What are the levels of the Hockey Canada Officiating Pathway and their entry requirements?

Question

Accepted Answer

The pathway has five stages: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Member High Performance (MHP) and National High Performance (NHP). Hockey Canada groups hockey into five streams: Introduction, Recreational, Competitive, High Performance and Adult Recreational.

Level 1: entry point for the Introduction and Recreational levels. Minimum age 12 as of December 31 of the current season (a Member may permit 11-year-olds, limited to cross-ice hockey until 12). Officials can work one age group below their own age category. They register with Hockey University (eHockey) and complete the certification requirements. Level 1 officials should start in the cross-ice or two-official system, and in three- or four-official systems should be assigned the linesperson role first.
Level 2: lower levels of Competitive hockey. Minimum age 15 as of December 31 of the current season, or two years at Level 1 with the skills and maturity to advance, with Member approval. Officials can work at least one age group below their own (a 15-year-old can work U13 and below). New Level 2 officials aged 18 or over may be assigned any recreational hockey they are considered capable of, or lower levels of competitive.
Level 3: higher levels of Competitive and early High Performance hockey. Advancement is by recommendation of the Member officiating development program, and candidates pass a Member-delivered National Officiating exam. Officials entering Level 3 should have very good skating and communication skills. Ideally an official spends two seasons at Level 2, but Members can advance officials who meet the criteria sooner.
MHP: by invitation from the Member program. Camp format of 15 to 20 hours (classroom, workgroup sessions, on-ice skating and off-ice fitness assessments, written exam). Minimum 85% on the written exam.
NHP: by nomination from the Member and invitation to the national certification seminar. Minimum 90% on the written exam, plus skating and fitness proficiency. NHP officials are eligible for assignments at Hockey Canada national championships, and top-ranked officials may be eligible for IIHF licensing.

Source: Hockey Canada Officiating Pathway (hc-officiating-pathway-e.pdf), implemented for the 2021-22 season.