• This application must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the requested practical exam date.
• All policies and procedures for referee testing can be found in the Referee Testing Requirements and Procedures Manual (found on the Technical Committee portion of the national website). It is your responsibility to be familar with these policies, procedures, and requirements.
• If you have not heard back about this application within 7 days of submitting it, or if you have any questions, please contact the chair of the Technical Committee at the following email address: tc@usapowerlifting.com

STATE CHAIR LIST AND CONTACT INFORMATION. A list of current state chairs and their email addresses can be found on the State Chairs portion of the national website.

LIST OF REQUIREMENTS. In order to be eligible to take the category 1 exam, the following requirements must be met prior to the submission of this application:

• chief referee for a full session in at least 4 different full-power national, pro, and/or international championships within the most recent 4-year period
• evaluation and letter of recommendation from a category 1 referee

For more detailed information about the requirements, please see page 19 of the Referee Testing Requirements and Procedures Manual. Please list the four (4) required events below. If you cannot remember the details of the events you worked, you likely can find them in the Results portion of the national website.

EVALUATION AND LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION. Effective May 8, 2024, referees applying for promotion to the rank of category 1 must be recommended by a fellow referee in addition to meeting all of the stated requirements as defined in the Referee Testing Requirements and Procedures Manual (found on the Technical Committee portion of the national website). This is meant to assist the Technical Committee in evaluating the applicant beyond the simple objective criteria (number of meets worked, time in rank, etc.).

Requirements:

• Referees applying for promotion to category 1 must have a recommendation from a category 1 referee.
• It is expected that referees asked to provide a recommendation will decline the request if there is a real or perceived conflict of interest (e.g., romantic involvement, family member, etc.). If such a real or perceived conflict of interest exists but a recommendation is still submitted, the Technical Committee reserves the right to refuse the recommendation and require one from another referee.
• Current members of the Technical Committee may not submit recommendations on behalf of referees applying for promotion to category 1 or 2. 

Those applying to become a category 1 referee must send the electronic Category 1 and 2 Referee Recommendation Form to the person they are asking to make the recommendation.

Note: The application will not be reviewed until both of the following have been submitted (both must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the event at which the practical exam is being requested to be taken):

• Category 1 Referee Application (submitted by applicant)
• Category 1 and 2 Referee Recommendation Form (submitted by referee making the recommendation)

PRACTICAL EXAM. The category 1 referee practical exam can be taken at any full-power national, pro, or international meet where there is a jury of three (3) category 1 referees available to administer the exam. Due to logistics and staffing requirements, category 1 referee practical exams often cannot be conducted at pro meets or events at the Arnold Sports Festival. It is strongly recommended that you do NOT request to take your practical exam at one of these meets and, if you do, be advised that your request may be denied.

By signing below, I agree to the following terms:

• I affirm that I meet all of the requirements to take the category 1 referee exam as listed on page 19 of the Referee Testing Requirements and Procedures Manual (found on the Technical Committee portion of the national website).
• I affirm that all of the information I provided in this form is accurate and truthful.
• I understand that this form and the Evaluation and Letter of Recommendation Form must be submitted at least 30 days prior to my requested practical exam date.
• I understand that by submitting this application, it is not guaranteed to be approved. If it is not approved, I understand that I will be told the reason(s) why it was not approved.
• I understand all requirements that must be met in order for me to be recertified at the rank for which I am currently applying when the next 4-year certification cycle begins (current cycle: 2022-2025; next cycle 2026-2029; etc.). I understand that failure to meet these requirements will result in a reduction in rank or losing my referee status altogether. These recertification requirements can be found on page 19 of the Referee Testing Requirements and Procedures Manual (found on the Technical Committee portion of the national website).