What every aspiring tournament director needs to know
Most confusion comes from treating certification as just a test. In reality, it's a mix of eligibility, event credit, judgment, and consistent execution.
Keep your US Chess membership current
Keep your US Chess membership current. If it expires, your certification is canceled and is not automatically restored when you renew.
Get or renew through Chess67Know when a rating is required
Club TD is the only entry point that doesn't require an established US Chess over-the-board rating before the exam.
Complete Safe Play training
Since June 2024, directors working rated events are required to complete Safe Play training.
Keep a record of events you direct
Higher certification levels require experience at specific types and sizes of tournaments, as well as an exam.
US Chess TD certification levels: Club through National Director
Each tier has its own experience requirements, exam difficulty, and event scope. Select a level below to explore the details.
Official US Chess TD pageClub Director
For organizers of small local rated events.
First-time organizers running small local rated events who want official certification without a heavy upfront commitment.
Read the rules, sign the statement, and start directing. No established rating required at this entry point.
No test for your first three-year term. The first renewal requires the Club TD exam with a passing score of 70%. Later renewals may qualify for a test waiver.
Three-year renewable term. The first renewal requires an exam. For later renewals, the test may be waived after satisfactory work at three different tournaments during the term.
Category D events with fewer than 50 entrants and at least three rounds. Computer-assisted Club TDs can stretch to events with up to 60 players with one assistant.
Create your club page first, then use it to host the small events that generate your first directing credits.
Key takeaway: Start here if you want to run small US Chess-rated club events.
Club Director (Club)
Best for: First-time organizers running small local rated events who want official certification without a heavy upfront commitment.
Experience required: Read the rules, sign the statement, and start directing. No established rating required at this entry point.
Exam: No test for your first three-year term. The first renewal requires the Club TD exam with a passing score of 70%. Later renewals may qualify for a test waiver.
Events you can direct: Category D events with fewer than 50 entrants and at least three rounds. Computer-assisted Club TDs can stretch to events with up to 60 players with one assistant.
Renewal: Three-year renewable term. The first renewal requires an exam. For later renewals, the test may be waived after satisfactory work at three different tournaments during the term.
Term length: 3 years
Passing score: No exam (70% renewal)
Start here if you want to run small US Chess-rated club events.
Local Director (Local)
Best for: Directors who run local events with 50–99 players.
Experience required: Three Category D experience credits totaling at least 50 players. One credit must be as Chief TD, with one substitution path available for the third credit.
Exam: Moderate objective exam on basic rules, or automatic upgrade from Club if you score 80%+ on the Club exam and meet Local experience and rating requirements.
Events you can direct: Category C events with 50–99 entrants. Computer-assisted Local TDs can manage events with up to 120 players with one assistant.
Renewal: Four-year renewable term. Renewal testing is waived after satisfactory work at four different tournaments during the term.
Term length: 4 years
Passing score: 80%
For many organizers, this is the first level that matches the events they actually want to run.
Senior Director (Senior)
Best for: Directors gaining experience with larger events and more complex rules decisions.
Experience required: Ten Category C credits totaling at least 400 players, with five as Chief TD and at least three tournaments successfully submitted online for rating.
Exam: Difficult objective exam focused on judgment and situations the rules don't spell out cleanly.
Events you can direct: Substantial events, though not Chief TD for Category N tournaments or full Category A events (more than 300 entrants). Computer-assisted Senior TDs can run up to 360 players with one assistant.
Renewal: Five-year renewable term. Renewal testing is waived after satisfactory work at five different tournaments during the term.
Term length: 5 years
Passing score: 80%
At this level you're handling judgment calls, floor disputes, and multi-section logistics, not just running pairings.
Associate National TD (ANTD)
Best for: Directors who want to lead major open tournaments with larger prize funds and staffs.
Experience required: Ten Category B credits, plus national or Category A experience, a Category R credit, and at least four events submitted online.
Exam: Essay exam of substantial difficulty. If the first grading fails, applicants can trigger regrading by additional experienced NTDs.
Events you can direct: Category A tournaments, though not Chief TD of Category N1 national events.
Renewal: Six-year renewable term. Renewal testing is waived after satisfactory work at six different tournaments during the term.
Term length: 6 years
Passing score: 80%
At this level, staffing, process, and policy edge cases all become consequential.
National Director (NTD)
Best for: Directors who want the widest operating range, including national-level championship events.
Experience required: Fifteen Category B credits, Category N1 and additional national/A-level work, Category R and Category T requirements, and at least five events submitted online.
Exam: Rigorous essay exam about the philosophies behind the rules. Passing is 80%, with a structured regrading path for borderline scores.
Events you can direct: No certification limitations. This is the top US Chess TD tier.
Renewal: Life certification.
Term length: Life certification
Passing score: 80%
NTDs can chief any US Chess event, including national title events, and the certification never expires.
Tournament categories that count toward TD certification
Each level requires credit in specific event categories. Here's what each category means.
Club-Scale Swiss
Fewer than 50 entrants, at least three rounds.
Where new directors usually earn their first meaningful event credit.
Category D: Club-Scale Swiss
Fewer than 50 entrants, at least three rounds.
Why it matters: Where new directors usually earn their first meaningful event credit.
Category C: Local Rated Event
50–99 entrants, at least four rounds.
Why it matters: Matters fast once you move beyond weekly club events.
Category B: Large Swiss
100+ entrants, at least four rounds.
Why it matters: Central once you're aiming at ANTD or NTD-level experience.
Category A: Major Open
More than 300 entrants, at least four rounds, and $5,000 or more in cash prizes.
Why it matters: Plan enough staff, playing space, and equipment for this size of event.
Category N: National Title Event
OTB event that awards a national title.
Why it matters: Carries unique chiefing limitations at the top of the ladder.
Category I: FIDE + US Chess
Held in the US and submitted to both FIDE and US Chess for rating.
Why it matters: Extra layer of rules, timing, and reporting precision.
Category R: Round Robin
6+ rated entrants with a mean rating of at least 1400.
Why it matters: Higher certifications explicitly require round-robin experience.
Category T: Team Tournament
At least 50 players and at least four rounds.
Why it matters: Team formats count separately toward the highest levels.
How to get certified as a US Chess tournament director
Four steps to go from "I run a club" to "I'm a certified tournament director."
Meet the entry requirements
Join US Chess, complete Safe Play requirements, and make sure you have an established OTB rating if you're targeting Local or above.
Gain the required tournament experience
Shadow stronger directors, take pairings or floor roles, and collect the exact category credit your target requires.
Choose the level your events need
Club and Local cover smaller events. Higher levels require more experience and allow directors to lead larger tournaments.
Prepare for event day
Prepare registration, sections, pairings, and player announcements before the tournament.
Frequently asked questions about TD certification
Start directing tournaments with Chess67
Certification helps you make stronger rulings. Chess67 gives you the club page, tournament setup, registration flow, and communications, so event day is spent directing instead of chasing paperwork.
More guides for chess tournament directors
More on running clubs, tournaments, and rated events.