Coach Status vs. Coaching Certification

The NCCP certification is earned upon completion of the educational process; coaches must then ensure they remain up to date with all the requirements. AEF and Equestrian Canada only recognizes coaches as active if they hold a Coach Status (Registered or Licensed) according to the following guidelines:

• 2021 – No formal requirements at EC sanctioned events. Registered Coach Status recommended.
• 2022 – Registered Coach Status mandatory at all EC sanctioned events.
• 2023 – Licensed Coach mandatory at all EC sanctioned Platinum and Gold events. Registered Coach mandatory at EC sanctioned Silver and Bronze events.
• 2024 – Licensed Coach mandatory at all EC Sanctioned Events.
• 2025 – Licensed Coach and Certification required at all EC Sanctioned events.

Yes. To obtain a Coach Status, coaches must maintain an active PTSO membership. Membership validity will be verified at the time of application, issuance, and renewal. It is the responsibility of the coach to ensure that their PTSO membership does not lapse.

No. Candidates can apply for a Coach Status before completing all of the requirements. However, it is important to note that candidates have only 90 days from the purchase date to complete the requirements. We highly recommend completing the first aid training and vulnerable sector search (when applicable) before applying.

A Vulnerable Sector Search is a police information check plus a Criminal Record Check to see if a person has a record suspension (pardon) for sexual offences. The search is a one-time requirement only if the candidate was born prior to March 1986. An Access to Information Request from the RCMP says that the date of birth belonging to the youngest person with a pardoned sexual offence is Feb. 28, 1986. There are no pardoned sexual offences for candidates born after Feb. 28, 1986. A Vulnerable Sector Search may take up to three months to complete and you must present yourself at the police station. Check this resource from the Coaching Association of Canada for more information on criminal record check and vulnerable sector searches.

Yes. To obtain a Coach Status, EC NCCP Instructors/Coaches must maintain an active EC Sport Licence. Sport Licence validity will be verified at the time of application, issuance, and renewal. It is the responsibility of the coach to ensure that their EC Sport Licence does not lapse. Any level of Sport Licence is permitted for the purpose of holding a Coach Status; coaches are encouraged to purchase the Sport Licence required for other activities (e.g. Horse Recordings, competition, etc.). Check this link for more information on EC Sport Licences.

Licensed Coach Status applicants must have validated and recognized expertise through any of the following:

• Coaching certification (including NCCP), or
• Recognized formal training, or
• Post-secondary equine education, or
• Over 20 years of coaching experience.

If you are an NCCP Coach, your record will be automatically recorded in your ECampus.

The following is a list of formal training that is currently recognized by Equestrian Canada. A copy of your certificate must be uploaded

• IGEQ INTERNATIONAL LEVEL 1
• IGEQ INTERNATIONAL LEVEL 2
• IGEQ INTERNATIONAL LEVEL 3
• CanTRA Coach
• CTRII – CanTRA Intermediate Instructor
• CTRSI – CanTRA Senior Instructor
• Canadian Pony Club – A
• CHA Standard Instructor – English: Level Two
• CHA Standard Instructor – English: Level Three
• CHA Standard Instructor – English: Level Four
• CHA Standard Instructor – English: Master Instructor
• CHA Standard Instructor – Western: Level Two
• CHA Standard Instructor – Western: Level Three
• CHA Standard Instructor – Western: Level Four
• CHA Standard Instructor – Western: Master Instructor

If you are applying based on over 20 years of coaching experience, you are required to complete a Certification Exemption Form upon Coach Status enrolment. Please note there is a one-time processing fee of $200 for Certification Exemption.

The Certificate of Insurance form should be filled out by the candidate’s insurance company. The candidate will be responsible for uploading the filled form to their ECampus as proof of insurance.

All Coach Statuses are valid for one year from the date they are issued. Please note that any Coach Status is only active if all the documents submitted are up to date. Look at this scenario as an example:

• A Coach Status is issued on April 10, 2024
• It is valid until April 10, 2025, only if all documents are up to date until that date
• First aid certificate expires on Oct. 10, 2024; the Coach Status is no longer active
• On Nov. 10, 2024, a new certificate is uploaded into ECampus and approved by EC
• Coach Status is restored and valid until April 10, 2025
• On April 10, 2025, a new Coach Status will need to be purchased to keep the status valid

If you are already working in a first aid field (e.g. as a paramedic), you may substitute a letter from your employer confirming that your first aid skills are up to date.

There are a couple of reasons:

1. Inactive or non-existent Coach Status a. EC only recognizes instructors/coaches as active if they hold a valid Coach Status. Only active instructors/coaches are listed in their directory. OR
2. Find A Coach consent not given a. You may have forgotten to check the box that gives EC permission to share your information in their directory. Please follow these steps:
   • Login to your My-EC > click on ECampus > in the right top corner click on your name > click on Edit My Profile
   • Review your profile information and ensure it is correct
   • Review and complete the directory information
     • Review the location to make sure it is correct
     • Review and click the consent box
     • Review and click on Geocode Address
     • Click “save”
   • Complete the demographic survey information
   • Review the NCCP professional development points
   • Review terms of use
   • Click “save” If you have an active Coach Status and you followed the steps above but you are still not listed, please contact us at coaching@albertaequestrian.com or EC at coaching@equestrian.ca.

Consent to share your information with the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) not given. You may have forgotten to check the box that gives EC permission to share your information with CAC. Please follow these steps:

• Login to your My-EC > click on ECampus > in the right top corner click on your name > click on Edit My Profile
  • Review the NCCP professional development points
  • Review terms of use o Enter your NCCP/Locker account number
  • Click “save”

Please note that the system is updated once per month, if after completing the steps above and after one month your points are still not showing in your account, please contact us at coaching@albertaequestrian.com or EC at coaching@equestrian.ca.