2026 International Umpire Examination

To increase the number of certified International Umpires and further enhance the standard of officiating at all levels of competition worldwide, the ITTF continues to conduct the International Umpire Examination online. This initiative also supports Member Associations in developing and strengthening their Match Officials education pathways.

TTAM invites all eligible National Umpires (NUs) who are interested in taking the 2026 ITTF International Umpire Examination to submit their application.

Interested candidates are required to complete the online registration form no later than 15 August 2026.

Registration Form: https://forms.gle/7d4ikowaWbxFX3jy5

The entry fee for the examination is RM250.00 per candidate payable to TTAM.

*Remark: Please do not make payment until receive the confirmation from TTAM to proceed payment.

Information about the exam

• The 2026 International Umpire Exam will be run online via the ITTF educational platform.

• The exam will be open in the period 10 November - 30 November 2026.

• The exam will be available in the following 9 languages: English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Russian.

Candidates’ Requirements and Recommendations:

• IU candidates must have excellent knowledge and understanding of the Laws of Table Tennis, and Regulations, for International Competitions, as well as of the Handbook for Match Officials and/or any similar publications that they may have received by their MA or the ITTF.

• An age limit applies for accessing the IU exam – candidates must be born on 1 January 2006 or before

• Candidates must have passed the Umpires Level 2 (National Umpire) Exam (or equivalent), following the ITTF education program or second level under Member Association´s own umpire education and qualification program for at least 2 years, and that they have a proven umpiring experience in 3 national championships or 2 international events in the past 4 years.

• Competence in English Language.

• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office and of Internet browsers is also recommended.

• Candidates can’t retake the IU Examination more than twice in a five-year period

International Umpire Examination Preparatory Course:

• Candidates registered for the 2026 IU Examination will be automatically enrolled in a mandatory preparatory course before the exam.

• The preparatory Course will take place between 1 October and 25 October 2026.

• The course will be offered in 6 languages: English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French and Russian.

• The Course will consist of 2 sessions and 6 hours in total

• Announcement of the Course and enrollment details will be shared with the registered candidates in September.

Technical Requirements:

• Each candidate must do the examination on their own device, i.e. laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

• Stable Internet access has to be assured during the 1 hour when the candidates will be carrying out the exam.

After Exam

All candidates will receive the result of their exam through the LMS immediately after the completion of the exam. Successful candidates will receive an International Umpire e-Certificate. Please note that: the International Umpire certificate will be only available in a pdf format and will be uploaded on the Moodle platform, where candidates can download it using the same credentials as the exam.

After the validation of the overall examination outcome, successful candidates will:

• Be included in the ITTF Database of Umpires.

• Need to refresh their knowledge regularly to be able to keep the IU status active.

• Need to officiate in at least one ITTF sanctioned event in 2 calendar years to be able to keep the IU status active.
  

After having been an IU for at least 2 years (November 2028 at the earliest) they will also be eligible for nomination to Advanced Umpire training seminars conducted at selected international events.