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 & 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 and Regulations as well as the latest officiating know-how, regardless their age.

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

Evaluating if an applicant Official has met all the requirements prior to starting officiating in a new function, in a given discipline and level.

Background, experience, knowledge and skills, are evaluated through examinations according to the relevant FEI Education System.

• The Maintenance,

Evaluating regularly, if an Official stays up-to-date with the latest FEI Rules & Regulations, sport knowledge and officiating know-how for a given discipline, function and level, through assessments according to the relevant FEI Education System

All examinations/assessments are standardised, FEI approved, and have been carefully crafted by recognised experts from the Equestrian Community.

The Competency-based Evaluation System is a simple and robust system that offers three main advantages:

• A universal, fair and transparent evaluation structure and methodology to ensure a standardised and high-level of competency for all officials throughout their career.
   
• Supportive and modular processes, tailored to help Officials in complying with the requirements of their FEI Education System while significantly reducing time and cost involved.
   
• Inclusive approach, allowing a return to officiating through a comprehensive re-entering protocol, open to all inactive as well as retired Officials, willing and able, to comply with the requirements.

Transfer-up is a crucial phase of the Education system, and here the Competency-based Evaluation System plays an important role in ensuring that all Officials applying for a higher level or new function, are fully prepared and properly evaluated. This will help ensure each candidate fits their job description successfully and is able to serve their sport at the best of their abilities.

All 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

Please also find all terms used in our education system explained here

1. Maintenance Structure

The maintenance for FEI Officials is organised around three main Requirements, each one having a specific objective, cycle, and adapted method, as described in Fig.2 below.

CES Online Assessment

Objective: Assessing the Theoretical understanding of the Discipline, Officiating skills and the current FEI Rules and Regulations in place, to ensure the Official is up to date.
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.

Cycle: Every year

Method: Online via FEI Campus

CES Maintenance Course

Objective: Assessing the Applied (practical) understanding of the discipline, officiating skills, and FEI Rules and Regulations to support the development of officiating know-how.

Cycle: Minimum every three years

Method: In person or virtually

CES Officiating Review

Objective: Evaluating if the officiating activity of the last three years is in line with the relevant Education system, to ensure Officials are active and keep gaining experience.

Cycle: every year

Method: Administrative check in the FEI Database

2. Maintenance Year and timeline

To understand maintenance, one should understand the Maintenance Year and its timeline. A Maintenance Year runs from 15 December to the following 15 December. It features two important periods, the Transition Period and the Regulated Period, which are articulated around a key date: 31 March.

• 15 December
  Start of a Maintenance Year
• From 15 December to 31 March is the transition period
  During this period, Officials with an OPEN function can officiate without having passed the CES Online Assessment of the current Maintenance Year.
• 31 march
  Marks the end of the transition period and the beginning of the regulated period
• 31 March to 15 December is the regulated period
  During this period, Officials must have passed their annual CES Online Assessment (of the current Maintenance Year) in order to Officiate
• Next 15 December
  Marks the end of the Maintenance Year. It is the deadline for all Maintenance Requirements to be fulfilled.

3. Maintenance & Function’s statuses

Maintenance has a direct influence on the status of an Official’s function and vice versa. Functions can have three different statuses, identified by three distinctive colours.

OPEN

• The Official is listed (see list here) and allowed to officiate
• The Function is open until 31 March of the next Maintenance Year

Reason:
The Official is up-to-date with all Maintenance Requirements

ON HOLD

• The Official is not listed and temporarily not allowed to officiate
• The Function is on-hold until the missing requirement is fulfilled

Reason:
The Official either did not take and pass the CES Online Assessment before 31 March
or, got a “not passed” result at a CES Online Assessment or CES Maintenance Course

CLOSED

• The Official is not listed and not allowed to officiate
  The Function is closed until re-entering the FEI Officials’ System (read more about it in the maintenance in details section below (to be linked to section tag “maintenance in details”)

Reason: The Official did not fulfill the Maintenance Requirements in due time or received a disciplinary decision from the FEI or their National Federation.

Maintenance for FEI Officials has been improved for 2022 to better answer the specific needs of all FEI disciplines, offer a supportive structure for Officials to fulfil their maintenance requirements, or return to officiating, and to guarantee a high level of officiating at all events.

Below you will find main improvements and key points to remember in a nutshell:
No more groups A or B in 2022
Improved CES Online Assessment

• Taken by every Official, every year, online from home
• Modular architecture with General modules and Function specific modules to avoid the repetition of questions for Officials holding multiple functions in one discipline
• All modules are located in a SINGLE place: inside FEI Campus personal dashboard
• A “Passed” result extends the function immediately
• A “Not passed” result places the function ON HOLD & triggers a new resolution tool: the CES Interview Assessment, which allows for a faster processing and return to officiating.

Improved CES Maintenance Course

• Taken at least once every three years, with a cycle reset when taken before the deadline
• Can be In-person format (IPMC) or Virtual format (VMC) - in all cases with course director(s)
• Practical Assessments with specific evaluations adapted to each discipline. These can be conducted through case studies, Interactive role plays, E-judging or Field Practices.
• No CES Online Assessment will be taken at a Maintenance Course.
• A “passed” result confirms the current level
• A “not passed” result places the function ON HOLD & & triggers a new resolution tool: the CES Interview Assessment, which allows for faster processing and return to officiating

New resolution tool: the CES Interview Assessment

• Triggered by a “not passed” result in an CES Online assessment or CES Maintenance Course
• Replaces the previous need to go to an additional CES Maintenance Course, therefore cutting down inactivity, waiting time and cost for the Official.
• Conducted either ONLINE or IN-PERSON by two Course Directors.
• A “passed” result validates the requirement it was resolving, with a related “passed” result consequence (CES Online assessment/CES Maintenance Course - results above)
• A “not passed” result leads to the Official being transferred down by one level.

Important Board decision regarding the CES Officiating Review

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, competitions were cancelled in 2020 & 2021, with the vast majority of Officials simply being unable to officiate. As a result, the Board has decided to suspend the Officiating Review process until 2024. This means that on the 15 December 2024, the FEI will review the number of events an Official has officiated at over the past three years (2022, 2023 and 2024), and compare it to the requirements of the relevant education system. No Officiating Review will take place in 2022 or 2023.

New Monitoring tables in FEI Database

• A new officiating table
  Offering coloured function’s status - enhanced presentation - function’s history popup - additional information
• A new maintenance Table,
  Monitoring of individual status, progression & results for CES Online assessments, CES Maintenance Courses, CES Interview Assessments, and the CES Officiating review.

… Key dates

Maintenance Key Dates	Quick Recap
16 December 2021	All FEI Officials received an email with all the necessary information in order to be able to comply with, their Maintenance Requirements for 2022. Personalised CES Online assessments are available On FEI Campus inside the new Maintenance Tab located in the dashboard.
31 March 2022	End of the transition period. From that day onwards, all Officials must have passed their CES Online Assessment(s) PRIOR to officiating at FEI Events taking place after that date. If a CES Online Assessment is not taken at all by 31 March, the function is placed “ON HOLD” until the CES Online Assessment is passed.   Officiating at International Events while the function is on hold, may result in the opening of disciplinary proceedings and potential sanctions (GRs Art.163).
15 December 2022	End of the Maintenance Year and deadline for all requirements to be fulfilled. Officials who did not take a CES Online Assessment and/or any due CES Maintenance Course before 15 December 2022 will have the related function(s) CLOSED and may re-enter the system.

In this section you will find a full presentation of the processes, results and consequences related to the three maintenance requirements and the new resolution tool, as well as the re-entering protocols.

1. The CES Online Assessment

An Annual requirement evaluating theoretical knowledge and skills.

It is taken by every official, every year from home on the FEI Campus website

Officials holding several functions will have several assessments to take, but thanks to the modular structure, there will be no duplicated questions.

Rules

• Can be taken from the 16 December until the 15 December of the following year
• Must be taken and “passed” to officiate after 31 March - If not, the function will be placed ON HOLD*, until the CES Online Assessment is taken and “passed”.

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

• Must be taken every year before the deadline of 15 December - if not taken in time, the function will be CLOSED and the Official will have to re-enter the system.
• Must be personally taken by the Official. Not complying may result in the opening of disciplinary proceedings and potential sanctions (GRs Art.163).

Format & Content

All CES Online Assessments are taken online and are now found in one single place: in the new dedicated and personalised Maintenance tab located inside the FEI Campus Dashboard.

The CES Online Assessment has a modular architecture which offers individual maintenance for each Official, and avoids the repetition of general questions for those holding multiple functions in one discipline.

The CES Online Assessment has two types of modules:

General modules

A general module contains:

• A Preliminary questionnaire with the “Fit to officiate Declaration” & “Identity Authentication” which must be filled out by the Official for each discipline.
• An assessment composed of up to 20 general questions about the discipline,
  
  • The assessment can be taken as many times as needed (meaning unlimited attempts) until “passed”
  • The time allowed for an attempt is one hour
  • 100% of correct answers are required to pass
  • Results will be given at the end of the assessment
  • A “passed” result unlocks all function specific modules for that discipline

Function specific modules

A function specific module gives you access to two elements:

• A mock exam available for training purposes with unlimited attempts and timing. 
• An Assessment composed of up to 30 specific questions related to a function
  
  • Assessment provides two (2) attempts, with a reduced seven (7) days waiting period in between
  • The time allowed for an attempt is one hour
  • The attempt cannot be paused or interrupted once started
  • A minimum rate of 80% of correct answers is required to pass.
  • Results will be given at the end of the assessment
  • A “passed” result immediately extends the function

Results & Consequences

A CES Online Assessment is “passed”:

• The function is extended immediately until 31 march of the next maintenance year

A CES Online Assessment is “not passed” (after two attempts of a function specific module):

• The function is placed ON HOLD AND
• The Official must attend a CES Interview Assessment (the new resolution tool, which can be in a virtual or In-person format)
  
  • A “passed” CES Interview Assessment decision will confirm the level, and the extension of the officiating rights for that function
  • A “not passed” CES Interview Assessment decision will result in the Official being transferred down to the next lower level

2. The CES Maintenance Course

The CES Maintenance Course is a triennial requirement, evaluating the applied knowledge and skills of Officials. It is taken by every Official, at least once every three years. Officials holding several functions will have several maintenance courses to complete.

Rules  

• In-Person Maintenance Courses take place throughout the year and are upon registration by National Federations
• Officials must attend an In-Person Maintenance Course at least once every three years and before 15 December of the year in which it has been scheduled  - if not taken in time, the function will be CLOSED, and the Official will have to re-enter the system
• Officials can take CES Maintenance Courses more frequently than recommended, in which case a “passed” result would reset the three year cycle.

Format & Content

Depending on the discipline and needs, a CES Maintenance Course can be required to be taken either in an In-person, or in a virtual format. In both cases, it is always being conducted by at least one Course Director.

A CES Maintenance Course has Practical Assessments with specific evaluations methods adapted to the needs of each discipline. These evaluations can be conducted through:

• Case studies
• Interactive role plays
• E-judging or Field Practices.

Results & Consequences

A CES Maintenance Course is “passed”:

• The current level of the function is confirmed

A CES Maintenance Course is “not passed”:

• The function is placed ON HOLD AND
• The Official must attend a CES Interview Assessment (the new resolution tool, which can be virtual or In-person)
  
  • A “passed” CES Interview Assessment decision will confirm the current level for that function
  • A “not passed” CES Interview Assessment decision will result in the Official being transferred down to the next lower level. If the official is at level one, the function will be closed.

3. The CES Interview Assessment

The CES Interview Assessment is a resolution tool, triggered by a “not passed” result of either a CES Online Assessment, or a CES Maintenance Course.

The CES Interview Assessment replaces the previous need to attend an additional Maintenance Course, which commonly resulted in long waiting times, inactivity and costs for the Official. This new resolution tools now allows for a time and cost efficient return to Officiating.

A CES Interview Assessment is conducted by two (2) Course Directors for fair evaluation.

It can be conducted either in an in-person or virtual format, depending on the fastest and most efficient opportunity available at the time.

Rules  

• When triggered, a CES Interview Assessment is Mandatory
• It must be attended at the latest before 31 March of the following Maintenance Year - if not the function would be CLOSED, and the Official will have to re-enter the system
• It must be “passed” to remove the ON HOLD status and get the function back to the OPEN status.

Results & Consequences

A CES Interview Assessment is “passed”:

• The current level of the function is confirmed (from CES Maintenance Course)
•  
• The Function is extended (from CES Online Assessment)

A CES Interview Assessment is “not passed”:

• The Official is transferred down to the next lower level.  If the official is at level one, the function will be closed.

4. The CES Officiating Review

The CES Officiating Review is an annual requirement, evaluating the officiating experience gained during the last three years. It is a purely administrative task performed by the FEI every year on 15 December.

Please note that, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, competitions were cancelled in 2020 & 2021, with the vast majority of Officials simply being unable to officiate. As a result, the Board has decided to suspend the Officiating Review process until 2024. Which means that on the 15 December 2024, the FEI will review the number of events an Official has officiated at in the last three years (2022, 2023 and 2024), and compare it against the requirement of the relevant education system. No Officiating Review will take place in 2022 or 2023.

Rules  

• On 15 December of each year, the officiating activities of the last three years recorded in FEI Database for a given function are evaluated against the FEI Education System of the relevant discipline level/function.
• Officials have no action to take.

Results & consequences

A CES Officiating Review has a “positive match”:

• The current status of the function is confirmed on 15 December

A CES Officiating Review has a “negative match”:

The consequence will depend on the discipline, with two possible outcomes:

• The Official will be required to attend a CES Maintenance Course during the following maintenance year – this is to help the Official compensate for his lack of officiating experience with applied knowledge & skills practice, and interaction with other Officials.
• The Official will be transferred down to the next lower level.

5. Re-entering the FEI Official’s System

Officials who have retired or a CLOSED function for not fulfilling their Maintenance Requirements, are able to re-enter the system upon validation by their National Federation.

The following requirements are applicable, according to the relevant discipline’s Education System:

Officials who have not officiated at FEI Level events for less than three years may re-enter the FEI Officials’ system on a level lower than previously listed. They are required to:

• Take and pass a CES Maintenance Course.*
• Comply with the CES Online Assessment requirement.*
  Depending on the date of their reinstatement (before or after 31 March) Officials must take and pass the CES Online Assessment in order to be able to listed and able to officiate.

*Does not apply to Officials previously listed at the lowest levels, and considered National Officials, therefore having to fulfil the national requirements and pass a transfer-up course to re-enter the system.

Officials who have not officiated at FEI Level Events for three to six years may re-enter the FEI Officials’ system on a level lower than previously listed. They are required to:

• Fulfil all transfer-up requirements according to the relevant Education System of each discipline.
• Take and pass a transfer-up course to confirm this lower level.

Officials who have not officiated at FEI Level Events for more than six years may only be able to re-enter at the lowest level. They are required to:

• Fulfil all other transfer-up requirements according to the relevant Education System of each discipline.
• Take and pass a transfer-up course.

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, regardless of their age.

Is there still an age limit?

No, age limits no longer exist because we believe 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 – comparing recorded officiating activity with officiating requirements in the Education system

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 event 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 would be closed and you will have to re-enter the System.

Where can I find my CES Online Assessment(s)?

Since 2022, 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 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 up to 20 Questions, and function specific modules have up to 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, as you will have time to answer questions but probably not enough time to research each question.

Why do discipline general modules not have a mock exam?

Because you can take it as many times as you need in order to pass..
 

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?

A 100% of correct answers is required to pass any general discipline module

A minimum rate of 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 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. Once the CES Interview Assessment is triggered, the function is ON HOLD until it is attended.

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.

I received an automatic email of completion after my CES Online Assessment function specific module was taken twice? What does it mean?

This automatic notification just tells you that you have finished and submitted everything. It does not mean that you have passed or not passed it, simply that you have completed it.