USA Taekwondo is committed to improving services to all groups within the organization, and working with TRUE has developed a simple system for referees who believe they have not received an earned upgrade in status to request a review by USA Taekwondo staff.

Please take a moment to study and understand the requirements for upgrade in the table below - if after consideration you believe you are eligible for an upgrade you have not received please complete the Request Form by CLICKING HERE.

Your request will then be reviewed by a staff member and you will be contacted, usually within ten days with the result of the review.

YOUR CURRENT LEVEL
Beginner ○ D-2 ○ D-1 ○ C-2 ○ C-1 ○ B-2 ○ B-1 ○ A-2 ○ A-1 ○ International Referee
(Click your level above to see requirements for next level - please read and understand carefully before completing the Request Form)

CLASSIFICATION AND REQUIREMENTS OF REFEREES
 Basic Minimum Requirements
 1. Current USA Taekwondo Membership
 2. Minimum 16 years of age
 3. 1st Dan black belt certification
 3.1 A red belt member can obtain a provisional referee certificate, which will be upgraded to D-2 when 1st Dan certificate is earned
 4. Current permanent resident of the United States, or a U.S. citizen
 5. Must be able to competently perform all of the physical demands of a referee
 
 USA Taekwondo D-2 Level Referee Certification Requirements
 1. Meet all of the basic, minimum requirements
 2. Successful completion of a USA Taekwondo Referee Certification seminar
 3. Successful completion of a USA Taekwondo Referee Certification seminar written examination
 4. Successful completion of a USA Taekwondo Referee Certification seminar practical examination
 5. Satisfactory evaluation of refereeing skills by Seminar Instructor assigned by the Referee Chair
 
 USA Taekwondo D-1 Level Referee Certification Requirements
 1. Meet all the basic minimum requirements
 2. Serve a minimum of six (6) months as a USA Taekwondo D-2 Level referee
 3. Successful completion of a USA Taekwondo Referee Certification seminar
 4. Successful completion of a USA Taekwondo Referee Certification seminar written examination
 5. Successful completion of a USA Taekwondo Referee Certification seminar practical examination
 6. Satisfactory evaluation of refereeing skills by Seminar Instructor assigned by the Referee Chair
 7. Referee at a minimum of one (1) USA Taekwondo sanctioned tournament* since promotion to D-2 Level referee
 
 USA Taekwondo C-2 Level Referee Certification Requirements
 1. Meet all the basic minimum requirements
 2. Minimum 18 years of age
 3. Serve a minimum of one (1) year as a USA Taekwondo D-1 Level referee
 4. Successful completion of a USA Taekwondo Referee Certification Seminar, including practical
     and written examinations
 5. Referee at a minimum of one (1) USA Taekwondo sanctioned tournament* since promotion to D-1 Level referee
 6. Satisfactory evaluation of refereeing skills by USA Taekwondo Referee Chair or a Vice-Chair
 
 USA Taekwondo C-1 Level Referee Certification Requirements
 1. Meet all the basic minimum requirements
 2. Minimum 18 years of age
 3. Successful completion of two (2) USA Taekwondo Referee Certification Seminars, including practical
     and written examinations
 4. Referee at a minimum of two (2) USA Taekwondo sanctioned tournament* since promotion to C-2 Level referee
 5. Satisfactory evaluation of refereeing skills by USA Taekwondo Referee Chair or a Vice-Chair
 
 USA Taekwondo B-2 Level Referee Certification Requirements
 1. Meet all the basic minimum requirements
 2. Minimum 20 years of age
 3. Serve a minimum of one (1) year as a USA Taekwondo C-1 Level referee
 4. Successful completion of two (2) USA Taekwondo Referee Certification Seminars, including practical
     and written examinations while refereeing at a USA Taekwondo National* event
 5. Referee at a minimum of three (3) USA Taekwondo sanctioned tournament* since promotion to C-1 Level referee
 
 USA Taekwondo B-1 Level Referee Certification Requirements
 1. Meet all the basic minimum requirements
 2. Minimum 20 years of age
 3. Successful completion of two (2) USA Taekwondo Kyorugi Referee Certification Seminars, including
     practical and written examinations while refereeing at a USA Taekwondo National* event
 4. Referee at a minimum of four (4) USA Taekwondo sanctioned tournament* since promotion to B-2 Level referee
 
 USA Taekwondo A-2 Level Referee Certification Requirements
 1. Meet all the basic minimum requirements
 2. Minimum 22 years of age
 3. Serve a minimum of two (2) years as a USA Taekwondo B-1 Level referee
 4. Successful completion of two (2) USA Taekwondo Referee Certification Seminars, including practical
     and written examinations while refereeing at a USA Taekwondo National* event
 5. Referee at a minimum of five (5) USA Taekwondo sanctioned tournament* since promotion to B-1 Level referee,
     two (2) of which must include National Qualifiers or Junior Olympics
 6. Referee a minimum of one (1) USA Taekwondo National event* per year for two (2) years since promotion
     to B-1 Level referee
 
 USA Taekwondo A-1 Level Referee Certification Requirements
 1. Meet all the basic minimum requirements
 2. Minimum 22 years of age
 3. Successful completion of two (2) USA Taekwondo Referee Certification Seminars, including practical
     and written examinations while refereeing at a USA Taekwondo National* event
 4. Referee at a minimum of five (5) USA Taekwondo sanctioned tournament* since promotion to B-1 Level referee,
     three (3) of which must include National Qualifiers or Junior Olympics
 5. Referee a minimum of one (1) USA Taekwondo National event* per year for three (3) years since promotion
     to B-1 Level referee
 
 WTF International Referee Certification Course Recommendation
 1. United States citizen
 2. Minimum 25 years of age
 3. Minimum Kukkiwon 4th Dan Black Belt certification (or 3rd Dan for P Class IR certification)
 4. Current USA Taekwondo A-1 or A-2 Level National Referee Certification
 5. Serve a minimum of one (1) year as a USA Taekwondo A level referee
 6. Referee at a minimum of twenty (20) USA Taekwondo sanctioned events* within the past five (5) years
 7. Attain a superior grade on the last five (5) Referee Evaluations given at USA Taekwondo National Events*
 8. Approval of the USA Taekwondo CEO and Referee Chair
 
 Recommendation for appointment to International Events
 1. For WTF sanctioned events requiring NGB nomination/recommendations, the Referee Chair will prepare a
     list of qualified United States International referees. The Top 20 (based on evaluation of skills, service to
     USA Taekwondo and participation in USA Taekwondo National Events*) shall be part of a rotation to be
     recommended for international events as determined by the Referee Chair, in consultation with the
     USA Taekwondo CEO.

* NOTE: For purposes of certification, National Events will consist of the following USA Taekwondo sanctioned events: State Championships, NCTA National Qualifiers, Junior Olympics, Senior National Championships, National Qualifiers and National Team Trials.