Judge Certifications

How to Become a USDDN Judge

A friendly, step‑by‑step guide for new and current judges—covering certification, recertification, and leveling up.

Program Overview

USDDN offers three active certification levels. Exams are online, open‑book, delivered via Nearpod, and written in English (translation tools may be used). The former Level 4 designation retires January 2026, with existing Level 4 judges valid through their current period.

Level 1 – Toss & Fetch only
Level 2 – Toss & Fetch + Freestyle (Canine, Player, Execution)
Level 3 – Toss & Fetch + Freestyle (all roles; eligible Head/Team Judge)

Full Judges Handbook: usddn.com/official-rules

Judge Application Form: Apply Here

Pathway for New Judges

Step 1: Choose Your Level

You may start at Level 1, or—if you meet experience requirements—test directly for Level 2 or Level 3. You may take the Toss & Fetch and Freestyle exams in the same exam period.

Level 1: Toss & Fetch

Approved roles: Foul Line Judge, Field Judge, Scoring Judge, Timekeeper, Field Setup
Experience: None required; recommend shadow judging at least two competitions if brand new
Exam: Pass Toss & Fetch with 90%+

Level 2: Toss & Fetch + Freestyle

Approved roles: All Level 1 roles + Canine, Player, Execution Judge
Experience: EITHER 6+ months judging in recognized disc formats OR 2+ years freestyle competition
Exam: Freestyle overall 85%+, with no section below 80%
Mentoring: Shadow at least two competitions if new to USDDN freestyle

Level 3: Toss & Fetch + Freestyle (Head/Team Judge eligible)

Approved roles: All Level 1 & 2 roles + Head/Team Judge
Experience: EITHER 5+ years freestyle judging OR 5+ years freestyle competition
Exam: Freestyle overall 90%+, with no section below 85%
Mentoring: Shadow at least two competitions if new to USDDN freestyle

Important: You do not have to certify at Level 1 before attempting Level 2 or Level 3. If you take only the Toss & Fetch exam in a session, you may take the Freestyle exam later in the same calendar year without retaking Toss & Fetch. After the calendar year ends, you must retake both exams to level up. Moving from Level 2 to Level 3 is not automatic—you must retake both exams.

Recertification (Every 5 Years)

All USDDN judges recertify every five years. Your certificate lists your level, effective date, and expiration date. Judges who did not recertify by January 1, 2026 were removed from the Global Judges List.

Leveling Up During Your Cycle

You may level up at any time before expiry. When you certify at a new level, your five‑year period resets from the new certification date.

Example: A Level 1 judge expiring Dec 31, 2029 certifies as Level 2 on May 10, 2026 → new expiration is Dec 31, 2031.

Testing Sessions (Capacity‑Limited)

Quarterly sessions accept up to 40 testers each.

Session 1 (Jan 1–10) – Register by Dec 22
Session 2 (Feb 1–10) – Register by Jan 25
Session 3 (May 1–10) – Register by Apr 25
Session 4 (Sep 15–25) – Register by Sep 1

Certification Expiration Examples

Certified in 2021 → Expires Dec 31, 2026
Certified in 2024 → Expires Dec 31, 2029
Certified in 2026 → Expires Dec 31, 2031

The full schedule follows a rolling five‑year cycle.