Race Director Certification Program

UPDATE

Thank you for your interest in the Race Director Certification Program.  This year the program has been temporarily discontinued so we can find ways to improve and create more value for all levels of race directors.  Certification is no longer required to permit an event, but a race director must have a license or be affiliated with a club.
 
We still encourage new race directors to go through the certification as well as take advantage of the available materials online.  Any feedback is greatly appreciated as we work to provide better support for race directors. 


WHY CERTIFICATION?
Many professions use certification as a way to confirm that individuals have received a certain level of training and education related to their work. USA Cycling has implemented a certification program for race directors for the same purpose. New race directors can benefit from basic information related to permitting processes and event management best practices. Experienced race directors can learn new information to improve or enhance their events. The certification status can help establish credibility with government authorities, landowners, sponsors, event partners and participants.
 
WHO MUST BE CERTIFIED?
 

• This requirement is temporarily suspended. A race director must have a license to permit an event, but certification is not required for this year.)
• Clubs or race director organizations with active USA Cycling memberships can have as many certified race directors in their club or organization as needed.

WHAT ARE THE CERTIFICATION LEVELS? 
 

• LEVEL C certification is the introductory course for race directors, designed to provide race directors with basic information related to permitting and organizing a cycling event. To become certified as a Level C race director requires reviewing the online curriculum and completing the online exam. There is no fee required for this.
• LEVEL B certification requires completion of a 10-webinar curriculum designed for race directors who are looking to take their event to a higher level. Topic areas include: developing sponsors, managing volunteers, radio communications, Race Clean, medical planning, crisis managment, insurance/risk management, business management, marketing, and course design
• NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL level certification is the highest level certification and is for race directors who are organizing national and international level races. Certification at this level requires attendance at USA Cycling's annual conference. This conference provides experienced race directors with advanced event planning information and networking opportunities with other race directors, USA Cycling staff, and industry experts.
• COLLEGIATE race directors take a specific Level C collegiate certification exam to prepare them for the specific requirements related to organizing a collegiate race. Progression into Level B and Nat/Int'l. certification follows the same steps as all other race directors.

 
HOW DO I GET STARTED? 
 

• Log in or create a USA Cycling account and look in the Race Director Resources section under the "Account" tab. Here you will find the Level C curriculum and online exam. There is no fee required for Level C certification.
• The exam is intended to be an open book process and the passing score is 80% or above.
• After successfully passing the exam, your account will show that you are a certified race director.
• The certified race director must be listed as an event organizer for a licensed club or organization or must have a current race director license of their own in order to submit event permits.

HOW DO I MAINTAIN MY CERTIFICATION? 
 

• Certification is valid for up to two years, and expires on December 31 of the second year. Example, you are certified March 15, 2015. Your certification will expire December 31, 2016.
• Certification renewal requires completion of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) – 5 CEUs for Level C certification, 10 CEUs for Level B and National/International Level race directors.
• The certified race director must continue to be listed as an event organizer for a licensed club or organization, or must have a current race director license of their own.
• The certified race director must have organized at least one event per year during the certification period and must not be delinquent with any fees or reports related to the event.

 
WHAT ARE CEUs?
Continuing education units (CEUs) provide the race director with ongoing education and exposure to new ideas for event management. USA Cycling hosts live training events and online webinars for race directors as well as approving CEU credit for many seminars and clinics offered by other parties. Contact the Race Director Education Manager to discuss having a training event approved for CEU credit.
 
Contact Stefanie Larson at slarson@usacycling.org for any questions.