Accreditation
Education + Examinations + Experience = Accreditation
To become accredited, the applicant must:
#1 Attend the required educational component of the Racing Officials Accreditation Program as specified for type of accreditation
A person failing any section of the examination may retake that section a maximum of two times without retaking the full exam.
National Steeplechase Association
#3 Possess the required amount of experience in the racing industry
Applicants for racing official, steward and judge accreditation may participate in an accreditation course and complete examinations before or after acquiring the racing experience required for accreditation.
To become accredited, the applicant must:
#1 Attend the required educational component of the Racing Officials Accreditation Program as specified for type of accreditation
- Flat Racing
All persons must attend the 60-hour accreditation school. - Harness Racing
All persons must attend the 60-hour accreditation school except:
Those who have successfully completed a USTA Extended Officials School and who have been licensed by the USTA as a presiding steward/judge or associate steward/judge and who have had at least 150 days as a steward/judge need only attend a short course or other preparatory seminar of 16 hours conducted by an Accredited Stewards/Judges School* prior to taking the written and oral examinations.
Those who have not completed a USTA Extended Officials School, but with 450 days of experience as a licensed harness steward/judge need only attend a short course of 16 hours given by an Accredited Stewards/Judges School* prior to taking the written and oral examination. - National Steeplechase Association
Attend 24 hour accreditation school.
*The USTA is recognized as an Accredited Stewards/Judges School for the purpose of conducting short course or other preparatory seminars required as a prerequisite for taking the written and oral examinations.
#2 Harness Racing and Flat racing pass all required sections of the examination
The five exam sections consist of:
- an oral exam
- a film analysis exam
- a written exam comprised of three sections
- medication and drug testing
- legal and regulatory issues in racing
- general rules and regulations.
A person failing any section of the examination may retake that section a maximum of two times without retaking the full exam.
National Steeplechase Association
- All persons must attend 24 hour accreditation school.
- Pass all required exams: pre-school essay, oral/video (mock hearing), written (open book).
- The oral/video exam takes place during the school while the written exam is held 3-6 weeks after the school is concluded.
#3 Possess the required amount of experience in the racing industry
Applicants for racing official, steward and judge accreditation may participate in an accreditation course and complete examinations before or after acquiring the racing experience required for accreditation.