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United States Dressage Federation

Levels of Certification

I.   USDF Associate Instructor
II.  USDF Certified Instructor/Trainer; Training-Second Level
III. USDF Recognized Teacher; Training-Second Level
IV. USDF Certified Instructor/Trainer; Third-Fourth Level
V.  USDF Recognized Teacher; Third-Fourth Level

I.  USDF Associate Instructor

Criteria
  • Minimum Age - 18
  • Current USDF Participating Member
  • First Aid Certification
  • Three (3) written recommendations.  (These must be from judges or other dressage professionals who can verify candidates teaching and training abilities and attest to his/her character)
  • Participation in a recognized USDF Instructor Certification Workshop Series as a Participating Instructor.  These workshops include Lunging, Riding and Teaching.  Participation in any workshop series prior to application is applicable.  Associate Instructor Applicants will have to provide copies of their evaluation sheets to verify participation.
Benefits
  • Instructor Newsletter
  • Invitation to USDF National Trainers Conferences
  • Invitation to USDF Instructor/Trainer Open Sessions at Convention
  • Listing in USDF Directory
  • Listing on USDF Instructor/Trainer Web Site
Fees
  • One Time Processing Fee - $25
  • Annual Fee $40 (Must be paid by annually to maintain benefits package)

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II.  USDF Certified Instructor/Trainer; Training-Second Level

Criteria
  • Current USDF Participating Member
  • First-Aid Certification
  • Minimum four (4) years teaching and training experience
  • Three (3) written recommendations. (These must be from judges or other dressage professionals who can verify candidates teaching and training abilities and attest to his/her character)
  • Five (5) Competition Scores of 60% or higher from a USEF/ USDF recognized competition
    • Two (2) scores from candidate at Second Level Test Four or higher
    • One (1) score from candidate at from any Second Level test
    • Two (2) scores from candidate's students from any Second Level test

CANDIDATE MUST PASS ALL SECTIONS OF TEST WITH A SCORE OF 70% OR HIGHER TO ACHIEVE CERTIFICATION AT THIS LEVEL

Benefits
  • Instructor Newsletter
  • Invitation to USDF National Level Trainers Conference
  • Invitation to USDF FEI Level Trainers Conferences
  • Listing in USDF Directory
  • Insurance Discounts
  • Listing on USDF Instructor/Trainer Website
  • Invitation to USDF Instructor/Trainer Educational Sessions and Meetings (open and closed) during Convention
  • Invitation to private training session during the USDF Symposium as a silent auditor, when applicable
  • Invitation to join the USDF Certified Instruction Program Yahoo! Chat Group
Fees
  • Testing fee $600
  • Annual Fee $40 (To be paid annually by 11/30 to maintain benefits package)

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III.  USDF Recognized Teacher; Training-Second Level

Criteria
  • Current USDF Participating Member
  • First-Aid Certification
  • Minimum four (4) years teaching and training experience
  • Five (5) written recommendations. (These must be from judges or other professionals who can verify candidates teaching and training abilities and attest to his/her character)
  • Five (5) Competition Scores from candidates students of 60% or higher from a USEF/ USDF recognized competition
    • Two (2) scores at Second Level Test Four or higher
    • Three (3) scores at any Second Level test

All scores must be from a total of three different judges

CANDIDATE WILL TAKE THE SAME TEST AS THE TRAINING-SECOND LEVEL CERTIFICATION, EXCEPT THE RIDING PHASE WILL NOT BE TESTED

CANDIDATE MUST PASS ALL SECTIONS OF TEST WITH A SCORE OF 80% OR HIGHER TO ACHIEVE CERTIFICATION AT THIS LEVEL

Benefits
  • Instructor Newsletter
  • Invitation to USDF National Level Trainers Conference
  • Invitation to USDF FEI Level Trainers Conferences
  • Listing in USDF Directory
  • Insurance Discounts
  • Listing on USDF Instructor/Trainer Web Site
  • Invitation to USDF Instructor/Trainer Educational Sessions and Meetings (open and closed) during Convention
  • Invitation to private training session during the USDF Symposium as a silent auditor, when applicable
Fees
  • Testing fee $425
  • Annual Fee $40 (To be paid annually to maintain benefits package)

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IV.  USDF Certified Instructor/Trainer; Third-Fourth Level

Criteria
  • Current USDF Participating Member
  • First-Aid Certification
  • At least four (4) years of teaching and training experience
  • Five (5) written recommendations. (These must be from judges or other dressage professionals who can verify candidates teaching and training abilities and attest to his/her character)
  • Candidate must currently be certified at Training-Second Level
  • Five (5) Competition Scores of 60% or higher from a USEF/ USDF recognized competition
    • Two (2) scores from candidate at Fourth Level Test Three or higher
    • One (1) score from candidate at from any Fourth Level test
    • Two (2) scores from candidate's students from any Fourth Level test

CANDIDATE MUST PASS ALL SECTIONS OF TEST WITH A SCORE OF 70% OR HIGHER TO ACHIEVE CERTIFICATION AT THIS LEVEL

Benefits
  • Instructor Newsletter
  • Invitation to USDF National Level Trainers Conference
  • Invitation to USDF FEI Level Trainers Conference
  • Listing in USDF Directory
  • Insurance Discounts
  • Listing on USDF Instructor/Trainer Web Site
  • Invitation to USDF Instructor/Trainer Educational Sessions and Meetings (open and closed) during Convention
  • Invitation to private training session during the USDF Symposium as a silent auditor, when applicable
  • Invitation to join the USDF Certified Instruction Program Yahoo! Chat Group
Fees
  • Testing fee $500
  • Annual Fee $40 (To be paid annually by 11/30 to maintain benefits package)

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V.  USDF Recognized Teacher; Third-Fourth Level

Criteria
  • Current USDF Participating Member
  • First-Aid Certification
  • At least four (4) years of teaching and training experience
  • Obtain Certification at the Training-Second Level as a Recognized Teacher or Instructor/Trainer (achieving 80% or higher on all phases excluding the riding phase)
  • Five (5) written recommendations. (These must be from judges or other professionals who can verify candidates teaching and training abilities and attest to his/her character)
  • Five (5) Competition Scores from candidates students of 60% or higher from a USEF/ USDF recognized competition
    • Two (2) scores at Fourth Level Test Three or higher
    • Three (3) scores at any Fourth Level test

CANDIDATE WILL TAKE THE SAME TEST AS THE THIRD-FOURTH LEVEL CERTIFICATION, EXCEPT THE RIDING PHASES WILL NOT BE TESTED

CANDIDATE MUST PASS ALL SECTIONS OF TEST WITH A SCORE OF 80% OR HIGHER TO ACHIEVE CERTIFICATION AT THIS LEVEL

Benefits
  • Instructor Newsletter
  • Invitation to all USDF Trainers Conferences
  • Listing in USDF Directory
  • Insurance Discounts
  • Listing on USDF Instructor/Trainer Web Site
  • Invitation to USDF Instructor/Trainer Educational Sessions and Meetings (open and closed) during Convention
  • Invitation to private training session during the USDF Symposium as a silent auditor, when applicable
Fees
  • Testing fee $325
  • Annual Fee $40 (To be paid annually to maintain benefits package)

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