How To Become A Judge
The Judges Educational Programme (JEP) was made mandatory in 2021 by the Kennel Club. The JEP is a new system to train and qualify new judges.
To check the KC Website for Seminars please click the link below.
KC Launches New JEP Online System
In January 2025 the KC launched its long awaited online JEP system, via MyKC Website.
This system allows you to log your progression through the JEP Judging levels and officially approves you for the different levels in different breeds as you go.
It will automatically bring through your certificates for any KC seminars you have attended (RDSJ, Points of Dog, Conformation & Movement etc.) and you can upload your certificates for your Breed Appreciation Days (BADs) and Multiple Choice Exams (MCEs). You can add your Stewarding Days and Judging numbers, via a drop down date and dog show list. You can also upload Mentoring and Observation forms and select your Stud Book numbers from dogs on your MyKC account.
If any of your certificates are missing there is a quick form to fill in (via a link on the specific page). Although there are some teething problems the KC team are finding certificates and approving levels, usually within 24 hours.
Once approved for Level 1, you will be added to the KC Find a Judge page, where show secretaries can find your information.
JEP Level 1
Requirements to meet JEP L1
Requirements to meet JEP L1
Requirements to meet JEP L1
- Minimum of five years proven interest in pedigree dogs
- Attend a conformation and movement seminar
- Complete a minimum of two full-day stewarding appointments
- Attend a requirements of a dog show judge seminar and Pass the exam (either in person or online via the KC Academy)
- Pass the Points of a Dog Assessment
Eligibility to Judge
Requirements to meet JEP L1
Requirements to meet JEP L1
Up to three classes (four if one is a puppy class) for any breed at limited or open shows.
JEP Level 2
Requirements to meet JEP L2
Requirements to meet JEP L2
Requirements to meet JEP L2
First breed:
- Attend a breed appreciation day (BAD) and pass a multiple-choice examination (MCE) for the respective breed
- View the Ring Stewarding seminar and take online quiz via the KC Academy
- Complete the Critique Writing seminar and take online quiz via the KC Academy
Subsequent breeds
- Attend a breed appreciation day (BAD) and pass a multiple-choice examination (MCE) for each breed. Note: Not mandatory for group judge for breeds in the group that they are not approved at level 4, but attendance strongly recommended
Eligibility to Judge
Requirements to meet JEP L2
Requirements to meet JEP L2
- Unlimited number of classes for the respective breed at limited, open or championship shows (no CCs)
- Any variety classes, groups and best in show at limited shows
JEP Level 3
Requirements to meet JEP L3
Requirements to meet JEP L3
Requirements to meet JEP L3
- Undergo minimum of three mentoring sessions with a minimum of 12 months between first and third session
- Be observed judging a breed club show, breed supported entry show or championship show without CCs once mentoring sessions have been undertaken
- Complete remaining 10 full-day stewarding appointments (onetime qualification)
- Have owned/bred a minimum of three dogs when they obtained their first entry in The Kennel Club Stud Book – save for exceptional circumstances (one-time qualification for first breed in which a judge awards CCs)
- Attended the appropriate sub-group field trial/open gundog working test for first gundog breed or ring procedure at licensed shows (German Shepherd Dog education programme) online exam (one-time qualification)
- Have achieved the relevant hands-on experience in line with the stated requirements for the relevant breed:
See below 'Hands On' Experience Breed Numbers
Eligibility to Judge
Requirements to meet JEP L3
Requirements to meet JEP L3
- Unlimited number of classes for the respective breed at limited, open or championship shows (no CCs)
- Any variety classes groups and best in show at limited shows
JEP Level 4 - Awarding CCs
Requirements to meet JEP L4
Requirements to meet JEP L4
Requirements to meet JEP L4
- Attend and passed a breed-specific assessment for the specific breed run by The Kennel Club
Eligibility to Judge
Requirements to meet JEP L4
Requirements to meet JEP L4
- Award Challenge Certificates in the respective breed
- Any variety classes, groups and best in show at open and limited shows
'Hands On' Judging Experience By Breed Tier
Tier 1 = 15 Dogs
Hound group: Basset Fauve De Bretagne, Basset Griffon Vendeen (Grand), Bloodhound, Finnish Spitz, Greyhound, Ibizan Hound, Norwegian Elkhound, Otterhound, Pharaoh Hound
Gundog group: Brittany, German Wirehaired Pointer, Retriever (Chesapeake Bay), Retriever (Curly Coated), Spaniel (Clumber), Spaniel (Irish Water)
Terrier group: Australian Terrier, Cesky Terrier, Glen Of Imaal Terrier, Irish Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Lakeland Terrier, Manchester Terrier, Norwich Terrier, Sealyham Terrier, Skye Terrier, Welsh Terrier
Utility group: Shar Pei
Pastoral group: Australian Cattle Dog, Collie (Smooth), Hungarian Puli, Norwegian Buhund, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Swedish Vallhund
Working group: Bouvier Des Flandres, Mastiff
Toy group: Lowchen (Little Lion Dog), Maltese
Tier 2 = 20 Dogs
Hound group: Basenji, Basset Griffon Vendeen (Petit)
Gundog group: Bracco Italiano, Irish Red & White Setter, Large Munsterlander, Spaniel (American Cocker), Spaniel (Field), Spaniel (Sussex), Spanish Water Dog
Terrier group: Airedale Terrier, Bedlington Terrier, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Norfolk Terrier, Parson Russell Terrier, Scottish Terrier
Utility group: Akita, Keeshond, Schipperke, Schnauzer
Pastoral group: Briard, Finnish Lapphund, Lancashire Heeler, Pyrenean Mountain Dog
Working group: Giant Schnauzer, Portuguese Water Dog, St. Bernard, Tibetan Mastiff
Toy group: English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan), Griffon Bruxellois, Italian Greyhound, Pekingese
Tier 3 = 35 Dogs
Hound group: Basset Hound, Borzoi, Deerhound, Irish Wolfhound, Saluki
Gundog group: German Shorthaired Pointer, Hungarian Vizsla, Hungarian Wire Haired Vizsla, Italian Spinone, Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling)
Terrier group: Cairn Terrier, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, West Highland White Terrier
Utility group: Boston Terrier, Chow Chow, Japanese Shiba Inu, Japanese Spitz, Miniature Schnauzer
Pastoral group: Australian Shepherd, German Shepherd Dog, Old English Sheepdog, Samoyed, Welsh Corgi (Cardigan), Welsh Corgi (Pembroke)
Working group: Alaskan Malamute, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bullmastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux, Leonberger, Newfoundland, Siberian Husky
Toy group: Affenpinscher, Bichon Frise, Chinese Crested, Havanese, King Charles Spaniel, Miniature Pinscher, Yorkshire Terrier
Tier 4 = 60 Dogs
Hound group: Afghan Hound, Beagle, Rhodesian Ridgeback
Gundog group: English Setter, Gordon Setter, Pointer, Spaniel (English Springer), Spaniel (Welsh Springer), Weimaraner
Utility group: Bulldog, Dalmatian, French Bulldog, Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu, Tibetan Spaniel, Tibetan Terrier
Pastoral group: Bearded Collie, Border Collie, Collie (Rough), Shetland Sheepdog
Working group: Dobermann, Great Dane, Rottweiler
Toy group: Japanese Chin, Papillon, Pomeranian
Tier 5 = 90 Dogs
Gundog group: Irish Setter, Retriever (Flat Coated), Spaniel (Cocker)
Terrier group: Border Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Working group: Boxer
Toy group: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Pug
Tier 6 = 125 Dogs
Hound group: Whippet
Gundog group: Retriever (Golden), Retriever (Labrador)
Other
All non-CC breeds are to be classed as tier 2 breeds with the exception of the Catalan Sheepdog, Greenland Dog, Estrela Mountain Dog and Hovawart, which are tier 1 breeds at the request of the breed clubs.
For those breeds with varieties:
- Dachshund: 125 Dachshunds of any combination of the six varieties
- Poodle: 75 Poodles of any combination of Poodle (Miniature), Poodle (Standard) and Poodle (Toy), which must include a minimum of 15 of each variety
- German Spitz: 35 German Spitz of any combination of German Spitz (Klein) and German Spitz (Mittel)
- Fox Terrier: 35 Fox Terriers of any combination of Fox Terrier (Smooth) and Fox Terrier (Wire)
- Bull Terrier: 40 Bull Terriers of any combination of Bull Terrier and Bull Terrier (Miniature)
- Belgian Shepherd Dog: 35 Belgian Shepherd Dogs, any combination of Groenendael, Tervueren, Malinois and Laekenois
- Chihuahua: 100 Chihuahuas, any combination of Long Coat or Smooth Coat
The following types of event may be used to claim hands-on experience numbers:
- Breed classes at championship shows without CCs
- Breed classes at open shows
- Breed classes at limited shows
- Mock/training classes at breed club shows (practical judging days) – only one occasion can be claimed and a maximum of five dogs
- Dogs judged at Kennel Club approved assessments, maximum of five dogs – only one occasion and a maximum of five dogs. Cannot be used in addition to mock classes
- Dogs judged at inter or intra-club single-breed matches
- Special award classes at breed club shows
- Supported entry shows
- Dogs judged at single breed dog of the year competitions
- Overseas appointments
Dogs judged at the following types of event may not be included in a judge’s hands-on experience:
- AVNSC and variety classes
- At fun days
- Conjointly with other judges at events where the candidate judge is not required to give independent judgment on the dogs
- Any JEP mentoring sessions