There are two paths to achieve National status: NATIONAL INSTRUCTOR: candidates must have refereed at the highest levels of the game. National or International Panel personnel having held that status for at least 3 years are the principal candidates for National Instructor. Candidates must also have successfully completed Associate, Referee and State Instructor course work as well as 2 National Instructor modules or 1 Module and a Special Project. Appointment will only be made by the Director of Instruction, based upon candidates individual expertise as an instructor and his or her knowledge and experience of refereeing at the highest levels of the game during the time the individual was refereeing.

Candidates must possess skills and competencies required and valued by the Referee Development Program, but may not be required to have refereed at high levels of the game. Candidates must have successfully completed Associate, Referee and State Instructor course work as well as 4 National Instructor Modules or 3 Modules and a Special Project. Candidates may be required to provide a portfolio of original soccer instructional work. Appointment will only be made by the Director of Instruction, based upon the candidate's individual expertise as an instructor or in a specific area of skill or competency possessed by that individual. National Instructor Trainers must meet all the Law Knowledge requirements that a National Instructor is required to meet.

NATIONAL STATUS IS NOT GRANTED AUTOMATICALLY. In addition to the above, people knowing the candidate as well as the general soccer community must respect the person and value the contribution made by the individual.