Officials Accreditation Pathway Overview

Important Membership & Compliance Requirements

Working with Children Checks (WWCC)
All official accreditations require members to hold and maintain a current Working with Children Check (or equivalent state/territory clearance) for the entire duration of their accreditation. If you do not already have one, it is strongly recommended to apply for your WWCC before or alongside your official course enrolment. Please note, accreditations will not be processed until you have uploaded a valid copy of your WWCC to Spin Academy.

Membership
Candidates must be registered members of an affiliated club or association. Club membership automatically includes membership of the relevant State Association and Table Tennis Australia (TTA). Maintaining active membership is mandatory throughout the accreditation process and beyond.

Umpire Accreditations

The Umpire Pathway at a Glance

Level 1 – Community Umpire
Entry-level accreditation designed for new officials or those interested in knowing the rules. Fully online, quick to complete, and accessible for volunteers and club members.
Level 2 – State Umpire
Builds on foundational knowledge with applied theory and includes a minimum 6-month mentorship and supervised training pathway. Prepares officials for state-level competitions.
Level 3 – National Umpire
Advanced officiating theory combined with practical assessments at state and national events. Designed to ready officials for major national tournaments and high-profile matches.
Level 4+ International Umpire
Requires a minimum of 2 years active as a National Umpire, successful passing of the ITTF International Umpires Exam (held every two years), and membership of an affiliated club. Enables officiating at ITTF international events worldwide.

Level 1 – Community Umpire

Released in September 2025!

Entry-level, online course for clubs, schools, and community members.

A Community Umpire possesses an introductory level of the basic rules of table tennis and umpiring skills that is suitable for their club or association (or equivalent).

Prerequisite: None!
Learn the basic rules, equipment, scoring, and hand signals.
Complete Child Safety (WWCC) & Code of Behaviour modules.
80-minute online course with exam to confirm knowledge.
Eligible to officiate at club & community competitions.

More Info – Level 1 Community Umpire

Level 2 – State Umpire

New structure released in December 2025!

For those who are interested in taking the first big step into the world of umpiring.

A State Umpire is able to apply the ITTF Laws of Table Tennis and Regulations at a state-level event (or equivalent), i.e., apply the basic laws, call the score, identify time-outs, and manage a match correctly.

Prerequisite
- Completion of the Community Umpire Course
Learn how to apply the ITTF Laws of Table Tennis and common regulations
Introduction to Para Table Tennis
6-month Practical Umpiring Training with a dedicated Mentor
Induction into the Officiating Community
Eligible to umpire State Championships and Regional Competitions.

More Info – Level 2 State Umpire

Level 3 – National Umpire

New structure to be released by April 2026!

For umpires who are ready to officiate at major events as a professional umpire.

A national umpire is able to apply the ITTF Laws of Table Tennis and Regulations at a national-level event (or equivalent). While they can do everything a state umpire can, they possess an advanced understanding of the Laws and also present and conduct themselves more professionally.

Prerequisite:
- A National Umpire should have been a State Umpire for at least 1 year
- Can produce records showing they have been active as an umpire and officiated at State Open or Closed events, or an Association Open of equivalent size
- Received endorsement from their state association
- Definition of “activeness” is defined in Level 2 State Umpire
Focus on professional match conduct and presentation
12-month practical umpiring training with a dedicated Mentor
National Umpire practical assessments – 6 matches reviewed by several experienced Assessors at State Open & National Events
Eligible to umpire National Championships, National and Continental Events, with pathway to ITTF International Umpire Qualifications.

More Info – Level 3 National Umpire

Level 4+ International Umpire Qualifications

An international umpire is a highly qualified umpire who is able to apply the ITTF Laws of Table Tennis and Regulations at an international-level event. While they can do everything a national umpire can, they possess an advanced understanding of the Laws and also present and conduct themselves more professionally.

Levels:

Level 4 – International Umpire (White Badge)
Level 5 – International Umpire (Blue Badge)
Level 6 – International Umpire (Gold Badge)

This pathway enables interested officials to umpire at prestigious ITTF international events worldwide.

Requirements for Level 4 International Umpire (White Badge)

Must have been a National Umpire at tournaments for a minimum of 2 years
Can produce records showing they have been active as an umpire and officiated in at least 3 National Events or higher since qualifying as a National Umpire
Definition of “activeness” is defined in Level 3 National Umpire
Have received at least 3 favourable references (from tournament referees they have worked with — must be different — and/or the TTA URC)
Have received endorsement from the TTA URC
Be a registered member of an affiliated club or association (includes State & TTA membership)
Attend an online/in-person International Umpire briefing & revision seminar with an experienced nationally-appointed official
Successfully pass the ITTF International Umpires Exam, conducted every two years

For eligibility to sit the Advanced Rules Exam and attend Advanced Umpire Training (pathway to Level 5 Blue Badge and Level 6 Gold Badge):
The TTA URC will consider whether the candidate:

would be likely to continue as a Blue Badge Umpire or an International Referee
has demonstrated competence as an International Umpire in several events
has the endorsement of the TTA URC to take the exam
has satisfied any other prerequisite as determined by the ITTF

Referee Accreditation

The Referee Pathway at a Glance

Level 1 – State Referee
Entry-level accreditation designed for officials progressing from umpiring roles. New hybrid course with training modules coming soon to replace the current in-person format.
Level 2 – National Referee
Builds on foundational knowledge with a hybrid course. Assessment includes a written exam and mentorship at higher-level tournaments.
Level 3 – National Referee Advanced (By Invitation)
Advanced accreditation available by invitation for experienced National Referees. Includes mentorship and specialised training to develop advanced referee skills with the intention to referee the National Championships.
Level 4 – International Referee
Requires National Referee Advanced accreditation and extensive tournament experience. Includes ITTF advanced rules exam and successful completion of ITTF International Referee course with written, practical, and oral assessments. Eligible to officiate in international tournaments.

Level 1 – State Referee

New structure to be released by June 2026!

For officials who are ready to assume responsibility and authority for state-level events.

A State Referee should be able to be the tournament referee at a state-level event, and is someone who would be able to competently be the match referee (i.e., deputy referee) of a TTA Tour-level event (or equivalent).

Prerequisite:
- A State Referee should have been an active State Umpire for at least 2 years to develop the necessary competencies required
- Definition of “activeness” is defined in Level 2 State Umpire
Understand basic refereeing concepts like rules interpretation, referee responsibilities and a basic draw
Eligible to referee State Championships and Regional Competitions.

More Info – Level 1 State Referee

Level 2 – National Referee

New structure to be released in early 2027!

For officials who are ready to be challenged with additional technical management concepts.

A National Referee is someone who has demonstrated competence and ability as the tournament referee of a state-level event and is someone who would be able to competently be the tournament referee of a TTA Tour-level event (or equivalent) or a match referee (i.e., deputy referee) of the National Championships.

Prerequisite:
- An active State Referee for at least 2 years
- A qualified National Umpire
- Can produce records showing they have been the tournament referee (not deputy referee) of a State Open or Closed event or an Association Open of equivalent size since qualifying as a State Referee
- Endorsement from their state association
- Definition of “activeness” is defined in Level 1 State Referee
More detailed training in draw procedures, competition methods, technical management and Para Table Tennis competitions
Eligible to referee National Title Events (like TTA Tour) or be the deputy referee of the National Championships.

More Info – Level 2 National Referee

Level 3 – National Referee Advanced (By Invitation)

First intake expected by mid-2027!

An exceptionally competent and able official who can be trusted to referee TTA’s highest level events.

A National Referee (Advanced) is someone who has demonstrated exceptional competence and ability as the tournament referee of a TTA Tour-level event and is someone who would be able to be the tournament referee of the National Championships or be considered as an assistant referee of a continental/international event (i.e., ITTF Oceania). Additionally, they would be considered to enrol in International Referee school.

Prerequisite:
- Been an active National Referee for at least 2 years
- Preferably an International Umpire
- Produce records that they have been the tournament referee at a TTA Tour-level event or deputy referee at the National Championships (post-qualification)
  - For guidance, significance experience as the tournament referee at several TTA Tour-level events will be advantageous
- Have received at least 3 favourable assessments since qualifying as a National Referee (either from the tournament referees they have worked with at National level events and/or the TTA URC)
- Endorsement from the TTA URC
- Candidates’ eligibility is defined in Level 2 National Referee
Training includes: intense mentoring, advanced draws, group calculations, scheduling, rules interpretation, monthly assignments, oral assessment, performance evaluations
Eligible to referee the National Championships or be considered as an assistant referee of continental/international events.

More Info – Level 3 National Referee (Advanced)

Level 4 – International Referee

An elite official who can referee some of the ITTF’s most prestigious events.

An international referee is someone who has demonstrated exceptional competence, ability and experience as the tournament referee of the National Championships and is someone who would be able to be the tournament referee at ITTF level events.

Prerequisite:
- International Umpire
- Passed the ITTF Advanced Rules Exam in the last 3 years
- Active qualified National Referee (Advanced) for at least 1 year
- Proven referee experience as the tournament referee in three National Events or higher (including at least one as referee of the National Championships) since qualifying as a National Referee (Advanced)
- Demonstrated competence in English
- Endorsement from the TTA URC to attend International Referee School
- Definition of “activeness” is defined in Level 3 National Referee (Advanced)
Eligible to referee International Events.

Advanced International Referee

This qualification is managed solely by the ITTF and is by invitation only. Advanced International Referees are eligible to referee World Championships, Olympic & Paralympic Games, and some WTT Grand Smash events, among others.

Further Information & Resources

For detailed guidelines, ITTF Umpire Career Development, exam schedules, nomination forms, and official documents, visit the ITTF Umpires & Referees Committee page: ITTF Umpires & Referees Documents.

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