National Referee Application

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

Name (as it appears on your USA Powerlifting membership card)*

First NameLast Name

Email address (this email will be used to contact you regarding this application)*

Confirmation EmailConfirm email address

State (as it appears on your USA Powerlifting membership card)*

USA Powerlifting membership number (must be a current member)*

Example: 1111111

Date that current USA Powerlifting membership expires*

Date

State chair's name*

If you live in a state without a current state chair, please enter "vacant" above

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.

Has your state chair given approval for you to apply to take the national referee exam? Applicants who live in a state without a current state chair must be approved by the chair of Technical Committee. Note: Your state chair will be contacted to confirm they have given approval.*

YesNoState chair vacant - approved by Technical Committee chair

Date (month and year) that you attained the rank of state referee*

Have you completed SafeSport training and is your SafeSport training current?*

YesNo

Has your background check been completed?*

YesNo

Have you gone through drug testing training?*

YesNo

Are you experienced and proficient with all of the following: equipment check (both raw and equipped), weigh-in, score table, and drug testing.*

YesNo

How many total meets have you refereed in the most recent 4-year period?*

Example: 12

LIST OF REQUIRED MEETS. In order to be eligible to take the national exam, candidates must have been a referee for an entire session at six (6) different full power events (must have been chief referee at 2 of those events). For more detailed information about the requirements, please see page 12 of the Referee Testing Requirements and Procedures Manual. Please list those six (6) events and your referee position for each 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.

Event #1: Year*

Example: 2025

Event #1: Event name*

Example: Texas State Championship

Event #1: Event state*

Event #1: Served in the following position for a full session*

Side refereeChief referee

Event #2: Year*

Example: 2025

Event #2: Event name*

Example: Texas State Championship

Event #2: Event state*

Event #2: Served in the following position for a full session*

Side refereeChief referee

Event #3: Year*

Example: 2025

Event #3: Event name*

Example: Texas State Championship

Event #3: Event state*

Event #3: Served in the following position for a full session*

Side refereeChief referee

Event #4: Year*

Example: 2025

Event #4: Event name*

Example: Texas State Championship

Event #4: Event state*

Event #4: Served in the following position for a full session*

Side refereeChief referee

Event #5: Year*

Example: 2025

Event #5: Event name*

Example: Texas State Championship

Event #5: Event state*

Event #5: Served in the following position for a full session*

Side refereeChief referee

Event #6: Year*

Example: 2025

Event #6: Event name*

Example: Texas State Championship

Event #6: Event state*

Event #6: Served in the following position for a full session*

Side refereeChief referee

PRACTICAL EXAM. The national referee practical exam can be taken at any full-power meet where there is an international referee (previously called category 1 or 2 referee) available to administer the exam. Prior to submitting this application, you must contact the meet director for the event at which you want to take your practical exam and confirm that there will be an international referee who can administer your exam. If you do not get a reply from the meet director, your state chair will likely be able to assist you in connecting you with the meet director. The meet director will be contacted to confirm that you have discussed your practical exam with them. Important notes:

If an international referee was scheduled to be available to administer your practical exam and ultimately is not available, you will need to request to have your practical exam rescheduled for another meet.
If you want to take your practical exam at a national championship, you do not need to contact the meet director as there are usually international referees available to administer exams.
Due to logistics and staffing requirements, national referee practical exams often cannot be conducted at pro meets, international 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.

I have read the above policies regarding selecting a national referee practical exam event and I understand and agree to them.

YesNo

Information about events (name, date, city, state, sanction number, meet director, meet director email) can be found on the USA Powerlifting Calendar.

Name of event being requested for national referee practical exam*

Example: Texas State Championship

Date of event being requested for national referee practical exam*

Date

City and state of event being requested for national referee practical exam*

Example: Dallas, TX

Sanction number of event being requested for national referee practical exam*

Example: TX-2025-01

Meet director of event being requested for national referee practical exam. Note: If requesting to test at a national championship, simply write "National Meet"*

Example: John Smith

Email address of meet director of event being requested for national referee practical exam. Note: If requesting to test at a national championship, enter the following email address: tc@usapowerlifting.com*

Confirmation Emailexample@example.com

The meet director of the event being requested for my national referee practical exam has indicated that an international referee will be available to administer my practical exam. Note: The meet director will be contacted to confirm they have communicated with you about your practical exam.

YesNoN/A - requesting to test at a national championship

By signing below, I agree to the following terms:

I affirm that I meet all of the requirements to take the national referee exam as listed on page 12 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 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: 2026-2029; next cycle 2030-2033; 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 12 of the Referee Testing Requirements and Procedures Manual (found on the Technical Committee portion of the national website).

Signature*

National Referee Application

Electronic Signature