NOTE: to qualify for membership with MIHOA, you must be 13 years old on or before December 31 of the previous calendar year.
Most of the success of the registration process depends on you and your timely completion of all the necessary registration steps.​ Review the USA Hockey Registration Guidelines on the USA Hockey website. Click here to review. 
 
Some Points to Remember
  • Certification is a yearly process and must be repeated each and every season that you want to officiate USA Hockey sanctioned games.
  • It is YOUR responsibility to contact each appropriate scheduler and introduce yourself as a new official who is looking to start officiating hockey games.
  • Be honest about your experience and ability.  There is no faster way to a short officiating career than working games beyond your ability.
  • Keep a record of all games that you work.  This helps you understand your true level of experience and also helps keep track of game fees.  
  • MIHOA pays about the 15th of the month for all games worked during the previous calendar month.
  • The most important tip is to continue to review your officiating manuals and rule book to stay on top of procedures and the playing rules.
  • Anytime you have questions, you may contact the USA Hockey Local Supervisors of Officials or MIHOA.        

USA Hockey Certification Level Registration​
  • Register early in the season.  Registration typically starts in August.
  • All officials must register online with USA Hockey as an on-ice official.
  • Apply only for a level for which you are eligible and register for the same level seminar.
  • If you are under 18 years of age, you must have your parent or guardian help you with online registration.

USA Hockey Seminar Registration
  • Register early for a seminar to ensure you have a spot in a class.  Seminar registration typically begins in early August.
  • You must attend a seminar before you can be certified and officiate games.
  • You must attend the same seminar level as the level for which you registered with USA Hockey.

USA Hockey Seminar Attendance
  • Attend a USA Hockey seminar early in the season.
  • You are required to register with USA Hockey before you attend a seminar.
  • You do not need to complete your open book exam prior to your seminar.
  • You should complete your online education requirements prior to attending your seminar.
  • Be sure to bring your seminar confirmation sheet to your seminar and hand it in to your seminar instructor upon request.
  • You must attend the entire seminar, take the closed book exam and participate in the on-ice instruction (if required) to receive credit for attending the seminar.
  • Renewing officials: Bring a current rule book, playing rules handbook, and pencil & paper for taking notes.
  • New officials: Bring paper and pencil/pen, rule book and basic manual if you have received it.

USA Hockey Open Book Exam
  • You will receive notification by email of your ability to access the open book exam.  Notification is usually sent 24 hours after you register online with USA Hockey.
  • Use the rule book and basic manual to answer all questions. Level 1 officials should wait until after attending seminar to submit the open book test.
  • Answer all the questions you are required to answer 
  • Print a copy of your answer sheet for your records prior to submitting for scoring.
  • You do not have to answer all the questions at one time.  You can complete the test in multiple sessions.
  • You will know your test score shortly after completing the test.
  • Applicants who do not pass will be sent a retake notice.
  • Only one retake test per applicant is allowed for Level 2, 3 and 4 applicants.
  • An applicant applying for Level 2, 3 or 4 who fails the test after their retake will be registered at the highest level for which the retake exam score would qualify.
  • An applicant applying for Level 1 will be allowed an additional chance (total of 2 retakes) to pass the test.  
  • Applicants who get a retake notice will be locked out of the system for a period of 7 days before being allowed to gain access to the retake test.  
  • Level 1 applicants who get a second retake notice will be locked out of the system for a period of 14 days before being allowed to gain access to the second retake test.  
  • Retake test must be taken with 30 days of the retake notice.   

​USA Hockey Card and Crest
  • Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery of the card, crest and test results after all of the above steps have been taken and information has been received by USA Hockey (tests completed and seminar attended).
  • You will not receive your USA Hockey card and crest until USA Hockey has received verification of your seminar attendance/completion from MIHOA to match with your USA Hockey registration and open book test score.
  • Contact the USA Hockey Local Supervisor of Officials if more than three weeks have elapsed after you have completed all of the above listed steps and you have not received your USA Hockey card and crest.​