Application Procedures for Certified and
Provisional Trainers

The Trainer Certification Program Committee reviews TCP applications three times annually. Completed applications and required documents must be received in the USHJA office by the following deadlines to be considered:

  • January 15 for review in February
  • May 15 for review in June
  • September 15 for review in October

Certified Trainer
Requirements

Provisional Trainer
Requirement
  • Declared professional status with USEF
  • Active/Competing member with USHJA
  • At least three full-time consecutive years out of the last seven of professional experience in the United States or Canada
  • Declared professional status with USEF
  • Active/Competing member with USHJA
  • Minimum of one year of professional experience in the United States or Canada

How to Apply

Follow the steps below to complete your application to the Trainer Certification Program. All application materials must be submitted within one year of beginning the application process. Once the application is complete and reviewed by the TCP Committee, approved individuals must complete the online TCP Exam.  The cost of the exam is $200. Each candidate is permitted six months to pass the online TCP Exam with a score of 85% or higher. After the applicant has passed the exam, they will be notified of their official Certified or Provisional Trainer status.

Click here to view the TCP application flow chart.

Application

Complete the online TCP Application and submit the $100 application fee. Log in to your USHJA account and click "TCP Application" under the USHJA Trainer Certification Program section.

Letters of Recommendation

Submit three TCP Recommendation Forms. 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.

  • The recommendations must be from full-time, active professional trainers within the hunter/jumper industry who have working knowledge of the applicant’s current riding, teaching and training abilities for at least the past three years.
  • All three of the professionals must be current Active/Competing USHJA members in good standing and declared professional with USEF.
  • It is important that the professionals can comment on the applicant’s abilities with a variety of levels of riders and horses.
  • Additional pertinent references who have known you for a shorter period (i.e. fewer than three years) are acceptable in support of your application.
  • The references may not be submitted from a family member, an employee, a member of the TCP Committee, or a professional that provides a service for your business (e.g., veterinarian, farrier, et cetera).

Background Check

All TCP candidates are required to undergo a criminal background check with Coeus Global before their application is reviewed for certification. It may take up to 4-6 weeks for your background check to be completed. Please be aware that your background check fee is non-refundable and may vary by State. Click here to start the registration process for your background check.

Safe Sport Training

All TCP applicants will be required to complete Safe Sport Training. You can review information regarding the Safe Sport Initiative and USEF Safe Sport Policy here.

You can complete your free Safe Sport Training here. The USEF access code is 7MNA-86XI-FX4E-9GAN. Applicants will be required to complete the Sexual Misconduct Awareness Education, Mandatory Reporting and Emotional and Physical Misconduct modules in order to complete the training.

*If you are not yet registered for Safe Sport, or if you registered after April 15, the above three modules have been combined into one 90-minute course titled "Safe Sport Trained"

Resume

Submit resume via email to ushjatcp@ushja.org. Resumes are limited to 900 words or less and must fit on no more than two pages. Your resume must include the following information:

  • Date range of employment
  • Position
  • Address
  • Brief description of position
  • Employer contact’s name and phone number

Outline and chronologically document your full time professional employment as a riding teacher and/or trainer. Please begin with your current position and work backwards by year. Awards and results need to be specifically and separately listed.

You may present a second outline of alternative or non-teaching training experiences in addition to the above required format of your professional teaching/training experiences. This is optional.

Insurance

Submit a copy of your certificate of commercial/professional liability insurance via email to ushjatcp@ushja.org.

The official certificate of liability insurance must be requested from and issued by your insurance agent. The certificate must list your full name and coverage must include commercial general liability. The coverage must be in place and remain valid throughout the entire application and certification process. Please note, personal liability insurance offered through US Equestrian Federation membership is not an acceptable form of insurance for TCP application and maintenance requirements since it specifically excludes liability arising out of business or professional activities. USHJA requires that Certified Trainers be covered for their professional activities under a commercial/professional liability insurance policy.

Click here for more information regarding requirements for adequate proof of insurance.

Concussion Awareness Video

All TCP candidates are required to complete the Concussion Awareness video and quiz. To access the free concussion video, click here. Applicants will be required to complete a short quiz with a score of 100% following the video. You are permitted to take the quiz as many times you wish.

Education

Complete one of the following: