You create your own account: enter your name, email and federation, and confirm your address with the code we send you. There are no passwords — your email address is your identity.

Enter your email on the login page. You receive an email with a login link and a code. Click the link, or — especially on a phone, where the link may open in a different browser — type the code instead.

You can log in on any device, any time. Your progress and results are always attached to your account, not the device.

A — Event-ready: can run a Chief Referee briefing, handle protests and emergencies verbally. B — Operational: radio discipline, standard calls, athlete instructions. C — Basic: understands standard calls and fixed phrases, works alongside a bilingual official.

A level is valid for 24 months. After that, a retest keeps the registry current.

Your level comes from the placement test. Level A is never issued automatically: a human evaluator listens to your speaking task and confirms or adjusts the result. Until then the registry shows B (A pending review).

This is an ENGLISH assessment. The rules provide the context, but what is measured is whether you understand and can be understood in English on the water.

Note the two different scales: your ENGLISH LEVEL is A, B or C, from the placement test. Your EXPERIENCE CATEGORY is International, Continental or Regional, from your verified events. They measure different things — an official can be English level C with an International experience record, or the other way around.

Four sections, about 20-25 minutes: listening (radio calls with audio), terminology, situations, and one recorded speaking task. You can pause and resume — progress is saved after every answer.

Listening: each audio can be played a limited number of times, like a real radio call. Use headphones in a quiet place.

Speaking: allow microphone access when your browser asks. You can listen to your recording and re-record before submitting. Speak as you would on the water — repeating key information is good radio practice and is rewarded, not penalized.

Your speaking answer is transcribed and scored on content, terminology and radio/briefing register. The transcript is shown to you with your feedback. Pronunciation is not judged by the machine — for Level A, a human evaluator listens to the actual recording.

Retaking the test: the placement test is one official sitting — you cannot simply restart it. You CAN train unlimited in the Practice section (the same kinds of questions and speaking tasks). When you feel ready for a new attempt — or when your level expires after 24 months — ask the PAQ administrator to grant a retest; the new test draws different questions.

Practice any time — nothing in the Practice section affects your certified level.

Vocabulary trainer: flashcards with spaced repetition. A few minutes daily beats one long session; cards you find hard return sooner.

Listening & rules quiz: random questions with immediate feedback — the correct answer is shown after each question.

Speaking practice: every radio-call task plus full Chief Referee briefing tasks, with detailed feedback and a model answer (with audio) after each attempt. Unlimited attempts.

2026 Rules Update: short slide courses with audio narration in your language. Press start and the course plays itself; your progress is saved and completions are recorded in your file. Use headphones and take them at your own pace — you can replay any course as often as you like.

Separate from the English trainer. The trainer measures your English; the certification programme teaches and tests the discipline itself. You can do either, or both.

Three parts. Part I is shared by everyone. Part II is your own pathway — Technical Official, Coach, Event Organizer or Athlete. Part III is the final examination.

Each module has its lessons and then an exam. You must pass a module's exam before the next one opens, so nobody arrives at the final without the foundations.

Choose your own pathway on the certification page, and add another later if you want one. Paths run alongside each other: taking a second leaves the first exactly as it is, with its own progress and its own certificate. Only an administrator can withdraw a path.

Examinations can be taken in English, Spanish, Portuguese or French — they follow the language you have chosen for the app. Where a question has not been translated yet you will see it in English; that is deliberate, not a fault. Learning content is in all four languages.

A final examination certifies ONE pathway. If you hold more than one, the page names which examination you are sitting — check it before you start.

Passing the final examination does not certify you on its own. It goes to a human examiner, who confirms or fails it. Nothing on this platform certifies itself.

Only officials of PAQ member federations can be certified. Anyone may enrol, learn and sit every examination — if you see that warning, the likeliest cause is a mistyped 3-letter federation code on your profile.

Contesting a question is about the question, not your mark. An upheld appeal removes the item for everyone whose attempt has not yet been decided. It can only ever help your score.

Your profile holds your language self-assessments, app language, and World Aquatics ID.

My event experience is your officiating record: every event with year, tier, role and location. Add new events any time (Save & add another makes multiple entries quick). New entries show as awaiting verification until PAQ confirms them.

My status shows your seniority score and experience category: International, Continental or Regional. The score is calculated automatically from your VERIFIED events — event tier x role x recency — multiplied by your tested English level. Recent, high-level events in responsible roles count most; events older than 10 years no longer count. Only you and the PAQ administrator can see it.

Note the two different scales: your ENGLISH LEVEL is A, B or C, from the placement test. Your EXPERIENCE CATEGORY is International, Continental or Regional, from your verified events. They measure different things — an official can be English level C with an International experience record, or the other way around.

No login email? Check your spam folder, verify you typed the address your invitation was sent to, and wait one minute — a new email can only be requested every 60 seconds.

Link opens but you are not logged in? This happens when the link opens in a different browser than the one you started in (common on phones). Use the code from the same email instead.

Code not accepted? Use the code from the NEWEST email (older codes stop working), type only digits, and note codes expire after a short time.

Microphone not working? Your browser asks for permission the first time you record — if you declined, look for the microphone icon in the address bar and allow it, then reload the page.

No sound in the listening questions? Check the volume/silent switch on your phone and that headphones are connected properly.