Manitoba Horse Council

How to become an NCCP Certified Equestrian Coach or Instructor

STEP 1 - Identify the certification you are best suited for

Instructor: Specializes in introducing beginners to non-competitive or recreational riding and/or driving.

Available certificates:

• Instructor
  • English
  • Western
  • Driving
  • Saddle Seat

Please note: NCCP Certified Instructors may maintain amateur competitive status while receiving remuneration for instructing.

Coach: Specializes in working with athletes actively competing in equestrian sport. This stream allows a coach to progress through competitive levels and specialize in a discipline.

Available certificates:

• Competition Coach
  • English
  • Western
• Competition Coach Specialist
  • Dressage
  • Eventing
  • General Performance
  • Jumping
  • Reining
  • Speed Events
• High Performance 1 Coach
  • Dressage
  • Eventing
  • Jumping
  • Reining

STEP 2 - Complete the admission requirements

The general admission requirements for all certification programs are as follows. Once completed, please submit the originals to Manitoba Horse Council office for verification. They will be returned.

"The Locker" will be mentioned throughout the Coaching process. It is the database managed by the National Coach Association of Canada (NCCP) and maintains records of all your coaching activities. Here is some information about using the Locker and getting an NCCP number. 

• Complete the appropriate Rider Level for the Coaching Certification being applied for.
• Create an NCCP Locker account
• Criminal Records Check

  There are 2 different Police Checks that may be required. 

  The Criminal Record Check required for the initial Coach Licence application is as follows:

  • Coaches born before 1986: For the initial Coach Licence application, all coaches born prior to 1986 must complete an in-person Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check at Winnipeg City Police or their local RCMP office. 
  • Coaches born after 1986: an Enhanced Police Information Check (ePIC) is sufficient for the initial application. This can be completed using Sterling Backcheck’s MyBackcheck application at Equestrian Canada's Sterling Backcheck
  These checks will subsequently be included in your 3-yearly renewal. Please do not use any other Backcheck portal as it will not be shared with MHC.
• Child Abuse Registry Check. Specific to Manitoba, and can be applied for at https://www.gov.mb.ca/fs/childfam/child_abuse_registry.html
• St John's Ambulance,  Canadian Red Cross or other nationally recognised organisation: Current in-person two-day Standard First Aid Certificate.
• NCCP Make Ethical Decisions through your Locker Account. Note that equestrian-specific MED is also included in the Equestrian Theory Workshop offered as part of the 4-module Instructor course, but due to COVID these courses are not currently available in-person. Online multi-sport courses can be found at coach.ca, look for the Calendar. The course can be taken from any province's offering. Attendance at a stand-alone online workshop is $40 and the subsequent online evaluation is then free. Taken directly online without the workshop, the course is $85. 
• "Respect In Sport" online program through Sport Manitoba (renewable every 5 years). Make an account and when you are logged in, go into in the first tab in your Profile and check "Allow communication to the NCCP". This will place the result of your course directly in your Locker. On the second tab (Associations) you can see all the groups associated with Sport Manitoba. Scroll down to Horse Council and click to share. This ensures both your Locker and MHC's files are kept up to date.
• NCCP Making Head Way in Sport concussion evaluation through your NCCP Locker account.
• Sign the following documents with a current Coach Developer or member of Manitoba Horse Council staff (see Step 3):
  • EC Code of Ethics
  • Coaching Code of Conduct
• Obtain the appropriate level of EC Sport Licence for the current year
  • Instructor and Competition Coach certification: Bronze Sport Licence
  • Competition Coach Specialist certification: Silver Sport Licence
  • High Performance 1 certification: Gold Sport Licence

Depending on the specific certification you choose, additional admissions requirements may apply:

• Instructor Admissions Requirements
• Competition Coach Admissions Requirements
• Competition Coach Specialist Admissions Requirements
• High Performance 1 Admissions Requirements

STEP 3 – Formally apply

The application process for NCCP certification varies depending on the specific certificate you are interested in pursuing.

The following certifications are administered by the Provincial and Territorial Sport Organizations (PTSOs):

• Instructor 
• Competition Coach
• Competition Coach Specialist

To apply for one of the certificates above, contact your PTSO. Review the Upcoming Coaching Courses page on this site for details of upcoming evaluations.

The following certificate is administered by EC:

• High Performance 1 Coach

To apply for the High Performance 1 Coach certification, contact Equestrian Canada Technical Development toll free at 1-866-282-8395 x 116.

STEP 4 – Be evaluated

The evaluation process provides you with the opportunity to demonstrate your competency based on NCCP standards. The evaluation requirements can vary depending on the certification you choose, however the general procedure is as follows:

• Portfolio Evaluation: Submit a written portfolio (content requirements vary by certification).
• Observable Evaluation: An Evaluator observes you teaching a lesson. Competition Coach Specialist and High Performance 1 Coach candidates are also required to undergo observation while teaching at a competition.

Once you have completed the evaluations, your results (whether successful or unsuccessful) will be submitted to Manitoba Horse Council (for Instructor, Competition Coach and Competition Coach Specialist certifications) or EC (for High Performance 1 Coach certification), by your Evaluator. Once processed, the results will be confirmed in your NCCP locker account.

For your own security, it is recommended that you have adequate insurance when you operate as a coach. CapriCMW Insurance is Manitoba Horse Council's insurer of choice, and offers a 10% discount on Coach Insurance. See the application form here.

Maintaining Certification

Professional Development Update Form

Questions?

For questions regarding the EC Coaching Program, please contact:

Manitoba Horse Council

mhc.admin@sportmanitoba.ca; 204-529-5718 or 204-299-0018 (temporary)

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