Registration Information
Registration consists of four parts: (1) USA Swimming registration, (2) Background screen through USA Swimming, (3) USA Swimming Athlete Protection Training, and (4) Concussion Training. You must be current in all four parts to be in good standing. You can check your status on the USA Swimming website in your USA Swimming Account.
1. NEW USA Swimming Registration
All registrations for the 2024 membership year (September 1, 2023 - August 31, 2024) must now be completed and paid for through the new USA Swimming Online Membership Registration process.
USA-S Checklist for Registration
Members Attached to a Club: You must register through your club portal. Contact your club coach or registrar for additional information.
Unattached Members: Unattached registration contact the PNS Office for the link to registration.
Some clubs will reimburse the first-year registration for their new officials and the registration for their returning officials. Please check with your club about their policy.
1. Registration
New Officials: Create an account on the USA Swimming website. This is required to do the background screening and the athlete protection training.
Returning Officials: Register through your USA Account Dashboard.
2. USA Swimming Background Check (BGC)
Even if you have a successful background screening for your job or another volunteer organization, you must submit to a background screen for USA Swimming.
Log into your USA Swimming Account. Select Education->Course Catalog. Click on Background Check and follow the instructions.
3. USA Swimming Athlete Protection Training (APT)
The Athlete Protection Training is a free online course. It takes about one hour to complete the first time. Must take one additional class annually.
Log into your USA Swimming Account. Select Education->Course Catalog. Click on Athlete Protection Training and follow the instructions.
Please take a screenshot of your certificate of completion and follow all instructions at the end. Some officials are leaving the system before the result is sent to SWIMS.
4. Concussion Training (one-time requirement)
Concussion Training is a one-time requirement to be completed as part of registration. The training is brief and free. Two sources of training are given below. Once you complete your training, please forward the certificate to the PNS Office at office@pns.org.
CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations)
Note that you must add the NFHS test to your "shopping cart" and checkout—even though the course is free. The CDC course is pretty much straightforward click-and-go.
If your Concussion Training does not show up on your officials' dashboard or card, please email the certificate to the PNS Office.
The office will enter the information into SWIMS.
