Director certification

This page describes the director certification process for NASPA members who want to become certified as tournament and club directors for the first time. (Existing directors, please see the Directors page.)

The Tournament Committee and Club Committee set the certification criteria are oversee the certification process.

Implementation status

As of June 6, 2009, the implementation of the of the process is at the pilot stage. The new director's test, corresponding to the current Tournament rules and Director’s Manual, is in final review. Two applicants have completed the test by email. The Web Committee is working on the online test and the director database. The Tournament and Club committees are preparing the mentoring guidelines.

Certification process

Prerequisites

Applicants must be NASPA members in good standing.

Director’s test

The test can be taken in two ways:

• Online: The test will be paid for, taken, and graded online. There will be a 90-day window of time during which if a person does not score a passing grade the first time, there will be opportunity for two more tries. If a passing grade has not been accomplished within the 90-day period, there will be a waiting period before paying again and trying again. Whenever a passing grade has been accomplished, the prospective director will move to the next step. The online test will cost $25 initially.

• By mail or email: The test can be ordered by ordering it from Mary Rhoades (PO Box 211993, Bedford, TX 76095). It can be taken at your leisure, returned to Mary for grading and upon a passing grade, the prospective director will move to the next step. The mail test will cost $35, a slightly higher fee to pay for manual processing.

Apprenticeship

Upon passing the test, the applicant is granted apprentice director certification, and can codirect tournaments under supervision of a mentor. At the discretion of the mentor, this supervision may take place in person or by telephone. Mentors must be fully certified directors; applicants may choose their own mentors, or may ask to be assigned one.

When an apprentice's mentor feels that the apprentice is ready to direct tournaments alone, the mentor notifies NASPA, which grants applicant full director status.