CREDENTIALS

Training Matters. Recognition Does Too.

OCA credentials are designed to distinguish between learning the fundamentals of a role and being formally recognized to perform that role within the Alliance. Some credentials come through training and assessment. Others require appointment, nomination, application, or discipline-specific review.

The goal is simple: make it clear what someone has actually demonstrated, what they are authorized to do, and where their expertise applies.

General Adjudicator Training

Learn how to judge before claiming to be a judge.

The OCA General Adjudicator Training is discipline-neutral. It covers the shared responsibilities of adjudication across many kinds of competition, including fairness, scoring systems, rubrics, ranking, recalls, ties, conflicts of interest, documentation, penalties, panel conduct, and result integrity.

Completing the training means the person has demonstrated general knowledge of adjudication practice.

It does not automatically mean the person is qualified to judge every discipline.

General Trained Adjudicator ≠ OCA-Certified Adjudicator

Trained vs. Certified Adjudicator

Learn how to judge before claiming to be a judge.

Certification reflects an additional determination that the person has appropriate subject-matter knowledge, experience, standing, or other evidence of competence.

Credentialing Pathways

There is more than one way to demonstrate real expertise.

OCA recognizes that qualified adjudicators come from different backgrounds. Certification can begin through one of three pathways:

No pathway guarantees approval. OCA may request documentation, references, evidence of competitive or teaching experience, prior judging history, recognized external credentials, or other material relevant to the discipline being reviewed.

Scorekeepers/Scrutineers

From marks to official results.

The OCA-Certified Scorekeeper/Scrutineer credential recognizes competence in the administrative side of competition results. Training and certification focus on:

• score collection
• tabulation
• validation
• advancement
• tie procedures
• corrections
• result certification
• record integrity
• auditable scoring workflows

A scorekeeper or scrutineer does not decide who performed better. Their job is to make sure the competition’s published rules and submitted evaluations become the correct official result.

Adjudicators evaluate. Scrutineers calculate, validate, and certify.

Certified Event Organizers

The person responsible for making the whole thing work.

The OCA-Certified Event Organizer credential recognizes completion of OCA organizer training and the knowledge needed to manage competition under OCA standards. That includes:

• rules and event structure
• official assignments
• scoring and advancement
• safeguarding
• scheduling
• operational responsibility
• result submission
• event closeout

Every OCA-sanctioned event must designate at least one qualified Event Organizer responsible for the event’s relationship with OCA.

Safeguarding Training

Some roles carry responsibilities beyond the scorecard.

OCA safeguarding training is a separate educational requirement focused on youth and vulnerable adult participation, professional boundaries, reporting, communication, participant safety, documentation, and appropriate response to safeguarding concerns.

Safeguarding training does not make someone an adjudicator, scrutineer, or organizer. It verifies knowledge in a different area of responsibility.

For youth-inclusive sanctioned events, the designated Safeguarding Lead must complete the OCA safeguarding course and assessment before serving in that role.