Judge Recertification
Judge training doesn’t end when a judge’s card is issued by APHA. All judges are required to pass an annual judge recertification exam and attend in-person retesting every three years. This helps ensure our judges stay updated with the most current competition rules and standards.
Annual Judge Recertification
All APHA-carded judges must also pass an annual judge recertification online via horseIQ in place of an open rulebook test. To meet this requirement, a judge must pay their annual APHA judges fee and complete the course online.
Failure to pass will result in suspension of judging status until the test is passed. Any judge that fails to complete the recertification within the timeline provided will be suspended from the judges list until the recertification is complete and passed.
Three-Year Recertification
All APHA-carded judges are required to re-test in-person every three years to keep their APHA judging credentials. The proficiency exam must be taken at an approved seminar or at the APHA office.
APHA-carded judges can complete this requirement at the Color Breed Council Seminar. You must attend all three days of the seminar and come to the APHA-carded portion in the evening. If you also have an AQHA judging card, you can recertify at the AQHA seminar, attending all days of the seminar and the APHA-carded portion in the evening.
To determine the the year you’re due to recertify, use the search function of the Online Judge Directory. Each judge profile includes the last year the seminar and recertification were completed. Add three to that year to determine the next time you are due to recertify!
Newly carded APHA judges must recertify for the first time the year after they receive their card.
Judges must pass the proficiency exam with 80 percent correct on the rule book test and 70 percent correct on the video judging.
If a judge fails either part of the proficiency exam, the exam may be retaken within 60 days at a date and location designated by APHA staff.
During this 60 days, a judge shall not accept any new judging opportunities but may judge previously contracted horse shows.
If a judge fails the proficiency exam a second time or chooses not to test, judging privileges will be suspended. A third and final opportunity will be provided to take the full rule book and video testing portion during the annual new applicant exam.
If a judge fails all three exams or does not participate, they will be removed from the judges list. They must wait at least one year before they can reapply as a new applicant.
Judges Directory
In the APHA Judges Directory, you’ll find a searchable list of all APHA-approved judges as well as their contact information, the cards they hold, schedule availability and more.
Judges Seminars
Continuing education is an essential component for APHA-approved judges. APHA offers learning opportunities in a variety of online and live event formats, designed to help judges and others stay on top of current rules and standards.
Scoresheets
Make sure you’re keeping up with the Official APHA Scoresheets. Get familiar with them, so you can be accurate in the show pen.