Today’s popularity of the ”Pokémon Trading Card Game”  – ”Pokémon TCG” – is supported behind the scenes by multitudes of Pokémon TCG enthusiasts eager to play an active role in the organization and operation of Pokémon events and competitions on all levels. To make sure only the most qualified supporters are selected to perform these important roles, we’ve created a system of “Official Certification.”

Under the Official Certification System, certification is awarded to qualified candidates in two categories: “Event Organizers,” who serve as organizers or operators of sanctioned Pokémon TCG events, and “Official Judges,” who serve as judges at official Pokémon TCG competitions.

Needless to say, the people who aspire to acquiring Official Certification tend to be players with a deep love of Pokémon TCG. They seek Official Certification out of a desire to convey and spread the joy of playing Pokémon TCG to as many people as possible.

The Official Certification System and its accompanying examination were launched in 2015. At the time, there were only a limited number of venues where Pokémon TCG players could get together and indulge their passion for the game. Pokémon was well aware of the situation, and was determined to do something about it.

In the United States and Europe, players of card games were already active in organizing related events and supporting competitions in the role of judges. A culture of active involvement in expanding card game communities was deeply ingrained.

Pokémon was confident that if a similar culture were developed in Japan, Pokémon TCG’s popularity would surely grow and expand as never before. This was the motivation that led to the creation and launch of the Official Certification System.
To acquire Official Certification, candidates first take a written examination online that tests their knowledge of Pokémon TCG rules. Those who pass next proceed to an online interview, and successful candidates acquire qualification as an Event Organizer. Those who wish to become Official Judges undergo subsequent training toward acquiring that highly demanding qualification.

While the Official Certification System is devised to allow all experienced Pokémon TCG players to try their luck at gaining certification, game knowledge alone doesn’t guarantee success. At Pokémon we believe candidates also need to demonstrate a deep desire to spread the joy and enjoyment of Pokémon TCG to others.

Candidates who acquire certification as Event Organizers are able to independently organize sanctioned Pokémon TCG events. Often, Event Organizers start by organizing events for novice players: for example, competitions for players with no previous competitive experience and events focused on teaching. When holding such certified events, Pokémon lends its support by providing playmats, play guides, and the like.

Surprisingly, candidates seeking Official Certification include many parents of young Pokémon TCG players. For a long time they played the game together with their children, but as their children grew older, often they no longer sought the company of their parents. This left many parents with advanced skills at Pokémon TCG but nowhere to use them. So, many such parents decide to seek Official Certification in order to teach what they know to children in their local communities – just like little league baseball coaches do.

Others seek Official Certification out of a desire to create places to play Pokémon TCG in local areas where no events are currently available.

In these various ways, by teaching children how to play Pokémon TCG, by assisting at game-playing venues, and by creating new venues for play, Event Organizers today are supporting steady expansion in the number of places where players can enjoy the game.

Official Judges make sure that everything goes smoothly at official tournaments and events. Their duties range from confirming the rules of play during competitions and resolving any problems that might arise, to attending to players’ needs, and so on.

The venues where Official Judges assist are quite diverse, from competitions of small scale to national championships. At City League tournaments, a team of four or five judges collaborates to support smooth operation. In 2024, more than 2,000 such events took place around Japan, with upwards of 10,000 judges participating in their official capacity.

At Champions League events – competitions typically held five times every year, bringing together over 7,000 players each time – more than 200 OfficialCertified Judges support operations at each event.Fair and impartial operation of large-scale Pokémon TCG tournaments is especially crucial at competitions targeting national or global championships. Here, Official Judges provide support to ensure that all players can take part safely and securely. Many judges are said to pursue Official Certification out of a desire to support Pokémon TCG after they themselves ceased participating as competitors.
 

At Pokémon, the first thing we tell new Event Organizers and Official Judges is our desire that they will be role models as players of Pokémon TCG. Even in their official capacity, we hope they will be not just teachers but players others will seek to emulate.

As more and more Pokémon TCG players take steps to spread the enjoyment and appeal of the game through the Official Certification System, the circle of game players will continue to evolve and expand well into the future.