The NFHS Interscholastic Officiating Course Now available at www.nfhsofficials.com!
This first-of-its-kind online officiating course from the NFHS is designed to introduce individuals to the world of interscholastic officiating – ideal for those considering becoming an official or anyone within their first few years in officiating. Designed to take 30 to 45 minutes to complete, the course covers such topics as: the basics of becoming and staying an official, the science of officiating a contest, the art of officiating a contest and putting it all together! This course is FREE for members of the NFHS Officials Association. Non-member individual officials may take the course for a fee of $20. A discounted bulk rate of $10 is also available to non-100% states and officiating groups when 50 or more licenses are purchased. Contact the NFHS Officials’ Department for more details at www.nfhsofficials.com.
Thank you,
FHSAA Staff
Information - Becoming a New Official
Interested in joining the CFOA? If you are a new official or transferring to the area, please fill out the recruitment form and a member of the CFOA will contact you. Once we have your information, we will give you details on how to register with the CFOA, FHSAA, and any pertinent dates for upcoming seasons. Click for the Recruitment Form...
Recruiting and Registration
There are several steps to becoming a high school sports official with the CFOA and FHSAA. Listed below is a summary of steps to become an official from the FHSAA's becomeanofficial.org website:
- Verify that you meet the requirements to become an FHSAA Official --Be 18 years of age or older. Note that if you are either 16 or 17 years old, you can still join our Student Officials Program. --Submit to the FHSAA Office a valid application for registration --Pay appropriate non-refundable registration fees --Join and maintain membership in a local officials association --Certify that you have never been arrested for or convicted of a felony.
- Register with a local officials association. You must join and maintain membership in a local official association which has been sanctioned by the FHSAA Office (CFOA).
- Register with the FHSAA . You must register with the Florida High School Athletic Association through an online application. During this process, you will select which sport(s) you want to officiate, and which official's associations you are a member of. Click here for the online application!
- Comply with the Jessica Lunsford Act. The Jessica Lunsford Act is the informal name given to a 2005 Florida law designed to punish sex offenders and reduce their ability to re-offend. This means that your local officials association will need your finger print clearance prior to assigning you. You may contact your local county school district office for information regarding locations to complete the fingerprint process. Officials are independent contractors and require a level 2 screening (background check). This is a check of a person's background via state and national databases to ascertain whether the individual has been convicted of a crime(s) and its/their nature. It requires you to file with the district school board a set of fingerprints taken by an authorized law enforcement agency or an employee of the school or school district who is trained to take fingerprints. You may refer to Florida Statutes 1012.467 and 1012.468.
- View the mandatory online rules video presentation. You must view the mandatory Online Rules Presentation Video during a set time period. This time period will be posted on http://officials.fhsaa.org, and the video will be accessible at http://tech.fhsaa.org/eclassroom. The video will be approximately one hour long (times vary depending on the sport), and will be divided into three sections: 1) An opening giving a presentation of the FHSAA, 2) The sports specific presentation, and 3) a short quiz. You will not be allowed to leave your computer during the video. If you are not present at the computer when the video ends, you will have to watch it again to receive credit.
- Register and take the mandatory open or closed book rules examination. You must take a mandatory rules exam for your sports. The exam is available online at https://testing.fhsaa.org. The schedules of the exams will be posted on that website as well as http://officials.fhsaa.org. Central Florida Officials Association PO Box 622680, Orlando, FL 32862-2680.
Returning CFOA Officials
If you are a veteran official, please update your FHSAA membership and verify your information with CFOA. See details...