The following requirements reflect the minimum standards developed for certification in the Judge Program. Judges currently seeking certification or advancement should consider them as guidelines for the amount of experience and ability they will need to have attained for a particular level. Each level provides a description or the role of the level in the Judge Program as well as qualification guidelines for the level, and the requirements to maintain status at this level.
A judge who fails to maintain the requirements of a level can be reduced to a level appropriate with their recent activity or may have their memberships expired. An expired judge may re-certify at or below the level when their membership expired. Doing so requires petition to their Regional Coordinator and may also include requirements for new interviews, tests, or judging activity before such is granted.
Level 1 — Local Judge
Level 1 Judges are Local Judges who oversee local tournaments, run Regular REL events, or work as a floor judge on larger Competitive REL events. They are knowledgeable of Magic: The Gathering™ rules, DCI tournament rules, structures, formats, and are capable of organizing store-level events.
Local Judges are the main envoys to the retail community and work with (sometime for) retailers. Retailers often inquire about local judges and will often have local judges asked to aid them in organizing and running/reporting their tournaments. Many retailer operators employ local judges or become local judges themselves.
Qualifications
- Has acted as a judge at a sanctioned event twice in the last six months.
- Brief interview with, and written recommendation from, a Level 2 or higher judge.
- Passing score on Level 1 judge certification exam.
- Knowledge of tournament structures with experience as a player in DCI-sanctioned tournaments.
The following are not required for a candidate to be considered for Level 1.
These represent optional growth areas that are not expected of a starting Level 1 judge.
- Working at Competitive REL tournaments
- Knowledge of the MIPG
- Passing a Rules Advisor or other practice exam
- Writing Judge Center reviews
Requirements to maintain
- Act as a judge at a sanctioned event once every twelve months.
- Maintain the above with exception listed in the bullet above.
Retest interval
- A candidate who fails the Level 1 exam can attempt recertification in two months.
Level 2 — Area Judge
Level 2 Judges are the Area Judges who want more than judge inside one store. They desire to see tournaments run to a higher standard, and are willing to travel, train and mentor other judges. It’s common for Level 2 judges to organize events and work with more than one location to improve tournaments for a community. Level 2s require knowledge of Competitive REL policy and processes and with experience judge Qualifier events, and support Grand Prix. They can test Level 1 judges. For many judges, Level 2 is as high as they’ll desire to progress in the program – higher levels requiring more time-commitment.
Current Level 2s will be required to submit to their Regional Coordinators that they meet all certification requirements of new Level 2s in their region. Current Level 2s will need to submit, before the end of 2014, evidence of meeting these requirements to their Regional Coordinator, or be re-leveled Level 1 in January 2015. Requirements already completed (example – passing Level 2 exam) should be submitted for review (original Level 2 test ID# and score shared) for certainty, else repeated.
What is expected of a Level 2 judge?
- Keeping current with Magic rules and Competitive REL tournament policy
- Knowledge of and ability to teach Competitive REL tournament practices (pairings, deckchecks, disqualifications, reviews, etc.)
- Demonstrated diplomacy with players, judges and Tournament Organizers
- Willingness to mentor and certify other judges
- Regional community involvement
Pre-Certification Interview Requirements
The following items must be completed in the 15 months before the request for Level 2 test and interview are formally administered:
- Brief written recommendation from a Level 2+ judge
- Demonstration of a working relationship with at least two organizers or stores
- Three reviews of other judges entered into the Judge Center, demonstrating ability to deliver constructive feedback
- Judge at least six reported events
- Judge at least three “high-level” events with multiple judges (PPTQs, PTQs, WMCQs, GPs or significant regional events such as SCG Opens or 5Ks). Other large region-specific events and/or GPTs may qualify with permission of the Regional Coordinator
- A written tournament report from one of the multiple-judge events
- A score of 70% or higher on an Level 2 Practice test
Certification Items Required
- Pass the Level 2 exam with a score of 80% or higher
- Willingness to mentor and certify other judges
- Demonstrated diplomacy with players, judges and Tournament Organizers
- Participation in regional judge community and regional communication channels (e.g., forums, email lists, etc.)
- Certifying judge will ensure the candidate knows how to:
- Perform a deck check
- Enter a certification review
- Enter a disqualification report
Requirements to maintain
- Demonstration of a working relationship with at least two organizers or stores.
- Two reviews of other judges entered into the Judge Center.
- Judge at least two “high level” events with multiple judges (PPTQs, WMCQs, GPs, or significant regional events such as SCG Opens or 5Ks). Other large region-specific events and/or GPTs may qualify at the Regional Coordinator’s discretion.
- A written tournament report from one of the multiple-judge events or write a judge article.
- Judge a tournament every 365 days.
Retest interval
- A candidate who fails the Level 2 exam can attempt recertification in three months.
Level 3 — Regional Judge
Level 3 Judges are the Regional Judges who act as leaders of premiere organized play and the judge communities in their regions. They generally operate in large areas, provinces, and countries. They are recognized as regional leaders and are respected in their communities. They mentor Level 1s and Level 2s in becoming better judges. Regional Judges are expected to have a presence in their community and on mailing lists, web forums, etc. They are expected to conduct judge reviews, be Team Leaders at major events, and provide feedback on judges to the Judge Program.
Regional Judges are expected to show strength in the following areas:
- Leadership, Presence and Charisma
- Teamwork, Diplomacy, and Maturity
- Penalty and Policy Philosophy
- Self-Evaluation
- Development of Other Judges
- Program Construction and Philosophy
- Stress and Conflict Management
- Investigations
- Logistics and Tournament Operations
Qualifications and retest interval
Details on the qualifications for becoming a Regional Judge, as well as a description of the advancement process, can be found at The Level 3 Advancement Process.
Requirements to maintain
Regional Judges are periodically assessed by the Senior Judges and the Judge Manager. Any Regional Judge with low levels of judge activity or who no longer displays strength in the above areas is subject to demotion. Activity is based on the assumption that Level 3s are at events, both inside their region and globally as well as active outside events with Judge Program work in their region and globally.
Level 4 — International Judge
Level 4 Judges are International Judges who have demonstrated and maintain their experience, skills, and dedication to the DCI and its organized play. They are capable of head judging Grand Prix events, two-hundred plus player events, and organizing a staff of judges. They have shown a superior level of diplomacy in their dealings with players, judges, and the DCI (both regional and worldwide) and are the leaders of the Regional Judges in their countries or regions.
An International Judge leads their community of judges working closely with the DCI offices to evaluate and mentor the judges in their area. The DCI offices work closely with their International Judges on policies and programs, asking their feedback on new programs. International Judges are expected to often write articles, reports, reviews, and other documents for use in developing the Judge Program. They may be asked to lead groups of other judges in developing various areas of the Judge Program. Level 4s are called to head judge Grand Prix and to attend one or more Pro Tours.
Judges are interviewed for Level 4 through both on-hands training at Professional REL events and an extensive oral review process. Only judges who have demonstrated the ability to successfully head judge a Grand Prix or major Nationals level event are asked to interview.
Qualifications
- Demonstrated ability to head judge a Grand Prix or major Nationals/Championship event.
- Written recommendation from one Level 5 or higher-level judge.
- Ability to manage judge teams of moderate size.
- Dedication and availability to the DCI. Employees and primary contractors of Hasbro’s competitors may have a conflict of interest with the duties of this level.
- They must be internationally capable (language, travel, etc…) and be available for travel to these major events.
- Strong communication skills: ability to represent both the DCI and player communities, ability to work closely with the DCI managers; local and worldwide. Demonstrated ability to participate in the Level 3 interview process.
- Evaluation interview with the worldwide Judge Manager demonstrating maturity, advanced diplomacy and communication skills, a strong work-ethic, expert understanding of the judge certification processes and policies, and DCI policies.
- Expert with DCI Reporter software.
Requirements to maintain
- Yearly renewal of membership.
- Head judge of at least one Professional REL tournament a year. Head judge at least four tournaments each year.
- International judges are retested periodically to ensure expert knowledge is maintained.
- Maintain qualifications above (written recommendation not required).
Level 5 — Professional Judge
Level 5 Judges are Professional Judges who have demonstrated and maintain their experience, skills, and dedication to the DCI and its organized play. They are capable of head judging Pro Tour events, organizing a staff of judges, and contributing to the development of the Judge Program. They have shown a superior level of diplomacy in their dealings with players, judges, and the DCI (both regional and worldwide) and are the worldwide leaders.
A Professional Judge leads the worldwide community of judges by working closely with the DCI offices build the Judge Program and add to its resources. The DCI offices work closely with their Professional Judges on policies and programs, asking their feedback on new programs. Professional Judges are expected to often write articles, reports, reviews, and other documents for use in developing the Judge Program. They may be asked to hold seminars for other judges at events. Level 5s are called to head judge Worlds, Championships, and Pro Tours. Level 5s act as advisors to the DCI.
Judges are selected for Level 5 through both on-hands training at Professional REL events and an extensive oral review process. Only judges who have demonstrated the ability successfully head judge a Pro Tour are asked to interview.
Qualifications
- Demonstrated ability to head judge a Pro Tour.
- Written recommendation from one Level 5 judge.
- Ability to manage judge teams of any size.
- Dedication and availability to the DCI. Employees and primary contractors of Hasbro’s competitors may have a conflict of interest with the duties of this level.
- They must be internationally capable (language, travel, etc…) and be available for travel to these major events.
- Strong communication skills: ability to represent the DCI to the player community, ability to work closely with the DCI managers worldwide.
- Evaluation interview with the worldwide Judge Manager demonstrating maturity, advanced diplomacy and communication skills, a strong work-ethic, expert understanding of the judge certification processes and policies, and expert knowledge of DCI policies.
- Expert with DCI Reporter software.
Requirements to maintain
- Yearly renewal of membership.
- Judge of at least one Professional REL tournament a year.
- Professional Judges are retested periodically to ensure expert knowledge is maintained.
- Maintain qualifications above (written recommendation not required).
Level E — Judge Emeritus
At the Magic: The Gathering™ World Championship 2008 in Memphis, Tennessee, the DCI officially recognized a new status — Emeritus. A Judge Emeritus has been one of the undisputed leaders of the Judge Program worldwide, but has chosen to step back from active judging. They are the people from whom the DCI’s very traditions themselves have sprung, and while the role carries no specific duties, their new status reflects the DCI’s desire to retain their expertise and wisdom moving forward.
The Emeritus status is conferred only after long service and much consideration. As an organization, the DCI has a rich history as leaders and pioneers in the gaming industry. That history is made one event, one judge, and one ruling at a time.
Read the official announcement.
Qualifications
- Strong commitment to the program over a long period of time.
Requirements to maintain
- None.