1. Background
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 second Vice President Mark Samuel (CAN) and including representatives from various stakeholder communities, as well as being 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. Recommendations were also made regarding the systems in place to manage Officials, which in turn will ensure the smooth running of FEI events, and ultimately horse welfare.
The third recommendation of the Working Group specifically refers to the introduction of a Competency-based Evaluation System with the goal of replacing the age limit and appointing system. This has been developed by the FEI Education & Officials Department and is now implemented.
Note that the FEI Education framework will continue to be developed alongside the CES in order to regulate and administer the status of FEI Officials. The transfer-up process is being harmonised and structured as part of the Evaluation System, and an on-the-job performance as well as a monitoring system will be implemented as this represents an essential part of the FEI Education Framework.

2. Aims and Means
In order to deliver high quality officiating and true level playing field at all events, the CES aims to ensure that FEI Officials fulfil all the requirements of their job description and are up-to-date with the current FEI Rules & Regulations as well as the latest officiating know-how.
The means of the Competency-based Evaluation System are to assess all the different competencies required to officiate at a given function/level/discipline, in the most efficient and objective manner on a regular basis, during the two phases of a function’s cycle:

The Transfer-up process ensures that Officials applying for a higher level or new function are fully prepared and properly evaluated in order for them to fit their job description successfully and is able to serve their sport at the best of their abilities.

For Officials to start a transfer-up process to a higher level, they must first reach out to their National Federation and get approval. In any transfer-up process, a National Federation has the right to object an applicant, with valid reason.National Federations are responsible for checking if their Officials have met all the necessary requirements prior to starting the education, as described in this document, and to enrol them in the relevant transfer-up course in the FEI Database.

Officials who have completed the official English assessment of the FEI and who did not reach the minimum required English proficiency level according to their function and level are given the opportunity to be re-evaluated. Once a year, and no earlier than three months after the initial attempt, another English assessment attempt may be requested.

Transfer-ups for FEI functions are described in the relevant discipline’s Education System, which can be found online on inside.fei.org or accessed by clicking on the relevant link below:

Jumping	Dressage	Para Dressage	Eventing
Driving & Para Driving	Endurance	Vaulting	Veterinary

1. Equivalency
All National Federations can apply for Equivalency as described in the FEI General Regulations (Chapter VII, Article 144, point 3). The FEI Equivalency is granted to National Federations to recognise National Education as being equivalent to the FEI entry level education in a given discipline and function. Once the Equivalency for a given discipline and function has been granted by the FEI,

2. Entering the FEI Education & FEI Officials Systems

A National Federation (with or without Equivalency) can directly make a request to the FEI to enrol an Official in a transfer-up course. By doing so, the NF is de facto formally recommending the National Official to the FEI, and confirming that the National Official has fulfilled all the mandatory requirements as set forth in the Education System of the relevant FEI Discipline. FEI Discipline Departments usually grant application demands from National Federations, provided that all criteria and requirements are fulfilled, and unless exceptional circumstances warrant otherwise. Should such a situation arise, the relevant FEI Discipline Department will communicate its concerns directly to the National Federation, and consult with them to reach a consensus.

3. Re-Entering the FEI Education & FEI Officials Systems
FEI Officials who have retired or had their function closed for not fulfilling the Maintenance Requirements are able to re-enter the system.
The period during which a function was closed and/or the Official has not been officiating as an FEI Official determines the re-entering procedure:

The CES Online Assessment is an annual requirement taken by every Official, every year, online on the FEI Campus platform. Officials holding multiple functions have to take multiple assessments.

The CES Maintenance Course is a triennial requirement taken by every Official, at least once every three years. Officials holding multiple functions might have several Maintenance Courses scheduled the same year depending on their cycles.

The CES Officiating Review is an annual requirement evaluating the officiating activity of an Official during the last three years. It is an administrative task performed by the FEI on 15 December of each year. Important update: The CES Officiating Review will not be applied, by decision of the FEI Board on 5 June 2024.

The CES Interview Assessment is a resolution tool, triggered by a “not passed” result at either a CES Online Assessment or a CES Maintenance Course. It can be conducted either in person or online by two (2) Course Directors.

What does CES stand for?
CES stands for Competency-based Evaluation System.

What is the aim of the CES?
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.

Is there an age limit?
No, age limits no longer exist because the FEI believes competency is a better value than age to ensure high level officiating.

What are the Maintenance Requirements?
- The CES Online Assessment – taken every year, online, from home.
- The CES Maintenance Course – taken at least once every three years, in-person or virtually.
- The CES Officiating Review – performed administratively every year – compares recorded officiating activity with officiating requirements in the Education System. The CES Officiating Review will not be applied, by decision of the FEI Board on 5 June 2024.

Who should comply with the Maintenance Requirements?
All FEI Officials must comply with their Maintenance Requirements as described in the relevant discipline’s Education System.

How do I know which requirement I need to take and when?
On 16 December of each year, all Officials are informed by the FEI via email about the requirements they need to take for every function they hold.

I will officiate after 31 March, do I need to have taken and passed my CES Online Assessment beforehand?
YES, in order to officiate at events taking place after 31 March, you must have taken and passed your CES Online Assessment for the function intended to officiate in.

What happens if I do not fulfil a Maintenance Requirement at all or not in time?
The related function will be closed and you will have to re-enter the System.

Where can I find my CES Online Assessment(s)?
All Officials are able to find their CES Online Assessments in one place: inside the Maintenance tab, located in their personal dashboard on the FEI Campus online Platform.

Why do we have modules in the CES Online Assessments?
To make it more flexible and less repetitive. An Official who has several functions in the same discipline will only have to answer general discipline questions once.

How do these modules work?
All discipline general questions are in the discipline General module, which can be taken as many time as needed to pass it. Unlimited attempts. The time allowed is one hour per attempt.
Once a discipline General module is passed, it will unlock the function-specific modules for that discipline.
All the function-specific questions are in the function-specific modules. There, you will find two buttons: one for the mock exam to train as much as you want and a second one for the assessment. The assessment has two attempts. The time allowed is one hour per attempt.
Once a function-specific module is passed, the related function is extended automatically.

What kind of questions will I encounter in a CES Online Assessment?
Questions related to your discipline, your function, FEI Rules & Regulations, as well as Legal- and Veterinary-related questions.

How many questions will I have to answer in each module of a CES Online Assessment?
General discipline modules have 20 questions, and function-specific modules have 30 questions.

Can I have my rule book with me during the CES Online Assessment?
You can have your rule book with you during the CES Online Assessment. It could be handy, but we strongly advise you to be well prepared.

Do discipline general modules have a mock exam?
Yes. Even if you can take the General module as many times as you need in order to pass, we have added a specific mock exam for you

Why is my function module greyed and not accessible?
To access your function(s) module, you must pass the general module first for that discipline.

Who wrote the questions of the CES Online Assessments?
All questions have been prepared by a panel of experts and top-level Officials.

Can I interrupt the assessment of a function-specific module and continue later?
No, once started, it is considered an attempt and cannot be interrupted, and you will have one hour to complete it.

What is the minimum passing rate to pass a module?
90% of correct answers is required to pass any general discipline module.
80% of correct answers is required to pass any function-specific module.

How will I know my result(s) for a CES Online Assessment module?
Once you have submitted your answers to a CES Online Assessment module, you will be able to review the results immediately.
You will also notice that:
The module status in your dashboard will change and:
- “Passed” discipline general modules will unlock the access to function-specific modules
- “Passed” function-specific modules will extend your function in the database (within 24 hours)

What happens if I get a “passed” result at a CES Online Assessment?
If you get a “passed” result at your CES Online Assessment, your function will be extended for another year and you will be able to continue officiating.

What happens if I get a “not passed” result at my CES Online Assessment?
If you get a “not passed” result after your two attempts, you will be invited to join a CES Interview Assessment.  

What is the CES Interview Assessment?
The CES Interview Assessment is a resolution tool that allows Officials with a “not passed” result to benefit from a fast and costless solution to return to officiating. It is conducted by two Course Directors, online or in-person, to identify the reasons behind the result and help the Official proceed forward.

What happens if I get a “passed” result at this CES Interview Assessment?
Coming from a CES Online Assessment, a “passed” result at a CES Interview Assessment will automatically extend the function.
Coming from a CES Maintenance Course, a “passed” result at a CES Interview Assessment will confirm the current level of the function.

What happens if I get a “not passed” result at this CES Interview Assessment?
In that case you will be transferred down to the next lower level.

What is the CES Officiating Review and how does it work?
The CES Officiating Review will not be applied, by decision of the FEI Board on 5 June 2024.