New Officials

Become an Official

Every game needs officials, and every official started with a first game. If you are at least 12 years old as of December 31 of the current season, you can become a certified Hockey Canada official right here in Nova Scotia. Four steps get you on the ice.

STEP 1: Contact the Referee-in-Chief of your local Minor Hockey Association or Female Hockey Association. Your RIC is your first teammate: they will tell you what officiating looks like in your community, which clinics are coming, and how new officials get their first games. Find yours in the directory below. If your association is not listed or the position is vacant, contact the HNS Director of Officiating and they will connect you.

STEP 2: Set up your Hockey Canada Registry (HCR) account and complete Intro to Officiating. All new officials need an HCR account (create one at register.hockeycanada.ca; if you have an old account, link it rather than starting fresh: guide provided). Then complete the Hockey Canada Intro to Officiating on-demand course. It takes about three hours, costs about $20, and must be finished before you can register for a clinic. If you will be 18 or older as of December 31, completing this step means it is time for Step 3.

STEP 3: Complete your screening (adult officials only). Under Hockey Nova Scotia's Screening Policy and Regulation 11.11, adult on-ice officials complete an initial Vulnerable Sector Check (which includes a criminal record check and local police check) through their local police or an approved third-party provider. Screening must be complete by December 1 of the current season; a supporting letter for the police is available from the HNS screening contact. Officials under 18 as of December 31 do not require a police record check and go straight to Step 4.

STEP 4: Register for your certification clinic. With Steps 1 to 3 complete (as they apply to you), register for a certification clinic through your HCR account. Pre-registration is mandatory. Clinic dates and locations are posted here as they are scheduled; your RIC will also know what is coming to your area.

Returning officials: if you are under 17 or younger as of December 31, or you hold a valid screening check, you can proceed directly to Step 4 and register for this season's clinic.

Find your Minor Hockey Association Referee-in-Chief

Find Your Female Hockey Association Referee-in-Chief

Can't find your association or RIC?

Contact Director of Officiating, Todd Thomander, at tthomander@hockeynovascotia.ca  and he will connect you with the right person in your area.