Coaching Certifications

NJSIAA Coaching Requirements

A person shall be eligible to coach in any interscholastic contest, provided the person satisfies all the conditions listed below.  A coach shall mean all persons who coach an interscholastic high school athletic team in any way, whether for pay or as a volunteer at the varsity, junior varsity, or freshman level ( 9th grade through 12th grade).

The person’s appointment as coach must be approved by the local educational agency responsible for the member school at which the person coaches.

In addition to the New Jersey Department of Education requirements, the following NJSIAA requirements must be completed:

1. CPR/AED/Basic First Aid Certification

All coaches must hold a current (valid) adult CPR/AED and Basic First Aid Certification.  Blended courses (online courses with an in-person instructor-evaluated skills test) are approved. Online courses without an in-person instructor-evaluated skills test are not approved.  All courses that the DOE approves for certification are acceptable. 

The link below is a list of approved DOE certification courses. 

2. NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching Course

All new coaches must complete the NFHS fundamentals of Coaching Course before their first employment as a coach.  A certificate of course completion must be submitted to the respective athletic supervisors.  Coaches who have experience coaching in an NJSIAA high school before the 2006-2007 school year will be exempt from this requirement.  This course is a one-time requirement. 

Please click on the link below for more information.

3. NFHS Concussion Course

All coaches must complete the NFHS Concussion in Sports Course.  This course must be renewed annually.

Please click on the link below for more information.

4. NFHS Heat Illness Prevention

All coaches must complete the NFHS Heat Illness Prevention Course.  This course must be renewed annually.

Please click on the link below for more information.

5. NFHS Implicit Bias Course

​​​​​​​All coaches must complete the NFHS Implicit Bias Course.  This course is a one-time requirement. 

Please click on the link below for more information.

6. BeNice Program

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​All coaches must complete the BeNice Program.  This course is a one-time requirement. 

​​​​​​​Please click on the link below for more information.

Note: Requirements 1 through 6 do not apply to the personnel appointed by the school to accompany student-athletes to individual events unless the school chooses to.  

7. Swimming & Diving Coaches

  • A valid CPR for professional rescuer certificate issued by the ARC or the YMCA.
  • A valid Lifeguard Certificate issued by the ARC or the YMCA.
  • A valid Water Safety Instructor (WSI) Certificate issued by fastswimprogram, the ARC, or the YMCA.

8. DOE Certification Requirements (Public Schools Only)

Public school coaches (including volunteer coaches) must have one of the two certifications below and completed all NJSIAA requirements listed above.

  1. NJ Teaching Certification
  2. NJ Instructional Substitute Credential (30 College Credits)

9. Paraprofessional Aid/Coach

  • Exempt from all certifications
  • Exempt from all coaching requirements
  • Must be under the direct supervision of a certified coach
  • Must not have any direct supervision responsibilities