Course Eligibility & Requirements
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Course Eligibility
2026 Course Eligibility & Requirements
Which course is right for you, what you need before you enroll, and how each is delivered — summarized from U.S. Soccer’s 2026 Referee Pathway requirements.
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Always check the individual course page in the Learning Center before enrolling. Items marked (*) need an email to referee@ussoccer.org to override Learning Center eligibility. Current as of June 2025.
Entry & recertification
Getting in and staying current
| Course | Min. age | Prior certification | Format | On-field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Time Referee | 14 | None | Online ~3 hrs | 5-6 hrs |
| Referee Recertification | – | Referee license within the previous 3 years (or Regional in the previous year) | Online or in-person | – |
Advancing
Regional, National & beyond
| Level | Min. age | Prior certification / experience | Also required | On-field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regional Referee | 18 | Referee license in each of the previous 2 years | Game count, match evaluations, fitness test | ~8 hrs in-person |
| National Referee / Assistant | 21 | Regional license in each of the previous 2 years | Application & selection by U.S. Soccer; game count, match evaluations, fitness test | Four-day camp |
| FIFA | By nomination | Referee, Assistant, or VMO | Nominated by the U.S. Soccer Referee Committee | – |
| Emeritus (Regional / National) | 45 | Regional or National licenses for 3+ cumulative years | – | – |
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Thinking about Regional? Referees interested in advancing to Regional Referee should start attending our monthly Advanced Referee Academy sessions — and stay afterward to talk with Jeff Swartzel or one of our directors about your pathway, game count, and the fitness test.
Every referee
Safety & compliance
- SafeSport training – referees 18 and older, every year
- Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments
- Background check (NCSI) – referees 18 and older, every two years
- Laws of the Game Update – annually
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The legacy “Small-Sided Referee” license was retired January 1, 2026 — former small-sided referees move to a standard license via the First-Time Referee course.
Ready to pick a course?
Find an upcoming in-person session or register in the Learning Center.