Below is an outline of the program and the requirements you must complete prior to attending an Assessment for ECP Certification.
To obtain Certification through the Eventing Coaches Program, you will need to:
- Become an ECP Registered Candidate Coach by completing the ECP Candidate Application form linked here and paying the $75.00 registration fee. The primary resource for the ECP is The USEA Eventing Handbook by the Levels Handbook, which all USEA members received free.
- Obtain a written sign-off from an experienced eventing professional for your participation at the ECP Level you choose. The sign-off page is the last page of the ECP Candidate Application form.
- Student Verification: Submit three (3) of your current students, or students you have previously taught, at the highest level at which you will be seeking certification. For example, Level II-Modified Coaches should submit three (3) student verification forms and competition records for students at the Modified/CCI1* level. For the Starter level, coaches must provide student verification forms and results from the events at which the student competed. We understand Starter results will come from either recognized events who are running the Starter level in conjunction with their event, or from unrecognized events. Send your completed ECP Student Verification forms and competition records to Brandi Bishop at [email protected].
The levels of ECP certification were changed on May 18, 2023. The new certification levels are:
- Starter – coaches of riders at Starter level
- Level I-Beginner Novice – coaches of riders up through Beginner Novice level
- Level I-Novice – coaches of riders up through Novice level
- Level II-Training – coaches of riders up through Training level
- Level II-Modified – coaches of riders up through Modified and CCI1* level
- Level III – coaches of riders up through Preliminary and CCI2* level
- Level IV – coaches of riders up through Intermediate and CCI3* level
- Level V – coaches of riders up through Advanced and CCI4*/5* level
For Certification at Levels I-V:
- Attend a Teaching of Dressage Workshop
- Attend a Teaching of Jumping Workshop
- Cost of each Workshop is $450.00 ($900.00 total to attend both Workshops)
- It is acceptable to attend one Workshop and then the other at another time during the year (ideally the Teaching of Dressage Workshop before the Teaching of Jumping Workshop).
- ECP Workshops and Assessments calendar can be found here.
Workshop Attendance:
- You may attend Workshops before you complete the ECP Candidate Application form and register as an ECP Candidate Coach.
- If you are not seeking ECP Certification, you may attend any ECP Workshop as an auditor at the cost of $50/day. We have many Workshop participants who attend Workshop(s) for the educational value they provide.
- Auditing does not fulfill the Workshop attendance requirements for ECP Certification.
Eligibility for Assessment for ECP Certification:
- After attending the required Workshop(s) for your ECP Level, you are eligible to register for an ECP Assessment.
- Complete the ECP Assessment Registration form linked here and submit it with payment to Brandi Bishop at the USEA office or via email [email protected].
- Please be advised that being registered for an Assessment does not mean you will automatically be Certified.
- Assessments are one day in length and cost $550.00.
To be Assessed You Must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be a current USEA member.
You must also provide the following prior to your Assessment:
- Proof of current CPR and First Aid Certification
- Nationwide Criminal Background Check (to be submitted prior to Assessment and then every 2-years for as long as you maintain your ECP Certification.)
- Proof of Safe Sport Training
- Proof of Concussion Protocol Training
- Signed Code of Conduct
- Proof of current Liability Insurance (COI)
If you have completed any of these requirements through the USEF, USPC, USDF, USHJA, or any other entity that requires them, you may submit confirmation of completion; you do not have to complete them again.
CPR and First Aid Certification
You may obtain your CPR and First Aid Certification online from any of the sites listed below:
Nationwide Criminal Background Check
You may obtain a Nationwide Criminal Background Check online from either of the sites listed below. You are not required to use these sites and may use any background check service you wish, provided it is a nationwide criminal background check. If you have completed a nationwide criminal background check through your current employer, you may submit that information.
Safe Sport Training: safesport.org
- Complete Safe Sport Training and email the completion certificates to Brandi Bishop at [email protected].
Directions to complete Safe Sport Training:
- Go to the USEF Website www.usef.org
- Click on “My USEF” in the top right-hand corner of the home page
- Look below the log in prompts and click on “Create New Account”
- Tick “I don’t know” when asked if you have an existing ID
- Input your First and Last names in ID Search and hit return. If you do have an existing USEF ID # you will be prompted to log in or create a login.
- If you do not have an existing USEF ID # you will receive the following message: “No search results”, you can search again or select “No, I am new to USEF” – Click on the button beside “No, I am new to USEF” above the login information on the same page.
- Continue creating a new ID #.
Concussion Protocol Training: cdc.gov/headsup/youthsports/training/index.html
- Complete the training module and send completion certificate to Brandi Bishop at [email protected]
Code of Professional Responsibility:
- Download here, sign, and return to Brandi Bishop at [email protected]
Insurance Binder (COI)
Submit a copy of the binder page of your liability insurance policy, which is the page that lists your name, the current effective dates, and the policy limits.
ECP Cindy Burge Grant for ECP Assessment for Certification:
- Contact your Area Adult Rider Coordinator for information about the ECP Cindy Burge Grant linked here, which may be used to pay for Assessment.
- Each Area has their own application, deadline, and guidelines for awarding the Grant.
USPC Eleanor Brennan Memorial Fund
- USPC members may be eligible for the USPC Eleanor Brennan Memorial Fund linked here, which cover the fee to attend ECP Workshops.
Additional grants available for ECP Certification
ECP Continuing Education:
- Every ECP Certified Coach is expected to fulfill the continuing education credit requirements every four years.
Please contact Brandi Bishop at [email protected] with any questions.
