Officials' Training Program
Become a Trained Orienteering Official
Orienteering Canada has an official’s certification program to train event organizers to be able to organize orienteering events in Canada - from small training events to major championship events. Learn more about how to become a certified official.

Levels of Officials' Training
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O100
To Become Certified: Complete the O100 Course / Pass exam with 80%+ / Plan the appropriate level courses / Be an Event Director and Course Planner for a C event (with a mentor). Once Certified an O100 Official can plan and organize C events. The O100 course is offered online and in person.
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O200
To Become Certified: Complete the O200 Course / Pass exam with 80%+ / Plan the appropriate level courses which comply to B event standards / Be a Course Planner and / or Event Director for a B event (with a mentor) Once Certified an O200 Official can organize and plan B events and control B and C events.
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O300
The O300 level is split into 3 different modules: Course Planning, Event Directing, Controlling. To Become Certified: In each Module - Complete the appropriate O300 Course / Pass exam with 80%+ / For the Event Director, plan courses at Canada Cup standard / Be a Course Planner, Event Director, Controller at a Canada Cup event (with a mentor) Once Certified an O300 Official can organize and plan all Canada Cup events including Canadian and North American Orienteering Championships; control C events, B events and Canada Cup events.
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O400
400 To Become Certified: Complete all the requirements of the IOF's WRE Advisor Training including endorsement from Orienteering Canada Once certified and O400 can control all events and act as a WRE Advisor
Types of Orienteering Events in Canada
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C Events
The most common event type in Canada. C events offer the fewest race course options to participants and are the simplest to organize.
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B Events
These events are more formal. There are more levels of technical and physical difficulty available and there will be race timing.
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Canada Cups
These events have many age classes and levels of technical and physical difficulty and formal procedures for start, finish, timing, etc. Championship events are generally Canada Cup events.
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World Ranking Events
World Ranking Events are sanctioned by the International Orienteering Federation and allow the elite categories to be ranked in the World ranking scheme for orienteering.
Q&A
- Why should you become an orienteering official?
- What does it mean to be an orienteering official?
- How involved is it to become an official?
- Where should I start?
- Do I need to become a certified official? Can I organize events without being certified?
- Does it cost anything?
- Is it on-line or in person?
- How often are there opportunities for training?
Ready to take an officials course?
Contact us or contact your local club. We'll let you know about upcoming courses.
Keeping Your Officials' Training Record Up To Date
Here is the form required to be maintained by each official to record their progress towards certification at each level and maintain active status. Once a new level is attained, the Official is required to complete the form and email it to officials@orienteering.ca to be recognized as a certified official in the national database. Each new official will receive an electronic certificate marking the accomplishment.
Clubs - Are you hosting a training course?
Please let us know about it. Please download, fill out and send us this form.