Getting EC NCCP Certified: Your Step-by-Step Guide

Welcome! This guide will walk you through the steps to become EC NCCP certified in equestrian sport.

STEP 1: Choose Your Coaching Context and Purchase your AEF Membership

Instructor: Focuses on foundational riding and horsemanship for beginners.
Competition Coach (CC): Prepares riders for entry-level competitions.
Competition Coach Specialist (CCS): Coaches competitive athletes at the national level in a specific discipline.

Learn more about the contexts here.

Purchase your AEF Membership here.

STEP 2: Complete Your Learn to Ride/Drive Certificate

If required for your context, this is a prerequisite and may take some time to complete.

Manuals: Purchase Learn to Ride manuals here, including the Stable Management manual (strongly recommended for exam prep).
Assessors: View the live list of approved assessors here. If no one is available in your area, check back regularly for updates.
Booking: Contact the assessor directly to schedule your assessment. Once confirmed, follow the application process on our website here.

Want to Challenge a Level?

You can challenge a level by:

Completing all written exams up to the level you're challenging
Completing Stable Management for that level
Riding only the highest level challenged

You’ll receive only the highest certificate passed (e.g., Level 8 if successful). The fee is $25 per certificate. Assessors may also charge additional fees—please confirm with them in advance.

STEP 3: Complete Required Training Modules

NCCP Make Ethical Decisions Online Evaluation
Complete this online evaluation in The Locker
Concussion Awareness Module
Access through your My-EC account
Prevention of Maltreatment in Sport
Also completed through your My-EC account
Registered Coach Status
This is the minimum requirement to be evaluated. If you already hold Licensed Coach Status, that is also accepted.

STEP 4: Book Your Evaluation

Two options are currently available:

In-Person Evaluation
Cohort Evaluation (online group format)
- Please note that some Equestrian-Specific modules are built into the Cohort.

Find out more about these evaluation options here.

Additional Information

Training Platforms by Module Type

Multisport Module - Alberta Sport Calendar: NCCP MULTI-SPORT CALENDAR | Alberta Sport
Equestrian-Specific Modules: https://www.equestrian.ca

Additional Resources:

Coaching Handbook and Resources (CHAR): This online, self-paced tool helps candidates understand the process and steps to become an NCCP instructor/coach. Request access to CHAR here - available to AEF members only.
Stay Updated: Sign up for our Coach e-News to receive coaching program updates here. We typically send only two to three emails per year.