# Renew TD Certification
**URL:** https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992
**Category:** Running Chess Tournaments
**Created:** [March 27, 2018, 1:23am UTC](https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992 "2018-03-27T01:23:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Triumph](https://forum.uschess.org/u/Triumph)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2018, 1:23am UTC](https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992/1 "2018-03-27T01:23:40Z")
How do I renew my TD certification?
It is not easy to find the information on the website.
Thanks for any help.
---
### Author:  [@BobMessenger](https://forum.uschess.org/u/BobMessenger)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2018, 1:39am UTC](https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992/2 "2018-03-27T01:39:40Z")
I suggest sending email to [tdcert@uschess.org](mailto:tdcert@uschess.org).
---
### Author:  [@nolan](https://forum.uschess.org/u/nolan)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2018, 5:11am UTC](https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992/3 "2018-03-27T05:11:27Z")
I’ve added the information on how to renew or raise one’s TD certification to the FAQ for the TD/Affiliate Support Area, right after the question about how to become a certified TD.
TDs who have met the experience requirement (averaging at least one event per year as at least the section chief or assistant section chief of an event during their current certification) should have their certification extended by the TD certification staff.
TDs who let their memberships lapse may find that their TD certification has been inactivated, as maintaining a current US Chess membership is one of the requirements of all certified TDs. It may be reinstated upon request once the individual is a current US Chess member.
---
### Author:  [@jwiewel](https://forum.uschess.org/u/jwiewel)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2018, 10:59am UTC](https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992/4 "2018-03-27T10:59:52Z")
> [@nolan](#):
>
> I’ve added the information on how to renew or raise one’s TD certification to the FAQ for the TD/Affiliate Support Area, right after the question about how to become a certified TD.
>
> TDs who have met the experience requirement (averaging at least one event per year as at least the section chief or assistant section chief of an event during their current certification) should have their certification extended by the TD certification staff.
>
> TDs who let their memberships lapse may find that their TD certification has been inactivated, as maintaining a current US Chess membership is one of the requirements of all certified TDs. It may be reinstated upon request once the individual is a current US Chess member.
Note that:
1\> the first Club TD renewal still requires passing a test even if the activity requirement has been met for allowing staff to renew it.
2\> there is a limited time that a membership can be expired while it can be renewed without losing the TD certification. I’ve never seen that time be more than six months.
---
### Author:  [@nolan](https://forum.uschess.org/u/nolan)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2018, 5:47pm UTC](https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992/5 "2018-03-27T17:47:56Z")
From the updated FAQ:
> [@](#):
>
> How do I renew or upgrade my TD certification?
>
> Local TDs, Senior TDs and ANTDs are eligible to have their certification renewed providing they have averaged serving as the chief TD or or assistant chief TD of at least a section of at least one tournament per year during their certification. Club TDs who have completed the initial three year term of their certification must take and pass an exam before they are eligible to have their certification renewed on the basis of sufficient experience (1 event per year).
>
> For other questions about TD certification, or to request an exam to extend or increase your certification level, contact the US Chess TD certification staff, [tdcert@uschess.org](mailto:tdcert@uschess.org).
I think the rules actually state that a TD must remain a current member to remain certified. The office allows a 6 months lapse as a grace period, there’s a cron job that runs monthly that looks for certified TDs whose membership lapsed six months ago and sets their TD status to inactive. I do not recall whether it was the Delegates, the EB or the ED who came up with the 6 month grace period.
---
### Author:  [@Triumph](https://forum.uschess.org/u/Triumph)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2018, 2:39am UTC](https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992/6 "2018-03-29T02:39:09Z")
> [@BobMessenger](#):
>
> I suggest sending email to [tdcert@uschess.org](mailto:tdcert@uschess.org).
Thanks. Will do.
---
### Author:  [@kevin\_bachler](https://forum.uschess.org/u/kevin_bachler)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2018, 3:22pm UTC](https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992/7 "2018-03-29T15:22:13Z")
> [@Triumph](#):
>
> How do I renew my TD certification?
>
> It is not easy to find the information on the website.
>
> Thanks for any help.
Another chapter in the book of:
We Still Make Things Too Hard… [viewtopic.php?p=226257#p226257](http://www.uschess.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=226257#p226257)
This Doesn’t Need to Be So Difficult[viewtopic.php?p=226095#p226095](http://www.uschess.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=226095#p226095)
---
### Author:  [@Allen](https://forum.uschess.org/u/Allen)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2018, 4:26pm UTC](https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992/8 "2018-03-29T16:26:09Z")
Yep - that is why we are working on the database project and the website rebuild.
The first thing we have needed to do is to stabilize the rest of the infrastructure and get stuff out of the office - that is about done. OF course for many changes we have to be careful at this time of year of messing up things we need to make the spring nationals work.
---
### Author:  [@DENTONCHESS](https://forum.uschess.org/u/DENTONCHESS)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2018, 5:12pm UTC](https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992/9 "2018-03-29T17:12:50Z")
> [@jwiewel](#):
>
> > [@nolan](#):
> >
> > I’ve added the information on how to renew or raise one’s TD certification to the FAQ for the TD/Affiliate Support Area, right after the question about how to become a certified TD.
> >
> > TDs who have met the experience requirement (averaging at least one event per year as at least the section chief or assistant section chief of an event during their current certification) should have their certification extended by the TD certification staff.
> >
> > TDs who let their memberships lapse may find that their TD certification has been inactivated, as maintaining a current US Chess membership is one of the requirements of all certified TDs. It may be reinstated upon request once the individual is a current US Chess member.
>
> Note that:
> 1\> the first Club TD renewal still requires passing a test even if the activity requirement has been met for allowing staff to renew it.
>
> 2\> there is a limited time that a membership can be expired while it can be renewed without losing the TD certification. I’ve never seen that time be more than six months.
Jeff, except if a expired club td had not met minimum playing requirements?? Then would the staff renew? I have seen several instances
of this.
Rob Jones
---
### Author:  [@jwiewel](https://forum.uschess.org/u/jwiewel)
#### Post date: [March 30, 2018, 6:34pm UTC](https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992/10 "2018-03-30T18:34:23Z")
> [@DENTONCHESS](#):
>
> > [@jwiewel](#):
> >
> > > [@nolan](#):
> > >
> > > I’ve added the information on how to renew or raise one’s TD certification to the FAQ for the TD/Affiliate Support Area, right after the question about how to become a certified TD.
> > >
> > > TDs who have met the experience requirement (averaging at least one event per year as at least the section chief or assistant section chief of an event during their current certification) should have their certification extended by the TD certification staff.
> > >
> > > TDs who let their memberships lapse may find that their TD certification has been inactivated, as maintaining a current US Chess membership is one of the requirements of all certified TDs. It may be reinstated upon request once the individual is a current US Chess member.
> >
> > Note that:
> > 1\> the first Club TD renewal still requires passing a test even if the activity requirement has been met for allowing staff to renew it.
> >
> > 2\> there is a limited time that a membership can be expired while it can be renewed without losing the TD certification. I’ve never seen that time be more than six months.
>
> Jeff, except if a expired club td had not met minimum playing requirements?? Then would the staff renew? I have seen several instances
> of this.
> Rob Jones
There is no playing activity requirement for any TD for renewal. The only requirement is to have an established rating to take the test for Local TD or higher. If you have an established rating from 1995 and your membership had lapsed for two decades then you can still renew, become a Club TD and work your way up the certification ladder all the way up to NTD without ever playing a game of chess in this century.
---
### Author:  [@Dayman](https://forum.uschess.org/u/Dayman)
#### Post date: [March 31, 2018, 7:21am UTC](https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992/11 "2018-03-31T07:21:31Z")
> [@nolan](#):
>
> From the updated FAQ:
>
> > [@](#):
> >
> > How do I renew or upgrade my TD certification?
> >
> > Local TDs, Senior TDs and ANTDs are eligible to have their certification renewed providing they have averaged serving as the chief TD or or assistant chief TD of at least a section of at least one tournament per year during their certification. Club TDs who have completed the initial three year term of their certification must take and pass an exam before they are eligible to have their certification renewed on the basis of sufficient experience (1 event per year).
> >
> > For other questions about TD certification, or to request an exam to extend or increase your certification level, contact the US Chess TD certification staff, [tdcert@uschess.org](mailto:tdcert@uschess.org).
>
> I think the rules actually state that a TD must remain a current member to remain certified. The office allows a 6 months lapse as a grace period, there’s a cron job that runs monthly that looks for certified TDs whose membership lapsed six months ago and sets their TD status to inactive. I do not recall whether it was the Delegates, the EB or the ED who came up with the 6 month grace period.
Mike, the FAQ has a double “or” in it. I’ve marked it above. Thanks for all you do for chess.
---
### Author:  [@nolan](https://forum.uschess.org/u/nolan)
#### Post date: [March 31, 2018, 4:25pm UTC](https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992/12 "2018-03-31T16:25:13Z")
you you mean we can’t stutter on a web page?
---
### Author:  [@Smythe\_Dakota](https://forum.uschess.org/u/Smythe_Dakota)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2018, 3:24am UTC](https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992/13 "2018-04-01T03:24:57Z")
At least it’s not a double “not”, as two negatives make a positive. As far as I know “or or” still means “or”.
“xor” might be another matter.
Bill Smythe
---
### Author:  [@jwiewel](https://forum.uschess.org/u/jwiewel)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2018, 4:42pm UTC](https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992/14 "2018-04-01T16:42:57Z")
> [@jwiewel](#):
>
> > [@DENTONCHESS](#):
> >
> > …
> >
> > Jeff, except if a expired club td had not met minimum playing requirements?? Then would the staff renew? I have seen several instances
> > of this.
> > Rob Jones
>
> There is no playing activity requirement for any TD for renewal. The only requirement is to have an established rating to take the test for Local TD or higher. If you have an established rating from 1995 and your membership had lapsed for two decades then you can still renew, become a Club TD and work your way up the certification ladder all the way up to NTD without ever playing a game of chess in this century.
Based on some PMs I received I think I’ll clarify this. There is no ongoing activity requirement for TD renewal. TDs are encouraged to also be tournament players but they are not required to. The only activity requirement of any type is to have an established rating before taking a test for Local TD or higher.
Thus somebody who has never been a TD, and who has been a lapsed US Chess member for more than two decades after getting an established rating, can still:
1\> rejoin US Chess
2\> apply to become a TD for the very first time (starting at club TD)
3\> gain the experience credits to take the Local TD test (and pass it)
4\> gain the experience credits to take the Senior TD test (and pass it)
5\> gain the experience credits to take the Associate National TD test (and pass it)
6\> gain the experience credits to take the National TD test (and pass it)
And note that there is no requirement to ever play a rated game while a TD.
---
### Author:  [@kevin\_bachler](https://forum.uschess.org/u/kevin_bachler)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2018, 10:41pm UTC](https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992/15 "2018-04-01T22:41:37Z")
> [@Smythe Dakota](#):
>
> At least it’s not a double “not”, as two negatives make a positive. As far as I know “or or” still means “or”.
>
> “xor” might be another matter.
>
> Bill Smythe
I use double knots on my running shoes. That way I can be positive they stay tied.
---
### Author:  [@DENTONCHESS](https://forum.uschess.org/u/DENTONCHESS)
#### Post date: [April 6, 2018, 9:57pm UTC](https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992/16 "2018-04-06T21:57:53Z")
> [@jwiewel](#):
>
> > [@DENTONCHESS](#):
> >
> > > [@jwiewel](#):
> > >
> > > > [@nolan](#):
> > > >
> > > > I’ve added the information on how to renew or raise one’s TD certification to the FAQ for the TD/Affiliate Support Area, right after the question about how to become a certified TD.
> > > >
> > > > TDs who have met the experience requirement (averaging at least one event per year as at least the section chief or assistant section chief of an event during their current certification) should have their certification extended by the TD certification staff.
> > > >
> > > > TDs who let their memberships lapse may find that their TD certification has been inactivated, as maintaining a current US Chess membership is one of the requirements of all certified TDs. It may be reinstated upon request once the individual is a current US Chess member.
> > >
> > > Note that:
> > > 1\> the first Club TD renewal still requires passing a test even if the activity requirement has been met for allowing staff to renew it.
> > >
> > > 2\> there is a limited time that a membership can be expired while it can be renewed without losing the TD certification. I’ve never seen that time be more than six months.
> >
> > Jeff, except if a expired club td had not met minimum playing requirements?? Then would the staff renew? I have seen several instances
> > of this.
> > Rob Jones
>
> There is no playing activity requirement for any TD for renewal. The only requirement is to have an established rating to take the test for Local TD or higher. If you have an established rating from 1995 and your membership had lapsed for two decades then you can still renew, become a Club TD and work your way up the certification ladder all the way up to NTD without ever playing a game of chess in this century.
Two points:
A. Having an established rating IS a playing requirement. Thus, if this has not been
met, ie, the expired club td does not have an established rating, would he/she be
allowed a testing exception for the club level? (I have seen this happen several times)
B. If an expired club TD has an established rating, yet refuses to test for the local,
how long can the office grant exceptions? For I have seen this as well.
Rob Jones
---
### Author:  [@jwiewel](https://forum.uschess.org/u/jwiewel)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2018, 11:41am UTC](https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992/17 "2018-04-07T11:41:20Z")
> [@DENTONCHESS](#):
>
> > [@jwiewel](#):
> >
> > > [@DENTONCHESS](#):
> > >
> > > …
> > >
> > > Jeff, except if a expired club td had not met minimum playing requirements?? Then would the staff renew? I have seen several instances
> > > of this.
> > > Rob Jones
> >
> > There is no playing activity requirement for any TD for renewal. The only requirement is to have an established rating to take the test for Local TD or higher. If you have an established rating from 1995 and your membership had lapsed for two decades then you can still renew, become a Club TD and work your way up the certification ladder all the way up to NTD without ever playing a game of chess in this century.
>
> Two points:
> A. Having an established rating IS a playing requirement. Thus, if this has not been
> met, ie, the expired club td does not have an established rating, would he/she be
> allowed a testing exception for the club level? (I have seen this happen several times)
>
> B. If an expired club TD has an established rating, yet refuses to test for the local,
> how long can the office grant exceptions? For I have seen this as well.
>
> Rob Jones
Again, there is no playing activity for RENEWAL. An established rating is necessary to take a test for higher than Club TD but that is an upgrade, not a renewal. The first three years of Club TD does not require a test, but the first renewal requires a test (regardless of whether or not the Club TD has an established rating or any rating). After that, enough directing activity will allow the Club TD to renew without testing even if the Club TD has never played a rated game.
More than a decade ago Club TD was still designed to be a one-time three-year commitment that required testing to go to Local TD. Even prior to the the fifth edition coming out (in 2004?) Club TD was renewable. There is always lag time before people notice a change that doesn’t affect them.
---
### Author:  [@nolan](https://forum.uschess.org/u/nolan)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2018, 2:53pm UTC](https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992/18 "2018-04-07T14:53:25Z")
I’d have to check the Minutes to be sure of the year, but I think the Club TD was made renewable in 2005, after considerable discussion at the TDCC workshop. There were some NTDs who were very opposed to having any TDs who hadn’t passed a written test of some kind. (Ironically, I think some of these NTDs were grandfathered as NTDs and may themselves have never passed a test, though they may have helped write them.)
The compromise was to require Club TDs pass a test before renewal based on activity was possible. If they have sufficient experience and get a high enough grade on the exam, they move up to local TD.
---
### Author:  [@jwiewel](https://forum.uschess.org/u/jwiewel)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2018, 5:40pm UTC](https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992/19 "2018-04-09T17:40:07Z")
> [@nolan](#):
>
> I’d have to check the Minutes to be sure of the year, but I think the Club TD was made renewable in 2005, after considerable discussion at the TDCC workshop. There were some NTDs who were very opposed to having any TDs who hadn’t passed a written test of some kind. (Ironically, I think some of these NTDs were grandfathered as NTDs and may themselves have never passed a test, though they may have helped write them.)
>
> The compromise was to require Club TDs pass a test before renewal based on activity was possible. If they have sufficient experience and get a high enough grade on the exam, they move up to local TD.
I’m not certain when CTD became renewable. 2010 is when CTD could be renewed again based solely on enough directing activity (the first renewal still required passing a test).
I’ve heard that there were some CTDs that were renewed by the office prior to the official change to the rule.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://forum.uschess.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2024, 8:41am UTC](https://forum.uschess.org/t/renew-td-certification/22992/20 "2024-04-22T08:41:32Z")