The following information must be included in the application:

• Program format, outline and time schedule. Program must be a minimum of two hours long. Camps must include a minimum of two hours of unmounted lecture/discussion time during the camp to receive USDF University accreditation.
• Instructor/Speaker Information. An updated biography must be provided even if the instructor is well-known. The biography should clearly show that the instructor has the credentials to teach the program and that he/she is directly knowledgeable of the program topic.
• Printed Material. Please send a draft or final copy of the printed material for the program, such as flyers, brochures, and educational documents.
• Refund Policy. All USDF University Programs must have a registration refund policy stated on the program application. Indicate the conditions under which registration fees may (or may not) be refundable and the process for submission. The policy may be determined by each program, but must be clearly stated in the registration materials. Programs that do not state a refund policy will not receive program accreditation.

All applications for USDF University accreditation must submit an application fee to USDF at the time the application is submitted. The application fee is non-refundable. This applies to a program that is canceled or if USDF University accreditation is not granted. Please see current application fees below:

• USDF GMOs and Regions/USDF Education Partners:
  • The application fee is $40 if the USDF University Accreditation Application Form is received by the USDF office at least one month prior to the program date.
  • The application fee is $60 if the USDF University Accreditation Application Form is received by the USDF office less than one month prior to the program date.
• Non-USDF Affiliates:
  • The application fee is $60 if the USDF University Accreditation Application Form is received by the USDF Office at least one month prior to the program date.
  • The application fee is $75 if the USDF University Accreditation Application Form is received by the USDF Office less than one month prior to the program date.

All USDF University-accredited programs must have at least $1 million of liability insurance coverage, naming USDF as an additional insured, and must include the name, location and date of the accredited event. Proof of insurance coverage must be submitted with your application in order for the program to be accredited and listed on USDF’s website. Without proof of the required insurance coverage, programs will not be accredited.

Organizers must sign a USDF waiver that will be sent to the organizer with a letter of confirmation once a completed application has been received. The waiver must be signed and returned to the USDF office to receive final accreditation.

A USDF waiver of liability for program participants will be sent to the Program Organizer. This form must be signed by all program participants, volunteers and auditors. The organizer must return all signed waivers to the USDF office within 14 days of completion of the program.

If the USDF University application is approved with the USDF Office, credits are assigned in accordance with the program guidelines. The organizer will receive a written decision and the necessary documents, waivers and instructions. Participants and auditors receive the same credits. Credits are assigned as follows:

• .25 credit per 2 hours of attendance
• .50 credit per 4 hours of attendance
• 1.0 credit per 8 hours of attendance

Prior to submitting your application, please review the USDF University Accreditation Guidelines.

USDF University offers online education providers the chance to accredit their programs to be included in USDF Online Education. Current USDF University Online Course Providers can be found here.

All online programs requesting accreditation must fill out the USDF University Accreditation Application. Some requirements for online programs differ from our live events. Online education courses and video programs must meet the following criteria:

• Provide a website in which course content can be reviewed.
• Completion time for the course or video must be a minimum of two hours.
• Provide a link, if applicable, to the full video program in which content can be reviewed.
• Tracking process to confirm viewing of full video program must be included in application process. USDF can implement, with the cooperation of the host, a quiz system to fulfill this requirement and place the tracking process in USDF’s hands.

All USDF University Accredited Programs are required to state a refund policy. Indicate the conditions under which registration fees may (or may not) be refundable and the process for submission. The policy may be determined by each program, but must be clearly stated in the registration materials. Programs that do not state a refund policy will not receive program accreditation.

All organizers who apply for USDF University accreditation for their program must pay the application fee to USDF at the time the application is submitted. The application fee is non-refundable. This applies to a program that is canceled or if USDF University accreditation is not granted.

Online Education Course Providers:

• The application fee is $50 if the USDF University Accreditation Application Form is received by the USDF Office at least one month prior to the program date.
• The application fee is $75 if the USDF University Accreditation Application Form is received by the USDF Office less than one month prior to the program date.

This application fee is valid for one year from the date of acceptance. If the hosting organization wishes for the course to continue to receive accreditation, there will be a yearly renewal fee of $25.

The insurance requirement is waived for all accredited online education courses. The liability waiver requirement is also waived for all accredited online education courses.

If the USDF University application is approved with the USDF Office, credits are assigned in accordance with the program guidelines. The organizer will receive a written decision and the necessary documents, waivers and instructions. Credits are assigned as follows:

Online Education Courses

• .50 credit per 4 hours of anticipated time it will take to complete the course.
• 1.0 credit per 8 hours of anticipated time it will take to complete the course.

• .25 credit per 2 hours of viewing
• .50 credit per 4 hours of viewing
• .75 credit per 6 hours of viewing
• 1.0 credit per 8 hours of viewing

Prior to submitting your application, please review the USDF University Accreditation Guidelines.

After a program has received USDF University accreditation, USDF will provide all materials and information to the organizer via email.

All USDF University accredited programs will be listed on USDF’s website on the Education Calendar and Education Map. The program will also be featured in USDF’s monthly eNews.

USDF will provide the use of the USDF University logo in digital format. USDF can send digital copies of promotional material promoting the benefits of GMO membership upon request.

USDF’s letter of approval will provide a course number. This is the number in which the program is accredited with USDF. A program must include the course number in advertising the program as USDF University Accredited.

USDF will provide a banner to be displayed at the USDF University accredited program, if requested by the organizer. USDF is proud to support University-accredited programs. The University banner is a wonderful way to advertise that your program meets the educational requirements of USDF University and that it has received accreditation. It will also remind your participants that they may earn credits through the USDF University programs. We suggest that when you request and receive a banner that it be displayed in a prominent location. The banner must be returned to the USDF office within 14 days of completion of the program

The following disclaimer must be published when advertising a USDF University accredited program:
“USDF accredited this program for its educational content. USDF is not responsible for the date, location, organization, or presentation of this program or for any other circumstances relevant to this program. The organization of this program is the sole responsibility of the organizer of the program.”

USDF University Credit Sign-Up Forms and Credit Fees
All participants and auditors who wish to receive USDF University credit must:

• Be current USDF members at the time of the program.
• Sign the sign-up form provided by USDF, or indicate in appropriate location when registering for an accredited online course.
• Pay a $5.00 processing fee at time of registering for the program or on-site.
• If an attendee has signed the sign-up form but has not paid the $5.00 processing fee, they will not receive credit for attending the program.
• The $5 processing fee is paid only once for each USDF University accredited program, regardless of the number of days attended.
• USDF encourages organizers to include the $5 credit fee option in their program’s pre-registration materials to facilitate the collection of the University fee. Then the only money which needs to be collected on-site would be for those who register as walk-ins or decide on-site that they would like to earn credit.

Upon completion of the program, the organizer/administrator must:

• Sign the Sign-up Form for Credit for USDF University Programs.
• Send that form along with the USDF University Credit sign-up sheet and the processing fee of $5 for each person requesting credit for the University program, to the USDF office.
• These must be received in the USDF office within 14 days of completion of the program.
• The organizer may send checks written by the individual attendees or they may collect the $5 processing fee from each attendee and write one check.

All checks must be made payable to USDF. PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH! In the event that none of the attendees requested USDF University credit, the organizer/administrator must notify the USDF office in writing of such within 14 days of completion of the program.

Online Educational Course administrators should follow these additional guidelines when submitting information:

• Information should be submitted once each fiscal quarter (January, April, July, October)
• Information should include name, USDF Membership Number and $5.00 processing fee for each person who requested credit and the course(s)/video(s) they have completed.

Financial Responsibility for the Organization of a University Accredited Program
USDF is not responsible for any cost to the organizer, hosting organization and/or any sponsors arising from the organization of the program or for any other costs relevant to the program. USDF will not reimburse the organizer, hosting organization and/or any sponsors for any costs arising from the organization of the program or for any other costs relevant to the program. The organization of the program is the sole financial responsibility of the organizer and/or the hosting organization of the program.

Rescheduling of a University Accredited Program
If an accredited program has to be rescheduled, the organizer must notify USDF in writing of the change. If there is no change in the program format, the length of the program or the presenting instructor(s)/speaker(s), notifying USDF of the change in date is sufficient.

If there are significant changes in the program format, the length of the program or the presenting instructor(s)/speaker(s), the program is considered a new and different program. Therefore, the organizer must complete another USDF University Accreditation Application and must again pay the application fee. The old program is considered canceled.

• USDF University Accreditation Guidelines (please review prior to submitting USDF University application)
• USDF University Accreditation Application
• USDF University Credit Request Form
• USDF Convention Educational Session Proposal Form
• University FAQs
• USDF Education Calendar/Map

All forms and information must be submitted to the United States Dressage Federation, Attn: University Program Coordinator, 4051 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511, Phone 859- 971-2277, Fax 859-971-7722, or e-mail university@usdf.org.