How long is a course certificate valid, and what happens if the course changes?

• Athletics Canada National Course Measurement Certification: valid for one calendar year (for example 2026) and renewable annually for a cumulative period of up to 10 years from the original date of measurement.
• World Athletics International Course Measurement Certification: valid for five years from the date of measurement.
• Sanctioning each year: a certificate is only valid in years when the event is sanctioned. If the event is not sanctioned in a year, the certificate is void for that year. If sanctioning resumes, a certificate may be issued if it is still within its original validity period and the course has not changed.
• Course changes: if a course is altered in any way from one year to the next, it must be re-measured and a new certificate issued. For slight alterations, a full remeasurement may not be required and an amendment to the existing certificate may be issued.

Source: Road Race Sanctioning and Course Measurement Certification Policy, March 2026: https://athletics.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/AC_Road-Race-Sanctioning-and-Course-Measurement-Certification-Policy_FINAL_March-16-2026_EN.pdf