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Certification and Education with the CFMA

CFMA Certification Application Procedures for Safety Officers, Instructors, and Competition Coaches
This certification program will be periodically reviewed and updated.  This version is effective from 1 June 2024.
The CFMA works hard to enrich and safeguard our exciting sport through implementing and following standards and best practices at every level of development.
As Mounted Archery is a relatively new and quickly growing sport, we believe that quality guidance, direction, and support during education, training, and athlete development is essential to mitigate risks. 
To assist in this effort, the CFMA has implemented standards and associated certification protocols for Mounted Archery Safety Officer (SO), Mounted Archery Instructor (MAI), and Mounted Archery Competition Coach (MACC).  Below we describe these three roles and the requirements for achieving and maintaining certification status for each position.

All certifications (SO, MAI, MACC) are valid for five years.  The 5-year cycles are based on the calendar year end.   Thus any certification is valid (assuming all associated conditions are upheld) until December 31st five years after the year the certification is issued.

Mounted Archery Safety Officers (SO)

SO

​The CFMA introduced the certification program for SO in January 2022.  The duty of the Safety Officer is to encourage and ensure the safety of riders, horses, and spectators by following protocols as outlined in the Safety and Risk Management Guide.  Safety Officers are present at club events to ensure safe practices and to assist instructors and/or competition coaches.

 

The requirements to become a Mounted Archery Safety Officer are as follows:

  • Must be legal age in their province or territory

  • Must be a registered CFMA member (individual or CFMA club member)

  • Must be a current member of your provincial or territorial equestrian association

  • Must maintain current (Basic or higher) First Aid certification 


 

The steps involved to become a Mounted Archery Safety Officer are as follows:

 

Step One: Read the CFMA Safety and Risk Management Guide for Mounted Archery.

 

Step Two: Pass the online CFMA Safety Officer Exam

The examination for Safety Officer certification is an online, “Open Book” multiple-choice test. The suggested Study Material is the CFMA Safety and Risk Management Guide for Horse Archery, as the questions are based on the information provided in this guide. A score of 100% is required to pass. The applicant can return to the exam to change answers until they achieve the correct answers. Questions for this test will include (but are not limited to) the following topics:
• Types of risks and hazards
• Abbreviations pertaining to the Safety and Risk Management Guide
• Safety Officer duties and responsibilities
• Range commands
• Participant and spectator safety zones
• Archery equipment: storage, care, and inspection
• Numbers for recommended maximum students for each Safety Officer present
• Range and target set up

 

Step Three: Submit the required documents to the CFMA (email to mountedarcherycanada@gmail.com):

  •  CFMA Safety Officer application form, 

  • A copy/picture of your First Aid certification certificate,

  • A copy/picture of your current provincial/territorial equestrian association membership

 

Step Four: Pay the associated Certification Administration Fee

 

***Please note that the certification for Safety Officer is valid for FIVE (5) years and expires at the end of the 5th calendar year (December 31st).  Re-certification requires an up-to-date First Aid certification, current CFMA membership, current provincial/territorial equestrian association membership, and again passing the on-line CFMA SO exam. Recertification fee is $25.

Mounted Archery Instructor (MAI)

MAI

The CFMA introduced the certification program for Mounted Archery Instructor in January 2022. Certified Mounted Archery Instructors are individuals deemed by the CFMA as competent to safely and effectively introduce and teach the skills of mounted archery to students.  The aim of the MAI is to teach the mounted archer and the archery horse the required skills for mounted archery. Candidate instructors must demonstrate a broad knowledge covering archery, sport-specific and general equestrianism, and mounted archery educator abilities to pass the exam process.

 

The CFMA strongly encourages every certified instructor to continue learning more about mounted archery, its associated ground archery aspects, horse care and training, athlete and equine nutrition, and other related topics, and to constantly improve the quality of their knowledge and abilities to impart it to their students.  To incorporate such a philosophy of continuous learning into its Certification Program, the CFMA uses the concept of Professional Development Points and a Certification Maintenance Cycle as used within sport certification programs in the Coaching Association of Canada’s National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP).   For this, a long term record (log) is maintained to track and quantify any efforts to maintain or advance the educator’s capacity, and a certain amount of points over a specific time period is required to maintain the certification status.  Certified MA Instructors are required to keep this log of their Professional Development (PD) Activities, and submit this log to the CFMA in order that the certification remains current.

 

The requirements to become a Mounted Archery Instructor are that the candidate first be a Certified Mounted Archery Safety Officer in good standing, and then take the following steps  to become a Mounted Archery Instructor:

Step One:  Enhanced Police Information Check

Provide a copy of a clear Enhanced Police Information Check report. This can often be obtained through your Provincial/Territorial Equestrian Association, directly from your local Police Department, or through a third party provider.  The CFMA will provide an emailed request to your local police department if required.

 

Step Two:  Reading relevant Equestrian Canada and NCCP documents:

• Read NCCP Coaching Code of Ethics
• Read the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines
• Read EC Code of Ethics

 

Step Three:  Complete the following Equestrian Canada and NCCP on-line training modules:

• Complete the Equestrian Canada “Fostering Healthy Equestrian Environments” training module, available in the Equestrian Canada ECampus  Submit proof of completion from your EC Locker.
• Complete the Equestrian Canada (or, alternatively, the NCCP) “Concussion Awareness” training module (“Making Headway in Sport”), available in the Equestrian Canada ECampus https://www.equestrian.ca/programs-services/ecampus or via Sports Canada (NCCP). Submit proof of completion from your EC/NCCP Locker.
• Complete the NCCP “Making Ethical Decisions Online Evaluation”. Submit proof of completion from your NCCP Locker.
 

Step Four: Pass the online CFMA Instructor Exam

The online part of the Instructor Examination is an online, “Open Book” multiple-choice test. A score of 100% is required. The applicant can return to the exam to change answers until they achieve the correct answers. Questions for this test will include (but are not limited to) the following topics:

Equestrian:

  • Conformation of the horse

  • Footfalls and leg action of the horse – all gaits

  • Horse health: vital signs, comfort, teeth, hoof care etc.

  • Riding for Mounted Archery

  • Equipment and tack

  • Equitation: riding on a mounted archery track, aids and release, proper etiquette etc.

  • Horse training/desensitizing for Mounted Archery

  • Communication/ influence of aids for Mounted Archery riding

Archery Theory and Practice:

  • Archery equipment: names, terms, parts, mechanics, care and handling of the bow, arrow, target and range

  • Draw types for mounted archery

  • Equipment set-up and tuning

  • Target and track types

  • Horse Archery terms

Safety:

  • Risk control and management

  • Shooting line and target distances

  • Safety Zones

  • Equipment inspection and checks

 

Suggested study material for the online CFMA Instructor Exam:

 

Step Five: Pass the CFMA MAI Practical Exam

 The MAI Practical Exam can be taken in person during a CFMA Testing Event, or remotely through submitting videos, described in more detail HERE

 

Step Six: Read and sign the CFMA Instructor’s and Coach’s Agreement

 

Step Seven: Submit the required documents to the CFMA (email to mountedarcherycanada@gmail.com):

  • CFMA Instructor application form,together with 

  • The above-mentioned EC/NCCP course completion documents and requirements, and

  • A letter of recommendation from an existing student or mounted archery educator.

 

Step Eight:  Pay the associated certification administration fee:

 

Step Nine: Commence a log of Professional Development (PD) Activities (described here).  

 

  • Every 5 years a minimum of 20 PD points must be accumulated.  A Personal Development Activities Log will be issued to the new CFMA Instructor by the CFMA via a shared Goggle Drive document.   Points allocation will be monitored and in some cases determined by the CFMA Safety and Education Committee.     

 

Please note the following:

 

*Certification for CFMA Instructor does not expire as long as the Safety Officer and First Aid Certifications and memberships with the CFMA and provincial/territorial equestrian organization are kept current, and the required 20 points for PD Activities by the end of the 5-year cycle, as proven by their activity log, are achieved.  

 

**A $50 certification maintenance administration fee will be due payable to the CFMA at the end of each 5-year certification maintenance cycle.

Mounted Archery Competition Coach (MACC)

MACC

The CFMA introduced the certification program for Mounted Archery Competition Coach in June 2024.  The Competition Coach Certification is an extension of the Instructor Certification.  Competition Coaches have achieved all the qualifications of Instructors but are deemed also capable to guide, train, and further competition-oriented athletes and their horses in their competitive journey. For this, MACCs should have personal competition experience.  They must also have a broad knowledge of MA competition disciplines, and a general sport coaching education that includes the physical and psychological development of athletes.

 

The following are the requirements for the Mounted Archery Competition Coach:

  • Be a current CFMA Instructor (which includes being a current SO, and having paid the associated Certification Administration Fee for SO)

  • Have been actively engaged in Mounted Archery instruction or coaching for a minimum of 2 years (either as a certified educator or as an uncertified educator).

  • Achieved success in Mounted Archery competition with two or more results with a minimum in any of the following disciplines: WFEA OKS 60 points, IHAA Raid 233 34 points, IHAA T90 32 points, WHAF Serial 99 17 points.

  • Be a current judge within the judge frameworks of WFEA, IHAA, or WHAF (any level).

 

The following are the steps to become a Mounted Archery Competition Coach:
 

Step One:  Pass the Competition Coach Practical Exam.  

The MACC Practical Exam can be taken in person at an organized training/testing event, during a video call with CFMA evaluators, or remotely through submitting videos, described in detail HERE 

 

Step Two:  Submit the required application form available at the following link:

 

Step Three: Pay the associated Certification Administration Fee:

 

Step Four: Commence a log of Professional Development (PD) Activities (described here).  

 

  • Every 5 years a minimum of 30 PD points must be accumulated.  A Personal Development Activities Log will be issued to the new CFMA Competition Coach by the CFMA via a shared Goggle Drive Document.   Points allocation will be monitored and in some cases determined by the CFMA Safety and Education Committee.     

 

Please note the following:

 

* Certification for CFMA Competition Coach does not expire as long as the Safety Officer and First Aid certifications, and memberships with the CFMA and your provincial/territorial equestrian organization are kept current, and the required 30 points for PD Activities are achieved by the end of the 5-year cycle, as proven by their activity log.  

 

** A $50 certification maintenance administration fee will be due payable to the CFMA at the end of each 5-year certification maintenance cycle.  Note that this fee replaces the MAI Certification Maintenance Administration Fee (ie, only one $50 fee is required every 5 years for MACC maintenance).

 

***Fees for MACC certification applications submitted within the same calendar year as the initial MAI application are considered covered in full by the MAI application fee.

 

****Certificates for MACC replace those for MAI once MACC certification is achieved.

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