How Do I Become an Official
HOW TO REGISTER FOR USA HOCKEY TO BECOME AN OFFICIAL
Starting May 1, 2026
- Register as an official with USA Hockey here: https://membership.usahockey.com/
- Steps for new officials are listed on this page—please scroll down on the page for a bullet list of steps
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MASSACHUSETTS MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT
The minimum age to register to officiate for the 2026-27 season in the
Massachusetts is 14 years old. Click here for the full policy
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New Policy for Neck Guards
Please visit the following link from USA Hockey regarding a new policy beginning on August 1 that mandates neck laceration protection for all players 18 and under.
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REGISTRATION NOTES FOR Officiating
SafeSport – this is now a 12-month renewal period, not seasonal. The Safe Sport courses do not show in the available, in progress, or completed courses tabs. They do not show in the dashboard after they are complete. Do not worry about not getting a physical certificate – the physical cert is not required. Safe Sport reports to the records in USA Hockey within 24 hours of completion. Your profiles will not update the Safe Sport status at this time. The IT department is working on the programming to show a date of renewal instead of a season of renewal.
You must wait about 24 hours after registering with USA Hockey to register for your seminar. Sometimes it is sooner, but the system needs time to process your registration and sync with the courses system before it will find you.
ANNUAL REQUIREMENTS
LEVEL 1 REFEREE REQUIREMENTS:
- Complete and maintain a USA Hockey-sanctioned NCSI Background Screen if 18(+) years old on May 1, 2026.
- Submit online Officiating Membership application and fee ($75.00)*
- 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 2009 birth year or older)