NWANA Professional License Eligibility Review

An Eligibility Review is required before purchasing any NWANA Professional License.

NWANA Professional Licenses are not available for unrestricted public purchase. This protects applicants from purchasing the wrong license or paying before the required education, assessments, practical preparation, experience, and professional scope have been confirmed.

The Eligibility Review is free. No payment is collected through the review form.

Submitting a request does not activate a license, guarantee approval, or provide automatic access to an advanced course.

When to Submit an Eligibility Review

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

The form may be used when you are seeking approval for:

• a Fundamentals Instructor License;

• a Fitness & Wellness Instructor License;

• a Competition Technique Instructor License;

• a Development Coach License;

• a Competition Coach License;

• a High Performance Coach License;

• a Nordic Walking Judge License;

• a Race Director License;

• a Competition Technical Official License;

• a Children’s or Youth specialist license;

• a Minor Participant License;

• another specifically identified NWANA Professional License.

If you are applying for more than one Professional License, identify each requested license and provide the information applicable to each professional role.

NWANA may request separate documentation or review when the licenses involve different professional areas or responsibilities.

When Not to Submit an Eligibility Review

Do not use the Eligibility Review Request merely because you:

• have completed only the Beginner Level Certification and want to know what comes next;

• want access to a course that is not yet available through your Academy record;

• want to skip a required course or professional level;

• are only beginning to explore NWANA professional pathways;

• have not completed the required education or practical preparation for a specific license;

• want to purchase a license before completing its requirements;

• are looking for general information about becoming an Instructor, Coach, Judge, Race Director, or Competition Technical Official.

If you are still completing your professional education, continue in NWANA Academy with the next course, assessment, or practical requirement that has become available through your Academy record.

Eligibility Review Is Not Course Enrollment

The Eligibility Review and Academy course enrollment are separate processes.

NWANA Academy controls access to professional education according to the prerequisites established for each course and pathway.

The Eligibility Review is completed later, when the applicant believes that all requirements for a particular Professional License have been satisfied.

Submitting the form does not:

• enroll you in a course;

• open a locked course;

• allow you to skip a prerequisite;

• confirm completion of an Academy requirement;

• activate a Professional License;

• create an automatic right to purchase a license.

Before You Begin

Prepare the information relevant to the specific Professional License you want NWANA to review.

This may include:

• your full legal name;

• the email address associated with your NWANA Academy account;

• the specific Professional License requested;

• completed NWANA Academy courses;

• completed assessments;

• certificate or completion information;

• technique-review results;

• practical assignments;

• documented instructional, coaching, judging, technical, or event experience;

• competition assignments or event records;

• relevant professional qualifications;

• your current professional role;

• the organization or program connected with the proposed work, when applicable;

• additional documentation required for the requested license.

Use the same name and email address associated with your NWANA Academy records whenever possible.

Do not include passwords, payment-card information, unrelated medical information, or other sensitive information not required for the review.

Previous Education and Experience

NWANA may consider relevant education, certification, competition experience, professional experience, and qualifications obtained through another organization.

External preparation may help NWANA understand the applicant’s background and professional readiness.

However, external education or experience does not automatically:

• replace the required Nordic Walking Instructor – Beginner Level Certification;

• provide direct access to an advanced NWANA course;

• allow an applicant to skip a required NWANA level;

• replace an NWANA technique, rules, practical, or professional assessment;

• establish eligibility for an NWANA Professional License;

• require NWANA to recognize another organization’s professional designation as equivalent.

NWANA determines what additional education, assessment, practical preparation, experience, or documentation is required for the requested license.

Requests Involving Participants Under 18

If the requested professional role involves direct professional work or regular contact with participants under age 18, be prepared to provide information about:

• the program or organization;

• your intended professional role;

• the ages of the participants;

• the nature and frequency of contact;

• your responsibilities;

• supervision arrangements;

• completed participant-protection education;

• background screening when required;

• the primary and specialist licenses connected with the role;

• any additional documentation requested by NWANA.

A primary Instructor, Coach, Judge, Race Director, or Competition Technical Official License does not automatically satisfy every requirement for work involving minor participants.

Approval may require an Active NWANA Minor Participant License, an applicable Children’s or Youth specialist license, and other participant-protection requirements.

What NWANA Reviews

The review depends on the Professional License and scope requested.

NWANA may consider:

• completion of required NWANA Academy education;

• course and assessment results;

• technique evaluation;

• practical assignments;

• instructional or coaching experience;

• competition or officiating experience;

• event-management or technical-operations experience;

• current and previous NWANA licenses;

• relevant external qualifications;

• the responsibilities of the intended professional role;

• the participants, athletes, program, organization, or event involved;

• additional requirements connected with participants under age 18;

• professional conduct and policy compliance;

• documentation or clarification needed to determine eligibility.

Education or experience in one professional area does not automatically establish eligibility in another professional area.

For example:

• an Instructor License does not automatically grant Coach status;

• a Coach License does not automatically grant Judge status;

• a Judge License does not automatically grant Race Director authority;

• a Competition Technical Official License does not authorize judging;

• a specialist license does not replace the required primary Professional License.

What Happens After Submission?

1. NWANA Reviews the Request

NWANA compares the submitted information with the requirements established for the requested Professional License and professional scope.

2. NWANA Verifies Available Records

NWANA may review applicable:

• Academy records;

• course completions;

• assessments;

• certificates;

• practical submissions;

• current licenses;

• documented experience;

• other supporting information.

3. Additional Information May Be Requested

If information is incomplete or additional verification is necessary, NWANA may contact the applicant by email.

NWANA may request:

• clarification;

• corrected information;

• additional documentation;

• completion of an outstanding assessment;

• additional practical preparation;

• further education;

• a technique or video review;

• an interview or individual evaluation.

No license fee is charged during this review.

4. NWANA Determines Eligibility

The review may result in one of the following outcomes:

• eligibility is confirmed for the requested license;

• eligibility is confirmed for a different license or professional level;

• additional preparation is required before approval;

• additional information is required;

• the request is not approved.

Approval applies only to the Professional License and professional scope identified by NWANA.

5. Private Purchase Instructions Are Provided

If eligibility is confirmed, NWANA sends the applicant a private link or other instructions for purchasing the approved license.

Complete the purchase using the same name and email address associated with the eligibility approval.

6. The Approved License Is Activated

The Professional License becomes active only after:

• eligibility has been confirmed;

• private purchase instructions have been provided;

• the approved license has been purchased;

• any remaining activation requirements have been completed.

Do not attempt to purchase a Professional License before receiving NWANA approval and private purchase instructions.

Review Does Not Guarantee Approval

Submitting accurate information allows NWANA to conduct the review, but it does not guarantee that the requested license will be approved.

NWANA may determine that:

• a prerequisite has not been completed;

• additional practical experience is required;

• another professional level is more appropriate;

• the requested scope exceeds the applicant’s verified preparation;

• additional participant-protection requirements apply;

• submitted information cannot be verified;

• the applicant does not currently satisfy the requirements for the requested license.

When additional preparation is required, NWANA may identify the requirements that must be completed before a new review or updated information can be considered.

Private Professional License Purchase

NWANA Professional License purchases are private because approval must occur before payment.

A private purchase link is intended only for the applicant and license approved by NWANA.

Do not:

• share a private purchase link;

• use another applicant’s purchase link;

• purchase a license different from the license approved;

• purchase using information that does not match the approval;

• attempt to purchase an advanced license without completing its requirements.

Purchase of a license without valid eligibility approval does not establish approved professional status and may require correction or cancellation.

License Period and Payment

NWANA Professional Licenses remain valid through December 31 of the applicable license year.

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

Licenses do not renew automatically.

Renewal may require confirmation that the holder continues to satisfy the education, activity, assessment, conduct, participant-protection, documentation, and other requirements applicable to the new license year.

Ready to Submit?

Submit the form only after completing the applicable requirements for a specific NWANA Professional License.

No payment is collected through the form.

Submission does not activate a license or guarantee approval.

If eligibility is confirmed, NWANA will identify the approved Professional License and provide private purchase instructions.

No payment is collected through the form.

Questions before submitting may be sent to info@nwaofna.org.