Hello once again my judges friends! I would like to treat one really, really, really important topic: Judge Level Maintenance.
In the past of the judge program we have lacked quality control and maintenance of judge levels. This is something the IJP has decided to address from the very beginning. In the definition of each level you can see a Maintenance section. This section contains the requirements you must meet to maintain that level. There are mostly three types of maintenance items:
- Pass some exams or Update Quizzes. There are Standard (for L1, 2 & 3 maintenance) and Advanced (for L4 & 5 maintenance) Update Quizzes. You can create and take them here https://apps.magicjudges.org/exams/.
If you didn’t pass enough Update Quizzes to maintain your level during 2024, during the month of January there will be a yearly exam you can take to maintain your level. - Activity requirements. Each level has some minimum activity requirement that is usually presented with several options from which you can choose the ones that fit you best.
- Maintain membership in the IJP by being up-to-date on their membership dues. For the years 2024 and 2025 the membership fee is ZERO. Instead we have decided to fund the association via volunteer donations, so each person can contribute according to their circumstances. Our long term goal is never having to charge a membership fee to our judges.
I just became a member of the IJP during 2024, do I need to maintain my level?
The rule of thumb is that you don’t need to maintain your level in the year you level up. Otherwise you do need to maintain your level.
Let’s look at examples for different cases.
You are a Level 1
- If you were an L0 and you passed the IJP Level 1 exam during 2024, then you don’t need to do maintenance in 2024.
- If you were a Judge Academy L1 who transferred your level to the IJP in 2024, then you DO need to do maintenance for L1 this year (because you didn’t level up).
You are a Level 2
- If you were a Judge Academy L1 and you passed the IJP Level 2 certification during 2024, then you don’t need to do maintenance in 2024.
- If you were a Judge Academy L2 who transferred your level to the IJP in 2024, then you DO need to do maintenance for L2 this year (because you didn’t level up).
You are a Level 3
- If you were a Judge Academy L2 and you passed the IJP Level 3 certification during 2024, then you don’t need to do maintenance in 2024.
- If you were a Judge Academy L3 who transferred your level to the IJP in 2024, then you DO need to do maintenance for L3 this year (because you didn’t level up).
You are a Level 4
- If you were a Judge Academy L2 and you passed the IJP Level 4 certification during 2024, using Path 2 (accelerated certification), then you don’t need to do maintenance in 2024.
- If you were a Judge Academy L3 and you passed the IJP Level 4 certification during 2024, using Path 2 (accelerated certification), then you don’t need to do maintenance in 2024.
- If you were a Judge Academy L2 with a Team Lead Certification and you passed the IJP Level 4 certification during 2024, using Path 1 (automatic certification), then you DO need to do maintenance for L4 this year (because you didn’t level up; if you were allowed to take Path 1 you were already performing as an L4 and you skipped the panel, practical evaluations and interview).
- If you were a Judge Academy L3 and you passed the IJP Level 4 certification during 2024, using Path 1 (automatic certification), then you DO need to do maintenance for L4 this year (because you didn’t level up; if you were allowed to take Path 1 you were already performing as an L4 and you skipped the panel, practical evaluations and interview).
You are a Level 5
- If you were a Judge Academy L3 and you passed the IJP Level 5 certification during 2024, using Path 2 (accelerated certification), then you don’t need to do maintenance in 2024.
- If you were a Judge Academy L3 and you passed the IJP Level 5 certification during 2024, using Path 1 (automatic certification), then you DO need to do maintenance for L5 this year (because you didn’t level up; if you were allowed to take Path 1 you were already performing as an L5 and you skipped the panel, practical evaluations and interview).
Which Update Quizzes are available?
At the moment of editing this article we have the following Update Quizzes available:
- Advanced MKM
- Basic and Advanced OTJ, MH3 and BLB
- Basic and Advanced DSK are a work in progress to be released soon
Do you want to be part of the team creating those exams? Send an email to the IJP Exams Manager, Daniel Solé.
What happens if I don’t succeed in my level maintenance?
You will go down one level. No worries, this is not the end of the world, you can retest again for the level when your personal circumstances allow you to have the activity and demonstrate the quality required for that level.
Indeed, in the life of a long lasting judge there is going to have moments when your activity level is high and you will be at the top of your skills and some other times when you won’t be that active (due to work, family, studies, other hobbies, or other factors) and that is totally fine! Judging should be fun and rewarding. If at some point in your life you want to focus on something else, it’s cool, but we want your judge level to match that reality.
No worries, your judge level will be there waiting for you when you want it back.
Note that in order to be a member of the IJP you must hold at least one (1) IJP certification level, if due to maintenance you lose all your certifications you will also lose membership to the IJP until you recertify.
As always, if you have questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to your Regional Advisor, who will be able to help guide you through the maintenance process. At this point we also want to say thank you again to the many teams that make this process possible and help enact it: The Temporary Regional Advisors, the Exam Content Project, the Mentoring and Education Project, the Translation project and many other helpers!
