13 years and older as of December 31st of the current year
- must attend a Level I clinic (8 hours)
- must attain at least 70% on the national exam
- new officials must attend an additional 3 hour 2nd Day Clinic if deemed mandatory by their region
LEVEL II
Eligibility
- must be at least 16 years or older as of December 31st of the current year
- must attend a Level II clinic
- must obtain at least 70% on the national exam
- must pass a practical, on-ice evaluation
- new level II officials (does not include officials advancing from Level I to Level II) must attend an additional 3 hour 2nd Day Clinic if deemed mandatory by their region
LEVEL III
Eligibility
- must be at least 17 years of age as of December 31st of the current year
- must be fully certified at Level II and referee one year at that level II
- must attend entire Level III clinic – a minimum of eight (8) hours of instruction
- must obtain a minimum of 80% on a written national exam
- must pass a practical, on-ice evaluationie; a successful supervision
- must receive approval of local Referee-in-Chief in order to advance from Level II to Level III
LEVEL IV
Eligibility
- must be at least 18 years of age as of December 31st of the current year
- must have been fully certified at Level III and referee a minimum of one year at that level. Attendance at Level IV will be by Branch invitation only. Certification at Level III does not automatically make one eligible for Level IV.
- must be recommended by his/her regional or league Referee-in-Chief to the Hockey Manitoba Officials Development Committee for consideration of advancement.
- must attend a Level IV clinic (minimum of 14 hours instruction)
- must achieve 80% on the national SRD exam
- must pass an on-ice assessment during a game of the caliber appropriate to Level IV performed by a Branch-appointed supervisor
- must successfully complete a fitness test
- contribute to the branch as either an instructor or supervisor
- successfully complete the Hockey Canada skating tests
LEVEL V
Eligibility
- must have been fully certified at Level IV and referee a minimum of one year at that Level. Attendance at Level V will be by Branch invitation only. Certification at Level IV does not automatically make one eligible for Level V.
- must be recommended by his/her regional or league Referee-in-Chief to the Hockey Manitoba Officials Development Committee for consideration of advancement.
- must have been supervised and consistently shown superior skills at the appropriate level of hockey attendance at and participation in the Level V clinic (minimum of 14 hours of instruction)
- must achieve 90% on the national exam
- successfully complete the required fitness test
- successfully complete the Hockey Canada skating tests
- made a significant contribution to the Branch through instructing or supervising
- must pass an on-ice evaluation/supervision during a game appropriate to a Level V
- must meet the eligibility requirements of the Elite Program
LEVEL VI
Eligibility
- the Branch nominates an official to the national office and the Hockey Canada Referees Committee reviews these submissions and makes their selections
- the nominee must have been fully certified at Level V for one full year
- completed and passed a fitness test
- completed and passed a skating test
- must attend and participate in the national Level VI seminar (given over a 4-day period)
- must achieve 90% on the national exam
- must pass an on-ice practical evaluation performed by a national supervisor
- must complete a written assignment given by the national Referee Committee
