Application Procedures for Certified and Provisional Trainers

As the USHJA Trainer Certification Program enters its third year, the TCP committee wants all applicants to understand the importance of the materials they submit as a part of their application for acceptance into the program. It would be impossible for the committee members to know each applicant personally or even by reputation, so the quality of the presentation of your experience and professional expertise in your resume is a significant factor in the evaluation process. Recommendations completed on your behalf by professional trainers who can speak to the specifics of your abilities as a teacher, rider and trainer of a students and horses at a variety of levels are equally important factors. The TCP committee also reserves the right to request input from other professionals in an applicant's geographic area.

Read application requirements before filling out your application.

The TCP Application is now available as an online application. Login to your USHJA account and click "TCP Application" under the USHJA Trainer Certification Program section.

TCP Exam

Upon notification of acceptance into the TCP, each candidate is given six months to pass the online TCP exam with a score of 85% or higher. The exam evaluates the candidate's knowledge of both theoretical and practical aspects of riding and training within the standards and ideals determined by the TCP Committee to be widely accepted and proven successful. The exam contains five sections with thirty questions in each section. The candidate may log into the exam two times with an unlimited length of time per log-in session.

We respect your privacy. The application process and test results are completely confidential at all times.

Maintain Certification Annually

All Certified and Provisional Trainers are responsible for maintaining their USHJA Active or Collegiate Coach Membership annually. If the trainer's Active or Collegiate Coach Membership is not renewed by January 1, his certification will be at risk of being revoked. If membership is not renewed by February 1, the trainer will forfeit his certification and will be removed from the USHJA Certified Trainers Directory. After February 1, the trainer will have to reapply to the program if he wishes to regain certification.

All Certified and Provisional Trainers are responsible for keeping their liability insurance current and providing proof of such to USHJA as their expiration dates approach. If USHJA does not receive proof of current insurance prior to the expiration date of the policy on file, certification will be suspended. If USHJA has still not received proof of current insurance 30 days after the expiration date of the policy on file, certification will be revoked and the trainer will be removed from the USHJA Certified Trainers Directory. To regain certification it will be necessary to reapply to the program.

Certification must be maintained and updated every five years. Additional certification maintenance and educational requirements are currently in development.

If an individual is suspended by the USEF, that individual's USHJA Trainer Certification or Provisional status will be suspended for the same time period. Upon completion of the USEF suspension period, the individual's USHJA Trainer Certification will be reinstated, absent good cause to the contrary. Reinstatement of the individual's USHJA Trainer Certification remains at the sole discretion of the USHJA.

TCP Grants

Use the below map to visit your zone's grants and scholarships page. To find out whether your zone is participating, contact Melanie Fransen at 859.225.6705.