The USCF Certified Chess Coach Program has been designed to aid the average Scholastic Chess Coach in their endeavors. For many years many school districts have not paid Chess Coaches because they compared Chess coaches to athletic coaches. Athletic coaches are required to go through training and/or testing to be paid as a coach and Chess coaches are not. This program is to insure that Chess coaches have a basic level of knowledge necessary to coach children in Chess so that a school district can know they are hiring a knowledgeable person to coach the districts/schools children.

The purpose of this program is to provide that level of testing to make sure that your school district will know that you have reached a certain level of competency in Chess as certified by the United States Chess Federation. There are five levels of the Certified Chess Coach Program:

• Local Chess Coach (Level I)  
• District Chess Coach (Level II) 
• Advanced Chess Coach (Level III) 
• National Chess Coach (Level IV)  
• Professional Chess Coach (Level V) 

Click on the Level above to bring up the application as a .pdf file.  You may print it from the new window.  These applications are also in the forms directory.

"No USCF Certified Chess Coach is an agent of the USCF.  The holder of the title of Certified Chess Coach is deemed to have Chess knowledge and abilities appropriate to that level.  The USCF neither recommends nor has any knowledge as to the bearer's character or past."

After being accepted into this program you will receive a certificate, suitable for framing, and a wallet-sized card. All USCF Certified Chess Coaches will be listed on a page on the USCF website which will give the name, level of certification and state of each coach. If school administrators desire to hire a Chess Coach then this will give them a place to look for a coach with the level of experience they desire. Beginning with the 2010 Spring Nationals special meetings will be held just for Certified Chess Coaches. Periodically each Certified Chess Coach will receive a Chess Coach Newsletter, from time to time articles for the newsletter will be requested by USCF from these Coaches. The Certified Chess Coaches may also act as advisors to the USCF Scholastic Council and/or Scholastic Director when input is desired for some action being considered.

USCF is hoping that this program will increase the number of persons who are willing to be Chess Coaches and thus also increase the number of Scholastic Chess players who will grow into Adult Chess players.

The National Association of Secondary School Principals will be made aware of this national testing program for Chess coaches. The NASSP is the parent organization of each "State High School Activities Association".

All applicants must begin at Level I and successfully pass the test for each level as they work their way up to Level V or as far as they desire.   [Applicants who qualify for Professional Chess Coach - Level V - may still apply at this level immediately.]

The requirements are as follows:

1. USCF membership, if USCF membership lapses for more than three months then this certification will be revoked.
2. One letter of endorsement from a USCF-recognized organization (school, affiliate, foundation, etc) or individual (National Level Coach or Senior Level or higher Tournament Director).
3. Proof of knowledge of Local Chess content: Passing with 80% score Local test.*  This test is over the Guide to Scholastic Chess, which is available free on the USCF website at http://main.uschess.org/content/view/7574/131/. 

Requirements:

1. USCF membership, with USCF tournament participation as a player within the last five years. If USCF membership lapses for more than three months then this certification will be revoked.
2. One letter of endorsement from a person other than the person who submitted the letter of application for Local Chess Coach (Level I).  This letter must be from a USCF-recognized organization (school, affiliate, foundation, etc) or individual (National or Professional Level Certified Coach or Senior Level or higher Tournament Director).
3. Proof of knowledge of District Chess content: Passing with 80% score District test.*  This test is over the A Beginner's Guide to Coaching Scholastic Chess, which is available free on the USCF website at http://main.uschess.org/content/view/7574/131/. 


Cost: $25 for the first time, thereafter there will be a $10 renewal** fee.

1. USCF membership, with participation as a player in at least three USCF tournaments within the last five years. If USCF membership lapses for more than three months then this certification will be revoked.
2. One letter of endorsement from a person other than the persons who submitted the letters of application for Local  Chess Coach [Level I] or District Chess Coach [Level II].  This letter must be from a USCF-recognized organization [school, affiliate, foundation, etc.]  or individual [National or Professional Level Certified Coach or Senior Level or higher Tournament Director].
3. 5 years proven experience coaching teams which participated in local, state, and national USCF-rated events, as indicated in at least one of the endorsement letters.
4. Proof of knowledge of Advanced Chess content: Passing with 80% score on the Advanced test.*

Requirements:

1. USCF membership, with participation as a player in at least three USCF tournaments within the last five years. If USCF membership lapses for more than three months then this certification will be revoked.
2. Application must be submitted to the Scholastic Council.
3. One letter of endorsement from a person other than the persons who submitted the letter of application for Local Chess Coach [Level I], District Chess Coach [Level II] or Advanced Chess Coach [Level III].  This letter must be from a USCF-recognized organization [school, affiliate, foundation, etc.] or individual [National or Professional Level Certified Coach or Senior Level of higher Tournament Director].
4. 10 years proven experience coaching teams which have participated in state and national USCF-rated events.
5. Must have teams and/or players who placed in the top 3 of their state scholastic or collegiate championships at least three times.
6. Must have teams (and/or players) which participated in at least five national scholastic or collegiate championships.
7. Must prove service of at least one term as an officer of their state scholastic/collegiate chess association, active member of their state scholastic/collegiate chess committee, USCF scholastic committee, or any other USCF national committees.
8. There is no test for this level.