Working without a license?

[stiffler3492]

Someone on a fanboy board I read is claiming that they're a former official, and where he is you only need to be licensed to work Varsity ball. All other levels, no license is required.

BS meter went off, but I thought I'd post the question here. Are there any states where this is true?

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by stiffler3492

Someone on a fanboy board I read is claiming that they're a former official, and where he is you only need to be licensed to work Varsity ball. All other levels, no license is required.

BS meter went off, but I thought I'd post the question here. Are there any states where this is true?

My state does not utilize an officiating license system. Officials who want to work basketball (or any other sport) at the HS varsity level apply for membership to that particular sport's officiating board. They then go through whatever process that board has in place for a new member to attain varsity status.

So yes, we don't need a 'license' to work varsity, but we need to be a member of the officiating board(s) for whatever varsity sport(s) we work.

Board membership is not a prerequisite for working a sport at the JV, frosh, or MS levels.

[Raymond]

There are no licenses in Virginia. We register with the state and based upon the NFHS test and completing the clinic you are either "certified" (scored 80+ and finished clinic), "approved" (scored 70-79 and finished clinic), or "registered" (either failed or did not take test OR did not finish clinic).

Need to be "certified" to work post-season Varsity games; "approved" to work regular season Varsity games; "registered" to work JV games. These only apply to public high school (VHSL) games. Private schools and middle schools don't fall under VHSL. But I believe it's common for private schools to include VHSL certification requirements for their varsity contracts.

[Bad Zebra]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

There are no licenses in Virginia. We register with the state and based upon the NFHS test and completing the clinic you are either "certified" (scored 80+ and finished clinic), "approved" (scored 70-79 and finished clinic), or "registered" (either failed or did not take test OR did not finish clinic).

Need to be "certified" to work post-season Varsity games; "approved" to work regular season Varsity games; "registered" to work JV games. These only apply to public high school (VHSL) games. Private schools and middle schools don't fall under VHSL. But I believe it's common for private schools to include VHSL certification requirements for their varsity contracts.

Florida is very similar...terminology a little different...Rank 1,2 or 3. There is also an element of experience added in addition to test scores to determine ranking. Both public and private schools are sanctioned by the state and use the same pool of officials.

[zm1283]

In Missouri, schools have to use certified/registered (Same thing here) officials for every contest from JH to Varsity. You take the Part 1 test when you first register for a sport, then the Part 2 every year you re-register. Passing the Part 2 along with a rules meeting re-certifies you every year. Schools can be penalized for not using state-certified officials for their games. Private schools who are a part of the state governing body (Almost all of them) have to use state-certified officials like everyone else.

[brainbrian]

Missouri also requires a background check every year in order to get registered, in addition to the testing and clinics.

[Adam]

Every state may call it something different, but I know of no state that doesn't require licensing of some sort (registration, certification, etc) for varsity high school games. In Iowa, such licensing was required for at least one of the two Jr. High officials, and both officials in all high school games. In Colorado, I believe all high school games require officials to be registered with CHSAA, and thus IAABO. MS games have no such requirement.

It's possible that in some states the registration requirements only apply to varsity games.