NOTE: to qualify for membership with MIHOA, you must be 13 years old on or before December 31 of the previous calendar year.0.​
USA Hockey has four certification levels for officials.  Each level entitles an official to officiate specific USA Hockey age classification and skill levels for the 2, 3 and 4 official system.  See the Officiating Game Qualification Levels information below for the age groups and skill an official may officiate.  An official must meet all the requirements for a level before moving to the next level.

Minimum Referee Level Requirements For Games
​It is the policy of USA Hockey to assign only qualified officials to all levels of competition. The USA Hockey Officiating Program strongly recommends the above listed minimum guidelines be followed when scheduling any USA Hockey sanctioned game. 

An official must be completely registered on or before December 31 of the current season to be eligible to officiate in any USA Hockey sanctioned State, Regional or National Championship game.

Level 1 Requirements
  • Must register and pay fee to USA Hockey for Level 1 certification.
  • Must complete online education requirement.
  • Must register and attend a classroom seminar and participate in on ice instruction. 
  • Must attain an open book rules test score of 35/50.
  • Must complete the SafeSport program (ages 18 and older).
  • Must complete and pass the background screening process (ages 18 and older).

Level 2 Requirements
  • Must have completed Level 1 or higher certification process within the last two seasons.
  • Must register and pay fee to USA Hockey for Level 2 certification.
  • Must complete online education requirement.
  • Must register and attend a classroom seminar and participate in on-ice instruction,
  • Must attain an open book rules test score of 80/100.
  • Must attain a closed book test score of 24/30.
  • Must complete the SafeSport program (ages 18 and older).
  • Must complete and pass the background screening process (ages 18 and older).
​
Level 3 Requirements
  • Must have completed Level 2 or Level 3 certification last season.
  • Must register and pay fee to USA Hockey for Level 3 certification.
  • Must complete online education requirement.
  • Must register and attend a classroom seminar and participate in on ice instruction, if on ice is required.
  • Must attain an open book rules test score of 90/100.
  • Must attain a closed book test score of 40/50.
  • Must complete the SafeSport program (ages 18 and older).
  • Must complete and pass the background screening process (ages 18 and older).
​
​Level 4 Requirements
  • Must have completed Level 3 or Level 4 certification last season.
  • Must register and pay fee to USA Hockey for Level 4 certification.
  • Must complete online education requirement.
  • Must register and attend a classroom seminar and participate in on ice instruction.
  • Must attain an open book rules test score of 90/100,
  • Must attain a closed book test score of 40/50.
  • Must attain a skating test score of 27/30.
  • Must complete the SafeSport program (ages 18 and older).
  • Must complete and pass the background screening process (ages 18 and older).

​Notes:
  • Completed means that an applicant has met all requirements for the level for which they applied. Failure to successfully complete minimum requirements for level applied for will result in a certification at a lower classification or possibly not being certified at any level.
  • Incomplete means an applicant has filed an application, but has not completed all of the necessary criteria for attainment of certification at that level.
  • A new official (not registered and complete the previous season) may not officiate until they are complete.  An official registered and complete for the previous season, may not officiate after November 30 of the current season until they are complete for the current season.
​Officiating Game Qualification Level Guidelines
Level 1 
Game Classification
2 Official System
3 Official System
4 Official System
ADM
Referee
Referee & Linesman
--
Squirt - 10 & Under
Referee
Referee & Linesman
--
Pee Wee - 12 & Under
​Recreational Leagues only.  No travel.
Referee
Linesman
--
Level 2 
Game Classification
2 Official System
3 Official System
4 Official System
ADM
Referee
Referee & Linesman
--
Squirt - 10 & Under
Referee
Referee & Linesman
--
Pee Wee - 12 & Under
Referee
Linesman
--
Bantam - 14 & Under
Referee
Referee & Linesman
--
Midget Minor - 16 & Under
--
Linesman
--
Midget Major - 18 & Under
--
Linesman
--
Senior No Check
Referee
--
--
Level 3
Game Classification
2 Official System
3 Official System
4 Official System
ADM
Referee
Referee & Linesman
--
Squirt - 10 & Under
Referee
Referee & Linesman
--
Pee Wee - 12 & Under
Referee
Referee & Linesman
--
Bantam - 14 & Under
Referee
Referee & Linesman
--
Midget Minor - 16 & Under
Referee
Referee & Linesman​
Referee & Linesman​
Midget Major - 18 & Under
Referee
Referee & Linesman
Referee & Linesman​
High School JV
Referee
Referee & Linesman
​--
High Varsity
Referee
Referee & Linesman
​--
Junior C
Referee
Referee & Linesman
​Referee & Linesman
Junior B
--
Linesman
​Linesman
Junior A
--
Linesman
​Linesman
Seniors No Check
Referee
Referee & Linesman
​--
Seniors U.S.
Referee
Linesman
​--
Seniors Open
Referee
Linesman
​--
Level 4
Game Classification
2 Official System
3 Official System
4 Official System
ADM
Referee
Referee & Linesman
--
Squirt - 10 & Under
Referee
Referee & Linesman
--
Pee Wee - 12 & Under
Referee
Referee & Linesman
--
Bantam - 14 & Under
Referee
Referee & Linesman
--
Midget Minor - 16 & Under
Referee
Referee & Linesman​
Referee & Linesman
Midget Major - 18 & Under
Referee
Referee & Linesman
Referee & Linesman
High School JV
Referee
Referee & Linesman
​--
High Varsity
Referee
Referee & Linesman
​--
Junior C
Referee
Referee & Linesman
Referee & Linesman
Junior B
Referee
Referee & Linesman
​​Referee & Linesman
Junior A
Referee
Referee & Linesman
​​Referee & Linesman
Seniors No Check
Referee
Referee & Linesman
--
Seniors U.S.
Referee
Referee & Linesman
--
Seniors Open
Referee
Referee & Linesman
​--