The PSA Official Rating System is for coaches who want to validate their skating skill and teaching experience. Ratings are an assurance to clubs, rinks, skaters, parents, and the general public that the coach they hire is technically qualified to instruct at the level in which they are rated regardless of background and skating achievement. More and more coaches are required to become rated and many are choosing to do so because it is so beneficial. Ratings are offered in Free Skating, Figures, Pairs, Dance, Group, Program Director, Synchronized Team, Free Dance, Choreography, and Moves in the Field. They are offered at the Registered, Certified, Senior and Master levels. Ratings consist of both written and oral examinations. Once a rating has been earned, a coach must maintain a minimum of 28 educational credits over a three-year period through attendance at educational events. Attending a PSA State Workshop, Nationwide Seminar, Conference, PACE, completing an E-Learning course or PSA Apprentice Program, all accumulate educational credits. An Affidavit must be sent to the PSA office so that the credits can be recorded.
Please refer to our Calendar of Events for upcoming events and deadlines.

The first step to earn a rating is to apply to take the Basic Accreditation (BA) rating exam. The requirements that must be fulfilled before taking a Basic Accreditation exam are:

• The candidate must be an intern, associate or full member of the PSA.
• The candidate must have attended a PSA educational event or completed four online e-learning courses within one year previous to taking the exam.

When a candidate applies to take the exam at a proctored PSA educational event, a study guide will be emailed to them. Written exams are usually given at the end of the educational event.
When the candidate registers to take the exam online they will receive an email stating their exam is "waiting for approval." This means a PSA web administrator must check to see if the requirements have been met before approving the exam. Once approved the candidate will be able to access the exam the next time they log in.
A study guide is not emailed to the candidate as it will be available online once the candidate is approved for the exam. The passing percentage for the online test is 80%, compared to 70% at a proctored site. Only one attempt per test, per fee is allowed at either a proctored site or online.

After passing the BA exam, the candidate can apply to begin taking the Sport Science & Medicine rating exams. The first exam is the Registered Sport Science & Medicine exam, followed by the Certified, Senior, and Master.
The requirements that must be fulfilled before taking a Sport Science & Medicine exam are:

• The candidate must be a full member of the PSA.
• The candidate must have completed the Basic Accreditation exam.
• The candidate must have attended a PSA educational event or completed four online e-learning courses within one year previous to taking the exam.

When the candidate registers for the exam they will receive an email stating their exam is "waiting for approval." This means a PSA web administrator must check to see if the requirements have been met before approving the exam. Once approved the candidate will be able to access the exam the next time they log in.
The study guide for all of the Sport Science & Medicine exams is "The Coach's Guide to Sport Science & Medicine" and is available at the PSA online store.
 The passing percentage for the online test is 80%, compared to 70% at a proctored site. Only one attempt per test, per fee is allowed at either a proctored site or online. Up to two written Sport Science & Medicine exams may be taken onsite at an event.

After passing the Registered Sport Science & Medicine exams, a discipline can be chosen and an application completed to take the first of four oral exams (Registered, Certified, Senior and Master) of that discipline. Two oral exams may be taken at a site. A candidate may take Registered and Certified exams in the same discipline. The exception to this policy is Pair, Choreography, Synchronized Team and Program Director disciplines, where any two levels may be taken in sequential order. Master exams are offered only at Conference and at the November Oral Rating Zone site. Guide to Sample Questions can be purchased from the PSA office for each discipline. They are included in the oral rating application fee.

Procedures and Requirements for online CER exams

The U.S. Figure Skating Continuing Education Requirement (CER) courses are available on the e-learning platform of the PSA website. Once registered for a course the coach will have access to the reading materials for up to one year. The first set of courses must be completed by July 1st, 2010, and a new set will be required by July 1st of each succeeding year. Once the exam is entered it will be available for 90 minutes.
Once registered, the candidate will have up to three opportunities to pass the course. After three retries the candidate will need to re-register and pay for the course again or select another course from the list. The passing percentage for online CER courses is 80%.

	Ranking Applications (PDF)
	LEVEL I LEVEL II LEVEL III LEVEL IV LEVEL V LEVEL VI LEVEL VII LEVEL VIII LEVEL IX LEVEL X

The Professional Skaters Association Ranking System is becoming recognized world-wide. The criteria to qualify for this program is directed toward the career accomplishments of PSA coaches based on the performance of their skaters. In this program, the career coaching record of a PSA member is established only through the accomplishments of a skater under his or her direction.

This distinguished ranking is recognized as a lifetime achievement by the entire skating community and is awarded each year at the PSA International Conference. Each recipient is presented with an official proclamation of their ranking level.

If a higher level is achieved at a later time, a ranked coach may re-apply to upgrade to that level. Rankings are generally confirmed within 45 days of the application deadline.

Application deadlines are as follows:

October 1 | January 1 | April 1 | July 1

Choose the level for which you would like to apply and download an application:

CRITERIA FOR LEVEL I RANKING
1.  Must be a current PSA member
2.  Must have been the primary coach for a minimum of one year
3.  Must have at least a registered rating in the discipline of your ranking     
4.  Must maintain and be current with PSA educational credits
5.  Must be CER Category A or B compliant
6.  Must have coached at least at a non-qualifying or invitational U.S. Figure   
Skating or ISI competition including Basic Skills or Learn to Skate

CRITERIA FOR LEVEL II RANKING
1.  Must be a current PSA member
2.  Must have been the primary coach for a minimum of one year
3.  Must have at least a registered rating in the discipline of your ranking     
4.  Must maintain and be current with PSA educational credits
5.  Must be CER Category A compliant
6.  Must have coached at one of the following:

• U.S. Figure Skating regional qualifying competitions at the juvenile level or higher
• U.S. Collegiate Championships
• Masters level at a U.S. Figure Skating Adult Sectional Championship
• Juvenile, intermediate, novice, junior, senior, collegiate, adult or masters at a U.S. Figure Skating Synchronized Sectional Championship
• Juvenile level or higher in pairs or ice dance at a U.S. Figure Skating Sectional Championship
• National Theater on Ice
• National Showcase

CRITERIA FOR LEVEL III RANKING
1.  Must be a current PSA member
2.  Must have been the primary coach for a minimum of one year
3.  Must have at least a registered rating in the discipline of your ranking     
4.  Must maintain and be current with PSA educational credits
5.  Must be CER Category A compliant
6.  Must have coached at one of the following:

• Novice, junior or senior level in singles at a U.S. Figure Skating Sectional Championship
• Juvenile or intermediate level in singles, pairs or ice dance at the U.S. Junior Figure Skating Championships
• Juvenile, intermediate, collegiate, adult or masters at the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships
• Masters level at the U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships
• Masters level at National Showcase
  

CRITERIA FOR LEVEL IV RANKING
1. Must be a current PSA member
2. Must have been the primary coach for a minimum of one year
3. Must have at least a registered rating in the discipline of your ranking
4. Must maintain and be current with PSA educational credits
5.  Must be CER Category A compliant
6. Must have coached at one of the following:

• Novice, junior or senior level in singles, pairs or ice dance at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships
• Novice, junior or senior level at the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships
• North American Challenge Skate
• Coach of a skater nominated by the Athlete Development Committee to compete in a Developmental International competition on behalf of the U.S.

CRITERIA FOR LEVEL V RANKING
1. Must be a current PSA member
2. Must have been the primary coach for a minimum of one year
3. Must have at least a registered rating in the discipline of your ranking
4. Must maintain and be current with PSA educational credits
5.  Must be CER Category A compliant
6. Must have coached at designated junior or senior ISU events and skaters must have been appointed by an ISU recognized National Governing Body (NGB) or the ISU. In the case of U.S. competitors, they must have been appointed by the International Committee, the International Committee Management Subcommittee (ICMS) and/or Synchronized Management Subcommittee (SMS)

CRITERIA FOR LEVEL VI RANKING
1.  Must be a current member of the PSA
2.  Must be CER Category A compliant
3.  Must have coached the skater for a minimum of one year
4.  Must have been the skater’s primary coach
5.  Skater must have placed in the final round at the World Championships or Olympic Winter Games or if the skater competed prior to 1993, must have placed in the top 24 at either the World Championships or Olympic Winter Games

CRITERIA FOR LEVEL VII RANKING
1.  Must be a current member of the PSA
2.  Must be CER Category A compliant
3.  Must have coached the skater for a minimum of one year
4.  Must have been the skater’s primary coach
5.  Must have coached at multiple World Championships or Olympic Winter Games in any discipline

CRITERIA FOR LEVEL VIII RANKING
1.  Must be a current member of the PSA
2.  Must be CER Category A compliant
3.  Must have coached the skater for a minimum of one year
4.  Must have been the skater’s primary coach only
5.  Must have coached World or Olympic Medalists in any discipline

CRITERIA FOR LEVEL IX RANKING
1.  Must be a current member of the PSA
2.  Must be CER Category A compliant
3.  Must have coached the skater for a minimum of one year
4.  Must have been the skater’s primary coach only
5.  Must have been the coach of a World or Olympic Champion in any discipline

CRITERIA FOR LEVEL X RANKING
1.  Must be a current member of the PSA
2.  Must be CER Category A compliant
3.  Must have coached the skater for a minimum of one year
4.  Must have been the skater’s primary coach only
5.  Must have been the coach of multiple World or Olympic Champions in any discipline