Developing better officials is one of the goals of the National Officials Certification Program (NOCP) a nation-wide standardized program. Five levels of competency provide officials with the necessary instruction to officiate from club sports all the up to International competition. The program is sport specific, and baseball's five levels are divided in the following manner: Umpires at all levels must recertify every year.

Level I

*No experience required
*Must obtain 60% or more on exam
*Eligible to officiate regional minor ball
*Cost: $40.00
*Minimum age of 12

Level II

*Must have Level I for a minimum of 1 year
*Must attend a Level II clinic
*Must obtain 70% or more on exam
*Eligible to officiate local and provincial minor ball
*May be randomly evaluated
*Cost $50.00

Level III

*Must have Level II for a minimum of 1 year
*Must attend a Level III clinic
*Must obtain 80% or more on exam
*Eligible to officiate all provincial baseball. Must be at least 18 years of age during current year to officiate at the major level. Eligible for Western Canadian competition.
*Must pass two on-field evaluations
*Cost $55.00

Level IV

*Must have Level III for one full year, and have officiated for a minimum of 5 years
*Must attend a Level IV clinic
*Must obtain 86% or more on exam
*Eligible to officiate national championships. Must be at least 18 years of age during current year to officiate at this level.
*Must pass two on-field evaluations (1 plate, 1 base) with a passing grade of 86% on the evaluations to maintain Level IV, must write exam every three years with passing grade of 86% or more
*Divided into two subgroups "AAA" and "AA". "AAA" officials would have participated in at least one minor championship (Pee Wee, Bantam, Midget)
*Cost $120.00

Level V

*Same as Level IV, but must have participated in at least two minor national championships (Pee Wee, Bantam, Midget) and at least one major national championship (Selects, Junior, Senior and Canada Games) to be Level V "AA", and had at least one international assignment to be Level V "AAA"
 

All certification clinics are one day, eight hours in duration.

NOCP Clinics Schedule