As a designated cheer coach, that coach must be the bona-fide coach of said cheer team. Cheer coaches should be listed by their school for their specific team. If running practices where stunting/tumbling are involved, the coach MUST be certified.

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To become a certified cheer coach in North Dakota, the following requirements must be completed:

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• USA Cheer Membership
  Submit proof of a current USA Cheer membership at the Cheer Coach Membership level or higher. This must include completion of:

  • Athlete Protection Course

  • Safety and Risk Management Course
    (Note: The Safety and Risk Management Course must be renewed every four years and will count toward the five-year continuing education requirement.)

• NFHS Courses
  The following courses must be completed every two years:

  • Heat-Related Illness Course

  • Concussion Course

  • Certificates must be downloaded and uploaded with the certification application.

• CPR/AED Certification
  Must complete and pass a CPR/AED course every two years.
  A certificate must be uploaded with the certification application.

• Spirit Rules Meeting
  Attendance at a Spirit Rules meeting is required.

  • The first meeting is offered at the Coaches Convention in June

  • Three additional virtual meetings will be offered throughout the year
    These will be listed Events page for specific dates.

• Spirit Rules Test

  • Coach must complete the SPIRIT RULES TEST and achieve a passing score of 80% or higher.​

                      A certificate of completion must be uploaded.

• NDCCA Membership

  • In order to be added to the certified list, a coach must have an NDCCA membership.​

  • Coaches attending the annual coaches convention will receive their membership at no cost. 

• Professional Development Requirement
  Coaches must attend at least one approved bona fide camp, stunt clinic, or annual coaches convention.
  Approved events are listed on the  Bona-Fide Camp webpage.

• Continuing Education (5-Year Requirement)
  Coaches entering their sixth year and every five years thereafter must complete an additional approved course prior to the start of that season.
  The USA Cheer Safety and Risk Management Course and Coaches Convention may be used to fulfill this requirement.

• Optional Resources

  • Additional optional courses are available in the Resources tab.

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Important Notes

• A coach will not be considered certified until all required components and documentation have been completed and submitted.

• In schools with multiple cheer teams and different coaches, each team must have its own certified coach in order to stunt. Each coach must be officially recognized by the school as the coach of that specific squad.
  (Example: If separate coaches oversee girls’ and boys’ basketball cheer teams, both must be individually certified.)

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To complete the Cheer Coach Certification application please go to the Certification Application page. 

Updated May 2025

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