In 2016, the FEI created a Working Group on FEI Officials following feedback from the “Officials” sessions (Career Pathway, Education and Appointment & Remuneration) at the FEI Sports Forum earlier that year. Chaired by FEI 2nd Vice President Mark Samuel (CAN) and including representatives from various stakeholder communities as well as supported by the FEI Education & Officials Department, the new Working Group was tasked with developing proposals for the improvement and harmonisation of the management, education, and career progression of FEI Officials across all disciplines.

Fifteen Recommendations were brought forward in response to their remit to improve the quality of Officials, their education, opportunities and experiences, as well as the systems in place to manage Officials which in turn will ensure the smooth running of FEI events, and ultimately horse welfare.

Recommendation three of the Working Group specifically refers to the introduction of a Competency-based Evaluation System with the goal of replacing the age limit, which has been developed by the FEI Education & Officials Department and is now implemented.

Note: The FEI Education Framework will continue to be developed alongside the FEI Competency-based Evaluation System in order to regulate and administer the status of FEI Officials. The on-the-job performance and monitoring system will be implemented in the transfer up process which will be an essential part of the FEI Education Framework.

The aim of the FEI Competency-based Evaluation System is to ensure that FEI Officials fulfil all the requirements of their job description and are up-to-date with the current FEI Rules and Regulations, regardless of their age.

The intention of this evaluation system is to include all the different competencies required and assess them in the most objective manner; by discipline, by level, by function and role, and on a regular basis.

The different competencies to be assessed at each level are:
-  Knowledge of FEI Rules and Regulations.
-  Soft skills in order to interact effectively and harmoniously.
-  English language proficiency.
-  Physical fitness level required for the job.

The objective is to test according to the level, with standardised and FEI approved assessments, carefully crafted by experts. The assessments will either be done online and/or In-Person.

The three main advantages of this new system are:
-  Provide an opportunity for inactive as well as retired Officials, to re-enter the system if they can comply/complete with the requirements.
-  Provide the same universal, fair and transparent evaluation process to ensure a standardised level of competency.
-  Provide a more effective process, which is less time consuming and less expensive for all Officials to comply with the requirements of the FEI Education System.

The FEI Competency-based Evaluation System works on a three-year cycle. This cycle effectively replaces the previous refresher system.

The FEI Competency-based Evaluation System is introduced progressively in phases over the coming years.

The knowledge of FEI Rules and Regulations is evaluated, either through a CES Online Assessment, or through an In-Person Maintenance Course with assessment.

Additionally, Officials have to certify that they are taking the assessment personally, and that they are “Fit-to-officiate” according to the requirements of the role as an Official.

In 2021, Officials are organised in two groups depending on their Maintenance Status.

Group A Officials in 2021:
All Group A Officials will have to take their CES Online Assessment on FEI Campus before 15 December 2021. Please also note that:
-  Officials must have passed the CES Online Assessment PRIOR to officiate at events taking place after 31 March of each year. If not taken by the 31 March 2021, the function is “on hold*”: the Official is not listed and not allowed to officiate, until he takes and passes the CES Online Assessment.
-  If the CES Online Assessment is not taken at all by 15 December 2021, the function will be closed and they will need to re-enter the system.

*Officiating at International Events while the function is on hold may result in the opening of disciplinary proceedings and potential sanctions (GRs Art.163).

For all detailed results and consequences of the CES Online Assessment, please read the “More about…” relevant section below.

Group B Officials in 2021 (updated):
Following the Board decision from 6 April 2021, Group B Officials have now two Options to fulfil their Maintenance Requirements:

Option 1 - The In-Person Maintenance Course with assessment (unchanged)

Content
-  CES Online Assessment - one (1) attempt – during the In-Person Maintenance Course).
-  In-Person session(s) for additional education - with Course Director.
-  Oral assessment (for Officials who got a “not passed” result at their Online Assessment).

Rules
-  Officials can officiate while waiting for their In-Person Maintenance Course with assessment.
-  Officials must attend their In-Person Maintenance Course with assessment before 15 December 2021.

Consequences
-  If the In-Person Maintenance Course with assessment is “not attended” by 15 December 2021, the function will be closed and they may re-enter the system.

For all results and consequences details please read the “More about…” relevant section below.

Option 2 / The Emergency Virtual Maintenance Programme (new)

Content
-  CES Online Assessment - two (2) attempts.
-  Online Seminar Session for additional education - with Course Director.

Rules
-  Officials are required to take both the CES Online Assessment & the Online Seminar Session to complete and validate their Emergency Virtual Maintenance Programme.
-  Upon sign-up for the Emergency Virtual Maintenance Programme the function is temporarily placed “on-hold*” the Official is not listed and not allowed to officiate, until he/she takes and passes the CES Online Assessment.
-  The deadline for completing the Emergency Virtual Maintenance Programme (CES Online Assessment & Online Seminar Session) is 15 December 2021.
-  The CES Online Assessment & Online Seminar can be taken in any order.

Results & consequences (in full details)
-  If the CES Online Assessment result is “passed” the function is extended to 31 March 2022, the Official is listed and can officiate immediately – (the Official will still have to attend an Online Seminar Session if not done yet).
-  If the CES Online Assessment result is “not passed” the function remains “on-hold” until the Official attends an In-Person Maintenance Course with assessment before 15 December 2022.
-  If the CES Online Assessment is “not taken” at all by 15 December 2021, the function will be closed and the Official may re-enter the system.
-  If the Online Seminar Session is “attended”, that validates the result of a “passed” CES Online Assessment, or it will validate it when and if passed.
-  If the Online Seminar Session is “not attended” by the 15 December 2021, the function will be closed and the Official may re-enter the system.

*Officiating at International Events while the function is on hold may result in the opening of disciplinary proceedings and potential sanctions (GRs Art.163).

Choosing an option:
In the beginning of May 2021, all Group B Officials will receive an email informing them about the two options, procedures and steps to be taken.

Before 1 June 2021, all Group B Officials must notify the FEI of their choice for each function they have in Group B, by using the notification method provided in the information email they received beginning of May.

Once the Official has signed up for the Emergency Virtual Maintenance Programme (Option 2), the Official cannot change back to the In-Person Maintenance Course with assessment (Option 1).

... the CES Online Assessment:

In 2021, the CES Online Assessment(s) can be taken from 16 December 2020 until 15 December 2021, and is accessible on the FEI Campus website.

To login onto FEI Campus and access their FEI CES Online Assessment(s), Officials will need to use their FEI ID and password. An automatic email will be sent to all Officials that do not have a password and they will have 14 days upon reception to answer the email and activate their online account.

Once Officials click on the “Join course” button of a CES Online Assessment landing page, they will find three Chapters inside.

-  Chapter 1: Contains general instructions and the “Fit-to-Officiate Declaration & Identity Authentication” quiz. This quiz must be answered to reach Chapter 2.
-  Chapter 2: Contains the Mock Exam, which gives Officials the opportunity to train and get used to the testing environment. The mock exam will consist of a series of 10 random questions taken from the same pool of questions as the final CES Online Assessment. There is no time limit for the mock exam and it can be taken as many times as wished to prepare for the final CES Online Assessment.
-  Chapter 3: Contains the CES Online Assessment, to be taken when the Official feels ready for it.

The CES Online Assessment features a series of 50 questions related to Rules and Regulations of a given discipline as well as Veterinary and Legal questions.
-  Each participant is entitled to two (2) attempts.
-  Each attempt will have a time limit of one hour (1:00) and it cannot be interrupted or paused once started.
-  A minimum rate of 80% of correct answers is required to pass.
-  Results will be given at the end of the CES Online assessment.

There are three scenarios/outcomes that can result from the CES Online Assessment:
-  If Officials obtain a “passed” result (80% passing rate) during first or second attempt, they are immediately notified and entitled to officiate for another year. Remember that an Official must have “passed” the CES Online Assessment PRIOR to officiate at events taking place after the 31 March of each year.
-  If Officials obtain a “not passed” result after two attempts, they will be invited to attend an In-Person Maintenance Course with assessment (see description below). Please note that in that case, the related function will be “on hold” and the Official will not be able to officiate until having attended and passed the In-Person Maintenance Course with assessment.
-  If Officials do not take their CES Online Assessment(s) before the 15 December, the related function is closed and the Official will need to re-enter the system.

... the In-Person Maintenance Course with assessment

In-Person Maintenance Courses with assessment will take place throughout the year for Officials who have been requested to attend them, either due to their Maintenance status (Group B) or because they have not successfully passed the CES Online Assessment twice (from Group A).

The In-Person Maintenance Course with assessment is composed of:
-  CES Online Assessment (taken during the In-Person Maintenance Course with assessment).
-  In-Person sessions with the Course Director.
-  Oral Assessment (for Officials who got a “not passed” result at their CES Online Assessment).

The CES Online Assessment which is taken during the In-Person Maintenance Course with assessment is the same as the CES Online Assessment and features a series of 50 questions related to Rules and Regulations of a given discipline, as well as Veterinary and Legal questions.

-  The Official only has one (1) attempt with a time limit of one hour (1:00) which cannot be interrupted or paused once started.
-  A minimum rate of 80% of correct answers is required to pass. At the end of the assessment, the result will be shared with the Course Director.

Results of the CES Online Assessment taken during the In-Person Maintenance Course with assessment:

-  Officials who have reached the minimum required passing rate (“passed” result) are entitled to officiate for another year, and they must attend the rest of the In-Person Maintenance Course.
-  Officials who did not reach the minimum required passing rate will have to attend an Oral Assessment with the Course Director during the In-Person Maintenance Course:

-  If an Official obtains a “passed” result at the Oral Assessment, he/she will be able to officiate for another year.
-  If an Official obtains a “not passed” result at the Oral Assessment, he/she will be transferred down to the next lower level.

If an Official does not attend a required In-person Maintenance Course with assessment within the 15 December deadline, the related function will be closed.

... re-entering the FEI Officials’ System

Any Official who has retired or has a closed function for not fulfilling the Maintenance Requirements, is able to re-enter the system. Following requirements are applicable according to the discipline concerned:

An Official who has not been officiating at FEI Level for less than three years:
-  May re-enter the FEI Officials’ system on a level lower than previously listed.
-  Is required to pass an In-Person Maintenance Course with assessment. This does not apply to the lowest levels as they will be considered National Officials and will have to fulfil the national requirements and then pass a transfer-up course.
-  After passing the In-Person Maintenance Course with assessment the Official can officiate at his/her re-entry level without further requirements.

An Official who has not been officiating at FEI Level for three to six years:
-  May re-enter the FEI Officials’ system on a level lower than previously listed.
-  Is required to pass a transfer-up course to confirm this lower level.
-  Must also fulfil all other transfer-up requirements according to the relevant Education System of each discipline.

An Official who has not been officiating at FEI Level for more than six years:
-  May only be able to re-enter at the lowest levels.
-  Is required to pass a transfer-up course for the relevant level.
-  Must also fulfil all other transfer-up requirements according to the relevant Education System of each discipline.

An Official who did not take the required CES Online Assessment or did not attend the In-Person Maintenance Course with assessment within the deadline:
-  May re-enter the FEI Officials’ system on a level lower than previously listed.
-  Is required to pass an In-Person Maintenance Course with assessment. This does not apply to the lowest levels as they will be considered National Officials and will have to fulfil the national requirements and then pass a transfer-up course.
-  After passing the In-Person Maintenance Course with assessment the Official can officiate at his/her re-entry level without further requirements.