Every NWANA professional pathway begins with the Nordic Walking Instructor – Beginner Level Certification through NWANA Academy.

The course provides the common foundation in Nordic Walking technique, equipment, movement principles, safety, observation, and professional responsibility.

Completion of the Beginner Level Certification does not activate a Professional License or provide immediate access to every advanced professional course.

The next eligible education, assessment, or practical requirement becomes available only after the applicable prerequisites have been completed and verified.

Yes.

The Beginner Level Certification is the required common foundation for all NWANA professional pathways, regardless of previous Nordic Walking, athletic, fitness, teaching, coaching, officiating, or event-management experience.

Previous education and experience may be considered later, but they do not automatically replace the required NWANA foundation or authorize a person to skip required education, assessments, practical preparation, or professional levels.

No.

NWANA professional education and licensing are progressive. Advanced courses and Professional Licenses become available only after the required preceding education, assessments, practical preparation, experience, and other requirements have been completed and verified.

A participant cannot select an advanced level simply because it matches a long-term professional goal.

After the Beginner Level Certification requirements have been completed and verified, continue in NWANA Academy with the next education, assessment, practical requirement, or registration opportunity available through your Academy record.

The next available stage depends on the professional direction and the prerequisites already completed.

Completion of the Beginner Level Certification does not provide direct access to Coach education, an active Judge License, or every advanced professional course.

The next eligible stage becomes available only after all applicable prerequisites have been completed and verified.

Some stages may also require registration, payment, a practical submission, instructor evaluation, documented experience, or individual NWANA approval.

Course availability does not constitute approval for a Professional License.

The course may require completion and verification of preceding education, assessments, practical assignments, experience, registration, or payment.

Participants cannot enter advanced courses directly.

If your Academy record shows that all applicable prerequisites have been completed but the expected next stage is still unavailable, contact info@nwaofna.org.

Education provides the knowledge and practical preparation required for a professional role.

Certification confirms successful completion of a particular course, assessment, or qualification.

An Active NWANA Professional License confirms the holder’s current approved professional role and level within the NWANA system for the applicable license year.

Completing a course or receiving a certificate does not automatically activate a Professional License.

No.

The certification confirms completion of the foundational course requirements. An active professional role requires the education, qualifications, eligibility review, approval, and annual license applicable to that role.

No.

Each license applies to the role and level identified by that license.

An Instructor License does not automatically grant Coach, Judge, Race Director, or Technical Official status. Likewise, a Judge or Race Director License does not authorize a person to teach or coach unless the appropriate license is also held.

Yes, within the scope established for the active Coach License.

Entry into the Coaching Pathway requires completion of the applicable Instructor Pathway prerequisites. An Active NWANA Coach License therefore includes the professional instructional scope of NWANA Instructor Levels 1–3.

Separate annual Instructor Licenses are not required while the Coach License remains active.

The Coach License does not grant Judge, Race Director, or Competition Technical Official status.

No.

A Level 3 Instructor may teach and analyze Nordic Walking competition technique. A coach assumes broader responsibility for athlete development, training programs, competition preparation, performance monitoring, and long-term progression.

Coaching requires the appropriate Coach education, approval, and active Coach License.

No.

Coaching is not an entry-level pathway. Before entering Coach education, a candidate must progress through the required Instructor levels and develop the instructional, technical, and practical experience established by NWANA.

Coach education becomes available only after the applicable Instructor Pathway prerequisites have been completed and verified.

No.

A Level 3 Instructor may teach and analyze Nordic Walking competition technique within the scope of the active Instructor License.

A Coach assumes broader responsibility for athlete development, training programs, workload planning, competition preparation, performance monitoring, and long-term progression.

Coach status requires separate education, practical preparation, assessment, approval, and an Active NWANA Coach License.

No.

The Beginner Level Certification provides only the common foundation.

Before receiving the first active Judge License, a candidate must complete advanced competition-technique preparation, rules education, supervised practical experience, and the technical, written, video-based, and practical assessments established by NWANA.

Completion of a rules course alone is not sufficient.

Not necessarily.

A person who does not teach Nordic Walking professionally is not required to purchase an Instructor License solely to become a Judge.

However, every Judge candidate must complete the advanced competition-technique education and technical assessments required by NWANA before progressing through rules education, supervised judging, and practical evaluation.

A Judge must evaluate Nordic Walking technique under actual competition conditions.

Technique may appear differently during acceleration, fatigue, overtaking, changes in terrain or surface, and different weather or competitive conditions.

The Judge must be able to distinguish an actual rule violation from an individual technical variation that remains within the rules. Memorizing rules without sufficient technical understanding is not adequate preparation for judging.

The review allows NWANA to confirm:

• the applicant’s completed education and assessments;

• the appropriate professional pathway and level;

• practical preparation and relevant experience;

• any preceding or additional qualifications;

• requirements connected with children or youth;

• the specific license approved for purchase.

This prevents applicants from purchasing the wrong license or paying before the required qualifications have been confirmed.

Submit an Eligibility Review Request only after completing the education, assessments, practical preparation, experience, and other requirements established for a specific NWANA Professional License.

Do not use the Eligibility Review to select your next course, open a locked Academy course, skip a prerequisite, or explore professional pathways.

The Eligibility Review is the final verification stage before NWANA provides private purchase instructions for an approved license.

Academy progression determines which course, assessment, practical requirement, or registration opportunity becomes available next according to completed prerequisites.

A License Eligibility Review occurs later, after the applicant believes that all requirements for a specific Professional License have been satisfied.

Course access does not activate a license, and submitting an Eligibility Review does not enroll the applicant in a course.

No.

Submitting the form:

• does not activate a Professional License;

• does not guarantee approval;

• does not collect payment;

• does not authorize professional activity under the requested license.

NWANA will review the submitted information and contact the applicant by email.

No.

Professional Licenses are private and are not available for unrestricted public purchase.

After eligibility is confirmed, NWANA will identify the approved license and provide a private purchase link or other purchase instructions.

Private purchase access helps ensure that each person purchases only the license for which NWANA has confirmed eligibility.

It also reduces payment and refund problems caused by purchasing the wrong level or purchasing before the required preparation has been completed.

NWANA may consider relevant external education, certifications, professional experience, competition experience, and other qualifications.

However, external preparation does not automatically replace the required Beginner Level Certification, provide direct access to an advanced course, allow a person to skip an NWANA level, or establish eligibility for an NWANA Professional License.

NWANA determines what additional education, assessment, practical preparation, experience, or documentation is required.

NWANA may identify the additional education, assessment, practical preparation, experience, or documentation that must be completed.

Continue through the applicable NWANA Academy requirements before submitting or updating a License Eligibility Review.

Do not purchase a Professional License until NWANA confirms eligibility and provides private purchase instructions.

The three primary Instructor levels and the three primary Coach levels are progressive.

A higher active license includes the professional scope of the preceding levels in the same pathway. Separate lower-level annual licenses are not required while the higher-level license remains active.

This principle does not combine different professional pathways. For example, a higher Judge License does not grant a Coach License.

A specialist license supplements a primary professional license for a particular professional audience or responsibility.

Examples include:

• Children’s Nordic Walking Instructor;

• Youth Nordic Walking Instructor;

• Children’s Development Coach;

• Youth Development Coach;

• Elite Youth Coach.

A specialist license does not replace the primary Instructor or Coach License required for the work.

No.

A Children’s or Youth specialist license must be held together with the appropriate active primary Instructor or Coach License.

Work involving participants under age 18 also requires an Active NWANA Minor Participant License and satisfaction of all other applicable requirements.

No.

A professional working with children or youth generally needs:

• the appropriate active primary Instructor or Coach License;

• the applicable Children’s, Youth, or Elite Youth specialist license;

• an Active NWANA Minor Participant License;

• any required participant-protection education, screening, permissions, and program-specific approval.

It is an additional annual license for an NWANA professional whose approved role involves direct professional work or regular contact with participants under age 18.

It is not a standalone teaching, coaching, judging, or event-management qualification.

No.

It does not replace:

• background screening when required;

• participant-protection or safeguarding education;

• parental or legal-guardian consent;

• supervision and communication procedures;

• reporting and emergency procedures;

• requirements established by law;

• policies of the school, facility, club, event, or organization responsible for the program.

Not automatically.

It may be required when the assigned role involves direct professional work or regular contact with participants under age 18.

NWANA will consider the event, organization, responsibilities, participant ages, level of contact, and applicable participant-protection requirements during the eligibility review.

A material change in the organization, program, professional responsibilities, participant ages, or type of contact may require an updated eligibility review.

Approval applies to the professional role and information reviewed by NWANA.

No.

A license does not guarantee employment, clients, assignments, compensation, insurance coverage, or appointment to any NWANA program, team, event, or competition.

No.

Competition assignments are made separately according to the event, responsibilities, license level, qualifications, experience, previous performance, availability, and other applicable requirements.

No.

NWANA may educate, assess, and license coaches preparing for advanced club, high-performance, and national-team coaching environments.

Appointment to a national team is made separately by the applicable national federation, national governing body, Olympic or Paralympic organization, or other authority responsible for selecting and managing that team.

An NWANA High Performance Coach License may support a coach’s professional preparation, but it does not guarantee recognition, selection, employment, or appointment.

No.

A professional license confirms the holder’s approved role. It does not sanction an event, approve the use of NWANA branding, place an event on an NWANA calendar, or make its results official.

Event approval or sanctioning is a separate process.

Only if that person also holds the appropriate active NWANA Nordic Walking Judge License and has been assigned to perform that judging role.

The Technical Official and Judge licenses represent different responsibilities.

Professional Licenses are annual and remain active through December 31 of the applicable license year.

Yes.

RunSignup automatically prorates the fee according to the time remaining in the current license year.

No.

Continued active status requires renewal and satisfaction of the requirements applicable to the new license year.

Depending on the license, renewal may require:

• current education or continuing professional development;

• updated participant-protection requirements;

• current screening or documentation;

• compliance with NWANA policies and codes of conduct;

• confirmation of professional activity or experience;

• correction of previously identified deficiencies;

• payment of the applicable annual license fee.

Yes.

NWANA may take such action when a holder no longer satisfies applicable requirements, provides inaccurate information, violates NWANA policies, acts outside the approved professional scope, or commits serious or repeated violations.

Begin by reviewing the professional pathway connected with the work you intend to perform.

If you are still completing professional education, continue in NWANA Academy with the next stage available through your Academy record.

Submit a License Eligibility Review only after completing the requirements for a specific license.

For general guidance before reaching the licensing stage, contact info@nwaofna.org.

Every NWANA professional pathway begins with the Nordic Walking Instructor – Beginner Level Certification through NWANA Academy.

After completing the course, continue progressively with the next education, assessment, or practical requirement available through your Academy record.

Begin Your Professional Education at NWANA Academy

Questions about professional education, eligibility, or licensing may be sent to:

info@nwaofna.org