When is the rules assessment held and can I sit it again or defer it?

From Softball Australia Technical Bulletin TB-2026-1 (14 May 2026, replacing TB-2020-1), applying from April 2026:

• Open Rules Assessment: online, open book, 100 questions with no time limit, available during the last full week in March each year. It is mandatory to gain or maintain Level 3 to 8 accreditation and optional for Level 1 and 2. It can be bookmarked, printed, saved and resumed.
• Basic Rules Assessment: online, open book, 100 questions with no time limit, available from the last full week in March until mid-March the following year. Level 1 and Level 2 umpires must sit it to gain or maintain accreditation, or may choose the Open assessment instead. It can be sat multiple times and the last attempt is the final grade.
• Deferred Open assessment: Level 3 candidates, or Level 3 to 8 umpires who cannot sit it because of illness, work commitments or other extenuating circumstances, can apply through their State Director of Umpiring within 10 days of the end of the assessment period. It runs for one week in the second week of April, by email invitation, with no supplementary assessment afterwards.
• Supplementary Open assessment: Level 3 and above umpires, or those applying for National Championships, who miss the required pass mark by 2 points can apply through their State Director of Umpiring. It runs for one week in the second week of April, by email invitation.