All active NAVHDA Judges must meet the following requirements to maintain their judging status. 

1. All Judges are required to attend a NAVHDA Judges Workshop every year. There are three opportunities to attend each year: one in person at the Annual Meeting and two virtual sessions.

2. All Judges are required to handle and pass a dog they have trained in a sanctioned NAVHDA Natural Ability, Utility Preparatory, Utility or Invitational Test within a four-year period beginning in the year of your appointment as a NAVHDA Judge. As soon as you handle and pass one of the above-named tests, a new four-year period begins.
Additionally, every NAVHDA Judge must handle and pass a dog he or she has trained in a sanctioned NAVHDA Utility Preparatory, Utility or Invitational Test within an eight-year period beginning in the year of your original appointment as a NAVHDA Judge. As soon as you handle and pass one of the above-named tests, a new eight-year period begins. Please note that no grace periods will be provided.

3. When assigned to judge a test, you must submit an evaluation of the performance of each participating Apprentice Judge, and a test report.

4. All NAVHDA Judges are brought up for review by the Executive Council annually and qualified persons are reappointed for the following year.