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THE USEA’S INSTRUCTORS’ CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

Capable instructors are essential to the training of riders and their horses for humane, safe, and skilled participation in the sport of eventing.  Having begun its Workshops in 2002, the USEA Instructors’ Certification Program (ICP) educates all levels of event instructors to confirm and add to their knowledge base, both theoretical and practical, upon which they will continue to build throughout their teaching lifetime.  For USEA certified instructors, this knowledge base supports not only the teaching of event riding, training, and competing, but also the care of the horse and the development of effective and safe teaching methods.

The ICP

• Identifies essential training principles for riders and horses, drawn from time-tested sources and from experience with today’s competition challenges;
• Offers to instructors materials, workshops, and mentor opportunities that present these training principles in a developmental sequence;
• Certifies instructors at a specific ICP Level of teaching knowledge and proficiency, inviting them to continue to learn – and to achieve a higher level of certification, if they so desire;
• Supports enhancement of certified instructors’ knowledge and skill through ICP’s Continuing Education  Program requirements;
• Provides an atmosphere of professional openness and support to all instructors so that on-going sharing and learning are facilitated.

PLEASE NOTE:  To register with USEA’s Instructors’ Certification Program, ask questions, and/or obtain further information about ICP, contact Nancy Knight at nancy@useventing.com (703 669-9997) or Sue Hershey at swhershey@cs.com (412 963-6359), both located within the Eastern Time zone.

NOTE ALSO that ICP does not require a candidate instructor to enter the Instructors’ Certification Program at the lowest ICP Level.  Rather, a candidate instructor determines which ICP Level best matches his/her highest level of teaching knowledge and skill based upon a self-evaluation of his/her own history of riding, competing, and learning/teaching.  Then he or she attends the appropriate Workshop(s), receives feedback on his/her teaching from the Workshop(s) faculty member, and confirms the ICP Level at which he/she wants to be assessed at an ICP Assessment.  

• Contact Nancy Knight for an ICP registration form.  Complete that form and return it to Nancy. Read the ICP Standards Booklet and the ICP Workbook  which you will receive once you register with ICP.  Also, before attending an ICP Workshop, begin your reading/reviewing of ICP required and recommended readings, which are listed in both the Standards Booklet and the Workbook.
• Submit to Nancy Knight verifications of your instruction from 3 of the highest-competing students whom you are teaching and/or have taught.  See below for detail about the competition level of those students.
• Attend as a candidate instructor the required ICP Levels I/II Workshops Pair or the required Levels III/IV Workshop, whichever you deem appropriate to your knowledge, eye, skill,and experience as an instructor. (See below for definitions of ICP Levels. ) Find Workshops on the ICP calendar page of this website; contact a Workshop host to enter a Workshop.
• After attending the required Workshop(s) appropriate to your ICP Level, contact Nancy Knight to sign up for an ICP Assessment.
• Prepare to be assessed by ICP, attend an ICP Assessment, and pass!
• Once certified, complete the ICP Continuing Education Program requirements during each 4-year continuing education cycle for as many years as you wish to remain current with your ICP certification.  To remain current as an ICP-certified instructor, you must remain a USEA member at any level of USEA membership;  possess current professional liability insurance; possess a current cpr/first aid card; and be in the process of fulfilling ICP’s Continuing Education activities credits.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTENTS OF THE INSTRUCTORS’ CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

1.)  ICP Levels Defined
2.)  The Regular ICP Certificate and the Provisional ICP Certificate
3.)  Segments of the Instructors’ Certification Program:
               ICP Workshops, ICP Assessments, and ICP Continuing Education   
4.)   Benefits of ICP certification

1.)  ICP LEVELS DEFINED

ICP Levels are defined according to the riding/training/competing and horse care knowledge and skills that a certified instructor must successfully impart to his/her students for them to safely and competently meet the challenges presented at USEA and FEI eventing competitions.  For identification of the required riding/training/competing, horse care, safety/medical, and teaching theory and practice content for each of ICP’s Levels, order the ICP Standards Booklet, 3rd Edition from the USEA office.  (The Standards Booklet is included when a candidate instructor registers with ICP.)

Definitions of ICP Instructor Levels (for both regular and provisional ICP certification):

Level I-Novice:  Instructors of riders through Novice level riding/training/competing and horse care
Level I-Training:  Instructors of riders through Training level riding/training/competing and horse care
Level II:  Instructors of riders through Preliminary, CIC*, Training Level Three-Day Event Test, CCI* riding/training/competing and horse care
Level III:  Instructors of riders through Intermediate, CIC**, CCI** riding/training/competing and horse care
Level IV:  Instructors of riders through Advanced, CIC***, CCI*** riding/training/competing and horse care
Level V:  Instructors of riders through CCI**** riding/training/competing and horse care
                               
(ICP does not educate or assess at Level V:  Level V remains an idealized state, the state of the “compleat” event instructor!)

The above definitions of ICP Levels are the same for both the regular ICP certificate and the provisional ICP certificate. 

2.)  THE REGULAR ICP CERTIFICATE AND THE PROVISIONAL ICP CERTIFICATE

ICP offers a regular certificate at Levels I through IV and a provisional certificate at Levels I through IV.

The standards of and the requirements for the ICP Workshops, Assessments, and Continuing Education Program are exactly the same for both regular and provisional ICP certification, except for one difference in the requirements for being assessed:   the 3 students who must verify that they have been taught by the instructor may be riding at one competition level lower for provisional candidate instructors than they must be for regular candidate instructors. Furthermore, to apply for a provisional certificate at Level I-Novice, an instructor’s highest-level students may be riders who have not yet begun to compete in eventing.  One of the purposes of provisional certification is to make the ICP education process (Workshops) and ICP certification process (Assessment) available to young and/or less-experienced instructors. For your information, out of the 209 instructors certified by ICP as of December, 2009, 202 have a regular ICP certificate and 7 have a provisional ICP certificate.

Exactly the same as for candidate instructors seeking a regular ICP certificate, candidate instructors seeking a provisional ICP certificate must demonstrate at an ICP Workshop(s) and at their Assessment that they are able to impart the knowledge of riding/training/competing and horse care skills appropriate up through the student competition levels listed with their ICP Level.  (See definitions above in bold print.)

THE REGULAR ICP CERTIFICATE
To be accepted to be assessed for regular certification, in addition to attending the required Workshop(s), the candidate instructor must present verification from 3 of his/her past and/or current students that they have competed competently under the candidate instructor’s tutelage at one of the competition levels listed with the ICP Level that the candidate instructor has chosen for him-/herself.  (See definitions above in bold print.) 

So, to be accepted for assessment for an ICP regular certificate --
At Level I-Novice, 3 of your past and/or current students must compete competently at Novice while you are their instructor;
At Level I-Training, 3 of your past and/or current students must compete competently at Training while you are their instructor;
At Level II, 3 of your past and/or current students must compete competently at Preliminary, CIC*, Training Level Three-Day Event Test, and/or CCI* while you are their instructor;
At Levels III, 3 of your past and/or current students must compete competently at Intermediate, CIC**, and/or CCI** while you are their instructor;
At Level IV, 3 of your past and/or current students must compete competently at Advanced, CIC***, and/or CCI*** while you are their instructor.

After a candidate instructor is successfully evaluated at an ICP Assessment, his/her regular ICP certificate confirms the quality of that instructor’s teaching knowledge and skills up through the student competition level of his/her ICP Level. (See definitions above in bold print.)


THE PROVISIONAL ICP CERTIFICATE
To be accepted to be assessed for provisional certification, in addition to attending the required Workshop(s), the candidate instructor must present verification from 3 of his/her past and/or current students that they have competed competently under the candidate instructor’s tutelage at one competition level below the competition levels listed with the ICP Level that the candidate instructor has chosen for him-/herself.  (See definitions above in bold print.) 

So, to be accepted for assessment for an ICP provisional certificate --
At Level I-Novice, 3 of your past and/or current students must compete competently below Novice while you are their instructor;
At Level I-Training, 3 of your past and/or current students must compete competently at Novice while you are their instructor;
At Level II, 3 of your past and/or current students must compete competently at Training while you are their instructor;
At Level III, 3 of your past and/or current students must be compete competently at Preliminary, CIC*, Training Level 3-day test, and/or CCI* while you are their instructor;
At Level IV, 3 of your past and/or current students must compete competently at Intermediate,CIC**, and/or  CCI** while you are their instructor.

After a candidate instructor is successfully evaluated at an ICP Assessment, his/her provisional ICP certificate confirms the quality of that instructor’s teaching knowledge and skills up through the student competition level listed with his/her ICP Level.   (See definitions above in bold print.)

Instructors likely to seek a provisional rather than a regular ICP certificate might be like the following examples:

• Instructors whose own riding/competing/learning have developed their teaching knowledge and skills beyond what they have used so far in their own teaching, perhaps due to an insufficient range of eventing students where they live.  
• Instructors whose own riding/competing/learning have developed their teaching knowledge and skills but who, because they are young or new to instructing, have not yet acquired a student group ready to learn the more difficult riding skills which they have learned how to teach.
• Individuals seeking certification at Level I-Novice Provisional who are just beginning to instruct professionally or have not yet instructed students who compete in eventing.

As his or her student group develops to the point where at least 3 of his/her students are competing competently at the listed competition level of his/her ICP Level, a provisionally certified instructor may send to the USEA office verifications from those 3 students that he/she is their instructor.   That instructor will then receive a regular ICP certificate (at the same ICP Level) to replace his/her provisional ICP certificate.


3.)   THE INSTRUCTORS’ CERTIFICATION PROGRAM:  ICP WORKSHOPS, ICP ASSESSMENTS, AND ICP CONTINUING EDUCATION

ICP WORKSHOPS

The USEA’s Instructors’ Certification Program (ICP) Committee believes that capable instructors are essential to the training of riders and their horses for skilled, safe, and humane participation in the sport of eventing.  Therefore, at its ICP Workshops, an ICP Workshop faculty member assists instructors in acquiring the eye, the knowledge base both theoretical and practical, and the teaching judgment that are suited to the safe and effective teaching of event riding. 

Candidate instructors must attend the teaching Workshop(s) specified for their ICP Level before being accepted at an ICP Assessment. 

For instructors at Level I or II, attendance at both of the Levels I/II Workshops is required, the first workshop being a 3-day Teaching of Dressage Workshop and the second a 3-day Teaching of Jumping Workshop.  The workshops in the  I/II Workshops Pair are often but not always hosted by the same person at the same site and are usually presented quite close together in time.  Workshop daily hours are normally 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.  Workshops are usually offered on 3 consecutive weekdays.  Look at the ICP Calendar on the USEA website to locate Workshop places and dates.  In order to enter a specific Workshop, contact that Workshop’s host, whose contact information is listed there also.   The fee for each Levels I/II Workshop is $400.  Auditors are welcome to attend for a daily fee of $50; auditing does not fulfill the ICP requirement to attend a Levels I/II Workshops Pair as a candidate instructor before being assessed at Level I or Level II.

For instructors at Level III or IV, attendance at one 3-day Workshop is required, at which teaching of dressage, show jumping, and cross country riding and jumping is taught.  Workshop daily hours are normally 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.  Workshops are usually offered on 3 consecutive weekdays.  Look at the ICP Calendar on the USEA website to locate Workshop places and dates.   In order to enter a specific Workshop, contact that Workshop’s host, whose contact information is listed there also.  The fee for a Levels III/IV Workshop is $500.  Auditors are welcome to attend for a daily fee of $50; auditing does not fulfill the ICP requirement to attend a III/IV Workshop as a candidate instructor before being assessed at Level III or Level IV.
 
A full ICP Workshop at any ICP Level includes 8 candidate instructors and 1 ICP faculty member.  Each day includes lecture and discussion, model-teaching by the faculty member, and practice-teaching by each of the 8 candidate instructors.   The faculty member and the candidate instructors comment, question, and discuss riding, training, and teaching issues as they model-teach and practice-teach a variety of riders and horses.   The content of all ICP Workshops has been carefully selected and developed by ICP faculty and assessors to emphasize essential, widely confirmed flatwork and jumping principles and practices appropriate to each Workshop’s content and purposes.  A Workshop’s curricular content is determined also by the competition levels of the ICP Levels that the Workshop is addressing. 

Late in the afternoon of each Workshop’s third day, the ICP faculty member speaks individually with each candidate instructor to review that instructor’s teaching and offer suggestions for continued learning.  The faculty member also prepares individualized written feedback, which is mailed to each candidate instructor after the Workshop.   If the faculty member believes there are areas of seeing, knowledge, analysis, and/or judgment that the candidate instructor should improve before being assessed, the faculty member recommends or requires the instructor to do so.   This could involve locating and working with another instructor who provides mentorship as they work together to improve the instructor’s teaching knowledge and/or skills.  A mentor can be another ICP-certified instructor or another experienced and qualified equestrian.

ICP Workshops are organized and operated by host/organizers according to the guidelines provided by the USEA office and the ICP Committee.  Each Workshop’s curriculum is supplied by the ICP Committee and implemented by the ICP faculty member. 

ICP highly recommends that, as a candidate instructor, you contact Nancy Knight so that you can get and complete the ICP registration form before you attend an ICP Workshop.   At that time, you will receive also the ICP Standards Booklet and the ICP Workbook.  Both of these include the ICP Required and Recommended Reading List.  Try to read at least some of the Standards Booklet and the Workbook before you attend an ICP Workshop, and take those with you to the Workshop(s).

There would be no ICP without the dedication, hard work, and time and site commitment provided by ICP Workshop hosts.  Please thank them!

ICP ASSESSMENTS

Candidate instructors must attend the requisite Levels I/II Teaching of Dressage and Teaching of Jumping Workshops or the Levels III/IV Workshop , complete any recommended or required mentoring, and register with ICP before attending an ICP Assessment, which is organized by the USEA office.  To acquire the necessary ICP registration form, contact Nancy Knight.  To sign up for an ICP Assessment, contact Nancy more than 60 days before that Assessment, if possible.  All ICP Assessments are open to candidate instructors at any ICP Level.

At an ICP Assessment, two ICP assessors watch and evaluate a candidate instructor’s teaching of dressage, teaching of show jumping, and teaching of cross country riding/jumping at the ICP Level at which the instructor is being assessed.  Candidate instructors also complete three written and one hands-on test on the subjects of horse and stable management (two tests), teaching theory and practice, and safety/medical issues.   Having successfully completed an ICP assessment, an ICP-certified instructor fulfills ICP’s Continuing Education requirements to remain current with his/her certification and to enhance his/her teaching and coaching skills and knowledge of horse care principles and practices.

In order to receive your ICP certificate after passing an ICP Assessment, you must have sent to the USEA office proof of your current cpr/first aid training and a state child abuse clearance or criminal background check.  As required by the USEA, you must be a current USEA member when you are assessed and afterwards for as many years as you wish to remain current with ICP; the USEA requires also that you possess a current professional liability insurance policy.

There would be no ICP without the dedication, hard work, and time and site commitment provided by ICP Assessment hosts.  Please thank them!


ICP CONTINUING EDUCATION

Virtually all professionals are required to continue to educate themselves in their career area in order to broaden and deepen their understanding and to meet the new challenges that arise in their occupation.  Fulfilling  ICP’s Continuing Education Program requirements assists every certified instructor in doing that.  Once an instructor is certified, he or she receives from the USEA office a copy of the ICP’s Continuing Education Program, which describes these requirements and the process for fulfilling them.

The ICP Continuing Education Program requires every ICP-certified instructor to select and complete several equestrian-related activities during each of his/her on-going 4-year Continuing Education Program cycles.  To remain current with his/her ICP certification, each instructor must also remain a USEA member, carry current professional liability insurance, and possess a current cpr/first aid card.  Proof of adherence to these requirements must be presented to the USEA office by the end of each of an instructor’s 4-year Continuing Education cycles.
 
4.    BENEFITS OF ICP CERTIFICATION

• Placement of instructor’s contact and other professional information on USEA website (www.useventing.com).
• Professional relationships with event instructors at all eventing levels in the United States.
• Inclusion in ICP’s Googlegroup list (a group e-mail) to share professional news, information, and questions/answers, as well as to receive and respond to ICP-generated information.
• Lower rates for spectating at the annual USEA Eventing Clinics and at other ICP-sponsored activities.
• Continuing support of the ICP Program by ICP’s presenting sponsor CHARLES OWEN & CO., with information provided to instructors about helmet protective characteristics and proper fitting.
• Horse digestive health information provided by SUCCEED.
• A 10% lifetime discount on all horse/rider/barn products provided by BIT OF BRITAIN.
• Premium credits for various kinds of equine-related insurance provided by BROADSTONE EQUINE INSURANCE and by HALLMARK INSURANCE.
• 1-month free membership + 1 free phone consultation about the instructor’s own business provided by LIZZY MCMILLAN of www.equestrianprofessional.com.
• A direct link to UNITED STATES PONY CLUB ASSOCIATION