Become a Certified Coach

There are currently over 2,300 USA Triathlon certified coaches residing throughout the United States and internationally. USA Triathlon’s coaching certification program receives requests for information from American and international coaching organizations and other National Governing Bodies interested in pursuing coaching certification and athlete development. The benefits of being a USA Triathlon certified coach include, but are not limited to the following:

• USA Triathlon Certified Coach Certificate
• Performance Coaching Newsletter 
• Discounted Continuing Education Opportunities
• USA Triathlon Certified Coach Logo
• Coaching Liability Insurance (USA residents only)
• Listing in the USAT Certified Coach Directory
• Discounted Products and Services 
• Yahoo! Coaching Newsgroup
• Elite Athlete and Coach Mentoring Opportunities
• Networking

Prior to certification, candidate must complete and/or submit the following: 

• Level I Clinic
• Online Background Check
• Online Examination
• Current USA Triathlon Membership
• CPR or AED Certification
• USOC Ethics Code Agreement

Before USA Triathlon Certified Coach certificates are sent to certification candidates, the above requirements must be met. It is highly recommended that candidates make plans to obtain or review the required items prior to the clinic.

Current CPR Certification
American Red Cross or The American Heart Association certifications are preferred for first time certification. AED certifications are not required, but are highly recommended.

Coaching Educational Clinic
The educational clinic requirement must be met by attending a USA Triathlon coaching certification clinic. Click here for a sample clinic schedule. Do not make travel arrangements based off these times or before you are registered for a clinic as each clinic schedule varies and it is not guaranteed that you will get in. The clinic is lecture based. Participants must attend the entire clinic in order to be eligible for certification. The minimum age for participation is 18.
 
Written Examination
On the final day of the clinic, attendees are given instructions on how to complete the exam. The exam is online and must be submitted within three months of the clinic date in order to become certified. The exam includes multiple choice, short answer, and training plan questions. Failure to submit materials by the deadline results in the participant becoming ineligible for certification.
 
Signed USOC Coaching Ethics Code
The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Coaching Ethics Code is distributed and discussed at the coaching certification clinic. USA Triathlon certified coaches must sign and submit the Ethics Code Agreement with the exam.
 
Criminal History Check
Coaching certification candidates must pass a criminal history check through the NCSI background check application in order to attend a coaching clinic and become certified. The fee is $20 for most U.S. citizens but does vary by state. International background checks cost more and vary by country. Fees for the background check are not included in the clinic registration fee. Instructions on how to complete the background check are sent to candidates following registration. Each candidate must complete and pass the required background check or entry into the clinic and certification is denied. Any candidate concerned about his or her background should complete the background check prior to registration.

Background checks are based on this criteria (PDF). A failed background check results in the candidate being ineligible for participation in a coaching clinic and certification. There is no appeal process for failed background checks. This applies to current certified coaches as well. There are no exceptions. If the candidate receives a red light and believes the red light is in error, the applicant should work with NCSI directly to resolve the matter.

Clinic Fee
The fee is $555. The clinic fee includes lunch for the two full days of the clinic and the registration fees. It does not include lodging, any travel expenses or the background check fee.

See the schedule of upcoming clinics.

Please note that the certification does expire. The expiration date depends on which clinic you attend. Please click here for recertification policies. Please contact the Coaching Certification Coordinator with have any questions.

Prior to certification, candidate must complete and/or submit the following:

• Level II Clinic
• Oral Presentation
• Online Examination
• CPR or AED Certification
• USOC Ethics Code Agreement
• Online Background Check
• Current USA Triathlon Membership
• Athlete Letter of Recommendation
• Mentor Coach Letter of Recommendation
• Minimum Two Years of Level I Certification
• Brief History of 2 Years of Coaching Experience after USAT Level I Certification
• Current Athlete ATP
• One of the Following:
    1. BA or BS degree in sport science or related field (preferred)
  OR
    2. Certification with relevance to triathlon (ACSM, USAC Level I or II, ASCA, USATF, NSCA or NASM)
• The applicant must have annual service to USA Triathlon or educational contributions to the sport of triathlon (service during a USA Triathlon camp or clinic, contributions to the USA Triathlon coaching certification program or various related USAT programs).
• The applicant must explain the status of an athlete, state two to three objectives for that athlete, explain what was done as a coach to address those objectives, and explain the results that were accomplished with that athlete.
• Selected candidates complete a phone interview as part of the application process.

There is a checklist that is used to score each candidate on the pool deck, for the run coaching session,  as well as on the final presentation. Every candidate must score 80% on each component in order to be eligible for LII certification along with passing the exam with a score of 80%.

If a candidate does not meet the above criteria, the following occurs:

• The candidate has failed the course.
• USAT discusses the areas that the candidate needs to improve, and the Coach Development Manager discusses those areas with the candidate.
• The Coach Development Manager recommends webinars, books, CEUs and other areas that can help improve the candidates skills.
• The Coach Development Manager recommends that the candidate attend the Elite Mentorship Program prior to applying for a future Level II clinic.
• The candidate must wait at least 12 months to apply for a future Level II clinic. Acceptance into or passing of a future Level II clinic is not guaranteed.

The clinic fee is $655 and includes lunch and snacks on days 1-3 and snacks on day 4. It does not include lodging, any travel expenses or the background check fee.

See the schedule of upcoming clinics and information on how to apply.

In order to be eligible for the Level II Endurance certification, candidates must meet the requirements below:

• CPR or AED Certification
• USOC Ethics Code Agreement
• Online Background Check
• Current USA Triathlon Membership
• Athlete Letter of Recommendation
• Mentor Coach Letter of Recommendation
• Minimum Two Years of Level I Certification
• Brief History of 2 Years of Coaching Experience after USAT Level I Certification
• Current Athlete ATP
• One of the Following: 
    1. BA or BS degree in sport science or related field (preferred)
  OR 
    2. Certification with relevance to triathlon (ACSM, USAC Level I or II, ASCA, USATF, NSCA or NASM)
• The applicant must have annual service to USA Triathlon or educational contributions to the sport of triathlon (service during a USA Triathlon camp or clinic, contributions to the USA Triathlon coaching certification program or various related USAT programs).
• The applicant must explain the status of an athlete, state two to three objectives for that athlete, explain what was done as a coach to address those objectives, and explain the results that were accomplished with that athlete.
• Selected candidates complete a phone interview as part of the application process.

Each Level II Endurance candidate must complete the Level II Endurance clinic requirements which include: attending an entire LII Endurance clinic, a swim instruction, run instruction, final ATP presentation, as well as the written exam.

There is a checklist that is used to score each candidate on the pool deck as well as on the final presentation. Every candidate must score 80% on each component to be eligible for LII Endurance certification along with passing the exam with a score of 80%.

If a candidate does not meet the above criteria, the following will occur:

• The candidate has failed the course.
• USAT will discuss the areas that the candidate needs to improve upon and the Coach Development Manager will discuss those areas with the candidate.
• The Coach Development Manager will recommend webinars, books, CEU’s and other areas that will help improve the candidates skills.
• The Coach Development Manager will recommend that the candidate attend the elite coaching mentorship program prior to applying for a future LII Endurance clinic.
• The candidate must wait at least 12 months to apply for a future LII Endurance clinic.
• Acceptance into or passing of a future LII Endurance clinic is not guaranteed.

The clinic fee is $655 and includes lunch and snacks on days 1-3 and snacks on day 4. It does not include lodging, any travel expenses, or the background check fee.

See the schedule of upcoming clinics and information on how to apply.

Prior to applying for the Level III clinic, candidates must complete and/or submit the following:

• Level III Clinic
• Written Examination
• Oral Presentation
• USOC Ethics Code Agreement
• Current CPR/AED Certification
• Online Background Check
• Current USA Triathlon Membership
• Athlete Letter of Recommendation
• Mentor Coach Letter of Recommendation
• Current Level II Coach (in good standing for at least 12 months prior to the Level III clinic)
• The applicant must have completed the USAT Elite Mentorship Program between January 1, 2007 and the current application deadline.
• The applicant must have documentation that he or she is the primary coach of an athlete at the highest level of competition within the athlete's division based on the following criteria:
    - Elite National Team
    - Project 2012, 2016 or 2020 Team
    - Top 15 finish at U23 World Championships
    - Top 15 finish at Junior World Championships.
    - Ranked in the top 75 of the ITU rankings by the end of the previous year.
    - USA Paratriathlon National Team (2010 and later)
    - Coaching oneself does not qualify.
• The applicant must demonstrate that he or she developed the athlete to the above mentioned level.
• The applicant must demonstrate knowledge of progression by stating two to three objectives for an elite athlete, explaining what was done as a coach to address those objectives and the results that were accomplished with that athlete.
• The applicant must submit an ATP based on a standard provided form of one elite level athlete that he or she directly coaches as part of the application process within seven days upon acceptance into the clinic. This is reviewed by USAT Sport Development staff within two weeks and sent back to the applicant with suggestions.
• The applicant must hold at least one additional current certification from the following sport organizations: USA Cycling Level I or Level II, USA Swimming/American Swimming Coaches Association, USA Track and Field, American College of Sports Medicine, National Strength and Conditioning Association, or National Academy of Sports Medicine.
• Selected candidates complete a phone interview as part of the application process. 

A USAT Level III Coach understands and applies the following concepts while working with athletes:  

• Advanced periodization and planning including program implementation, progression, lab and field testing and recovery methods.
• Swim stroke analysis, run gait analysis, bike fit and analysis
• Functional strength training and dynamic warmup
• Advanced nutritional and mental skills strategies
• ITU qualifications and rules
• Race strategies

Acceptance into or passing of the Level III clinic is not guaranteed. There is a checklist that is used to score each candidate on the ATP presentation, pool coaching session and on the final paper project. The final paper project is assigned at the clinic and candidates have three months from the clinic date to complete it. Once the paper is submitted, the candidate then presents the final paper via phone or Skype to the Coach Development Manager. Only after all of the above requirements are satisfactorily met with an 80% or higher will a candidate be considered passed through the LIII clinic.

The fee is $655. The clinic fee includes lunch for each day of the clinic and the registration fees. It does not include lodging, any travel expenses or the background check fee.

See the schedule of upcoming clinics.

USA Triathlon’s Youth and Junior Coaching Certification Program is designed to educate current USAT certified coaches on how to train youth and junior athletes safely and effectively throughout their developmental stages.  This clinic provides coaches with specialized youth and junior coaching skills and drills, age appropriate training regimes and testing protocols, physiological and nutritional considerations, and basic training techniques to develop successful youth and junior athletes.

Successful completion of the Youth & Junior certification program will automatically renew USAT Level I, II, or III certifications (exceptions may apply).

Click here for more information and view the upcoming schedule for Youth and Junior Certification.