Dan Certification

This application can be used for Dan Promotion Examination or for Dan Conversion, simply select the appropriate box. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat, and do not wish to download, send a request via email to info@ustw.org for the application in another format.

Download the USTW Dan Application

Article #1—Purpose

The purpose of the United States Taekwondo Won (USTW) Dan Certification and Promotion Regulations is to provide formalized structure and documentation procedures through certification for all members.

Article #2—Authority

The USTW, its President, and Dan Promotion Board shall be the governing organization, which has the authority to approve and administer national, state, and local promotion examinations. The USTW, as the governing organization, also reserves the right to issue its own Dan certification in recognition of the promotion examinations.

Article #3—Obligations

The USTW Supreme Dan Promotion Board is responsible for the administration of promotion examinations for Dan testing for all USTW members.

Article #4—Examination Administration

The examination comprising the practical techniques and theory tests shall be conducted as follows:

Classification of Promotion Examination
- National Promotion Examination
- Special Promotion Examination
- State Promotion Examination
- Local Promotion Examination
The 1st Dan may be tested by the USTW Local Promotion Board
The 4th Dan may be tested by the USTW State Promotion Board
5th Dan and higher must be tested by the Supreme Promotion Board of the USTW. However, the Supreme
Board reserves the right to delegate this authority to either a Special or State Promotion Board, as needed.
The Supreme Promotion Board of the USTW also reserves the right to supervise all delegated promotion
examinations.

Article #5—Promotion Board

The Promotion Boards shall be organized and classified as follows:

     The Supreme Promotion Board shall be headed by a Chairperson—a senior Dan member appointed by the
     President of the USTW. The members of the Supreme Promotion Board shall be recommended by the Chair
     and be approved by the President. All members must hold the rank of 7th Dan or higher. The Chairperson
     and all members of the Supreme Promotion Board must be registered members of the USTW. The Supreme
     Promotion Board must administer all promotion examinations for candidates seeking 6th through 10th Dan.
     The Special Promotion Board shall be headed by a Chairperson—a senior Dan member appointed by the
     President of the USTW. The members of the Special Promotion Board must hold the rank of 7th Dan or
     higher. This Special Board shall be responsible for administering national Dan level promotion examinations
     and special promotion examinations. The Chairperson and all members of the Special Promotion Board must
     be registered members of the USTW.
     The State Promotion Board shall be comprised of senior members of the USTW state association, holding
     qualifications commensurate to the level of the rank examined. The Chairperson shall be one of the highest
     rank holders—but holding 4th Dan or higher. This Board shall recommend candidates up to two (2) Dan ranks
     below the rank of the Chairperson or Chief Examiner. The Chief Examiner and all members of the State
     Promotion Board must be registered members of the USTW.
     The Local Promotion Board shall be comprised of senior members of the school or association holding a
     minimum rank of 4th Dan and one (1) Dan rank above the rank being examined. The Chief Examiner must be
     registered with the USTW as a recognized examiner. All members of the Local Board must be registered
     members of the USTW. And the school or club must be registered with the USTW. The Local Board shall
     recommend up to two (2) Dan ranks under the rank of the Chief Examiner.

Article #6—General Requirements

Eligibility for all promotions is based on the following criteria:

Moral character, attitude, and maturity
Technical proficiency
General experience, education, contributions to the development of Taekwondo
Time in grade

In addition, all candidates for promotion must be members of the USTW and have the recommendation of his/her instructor.

In unusual circumstances where a candidate for promotion is independent, the procedure is as follows:

The candidate must provide one (1) letter of reference from a qualified USTW examiner holding the rank of
5th Dan or higher and at least two (2) Dan ranks above the candidate (up to 7th Dan).
The independent candidate will be considered individually according to his/her recommendations, other letters
of reference and supporting materials.
The Special Promotion Board or the Supreme Promotion Board of the USTW may request an oral interview of
the independent candidate.
All Dan promotion applications from independent candidates are subject to review and acceptance by the
Supreme Promotion Board of the USTW.

All candidates for promotion must observe and follow all USTW Rules and Regulations.

All candidates for promotion must wear a uniform approved by the USTW or Kukkiwon during promotion examinations.

Article #7—Promotion Requests/Examinations

Affiliated schools and clubs shall conduct promotion examinations on a regular interval. All Special, State, and Local promotion requests must be submitted to the USTW at least thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled promotion date for review and comment.

The examination board responsible for administering a test, whether Special, State, or Local, must report to the USTW within twenty (20) days of the date of a completed examination. The report must include copies of all promotion applications and test results and will be accompanied by all fees due the USTW.

Article #8—Time In Grade

Time in grade is the time spent in the present rank and is not cumulative. Time in grade is computed from the time the candidate's present rank was officially registered with the USTW Supreme Dan Promotion Board.

Rank	Minimum Time In Grade	Minimum Age
1st Dan	36 months training	10 years & younger
2nd Dan	2 years	16 years old
3rd Dan	3 years	16 years old
4th Dan	4 years	18 Years old
5th Dan	5 years	23 years old
6th Dan	6 years	29 years old
7th Dan	7 years	36 years old
8th Dan	8 years	44 years old
9th Dan	9 years	53 years old
10th Dan	10 years	60 years old

Time in grade exceptions may be granted based on a documented record of training. The documentation must be submitted with any request for an exception.

Article #9—Classification of Promotion Examinations

Promotion examinations shall be classified as follows:

Regularly scheduled 1st through 4th Dan
Regularly scheduled 5th Dan and higher
Special

An Honorary Dan is granted to an eminent personality who has greatly contributed to the development or promotion of Taekwondo.

A Posthumous Dan is a next higher Dan rank granted to a Taekwondo practitioner with remarkable achievements in Taekwondo who has passed away.

Article #10—Performance of Examinations

The requirements for promotion are the standards of the USTW and must be followed by all Supreme, Special, State, and Local boards of examiners. Testing and evaluation must be conducted by using a combination of practical/physical, verbal, and written examinations.

All promotion examinations must have a practical test.
Tests for candidates for 5th Dan or higher must include Theory (written examination or thesis).

Article #11—Content of Examination

     Practical test— shall include Poomse (form), Gyoroogi (free sparring), semi-sparring, Kyukpa (breaking),
     self-defense, and a verbal exam for all Dan Promotion candidates through and including 6th Dan. Dan
     Promotion candidates for 7th Dan shall be void of the Gyoroogi (free sparring) requirement. Dan Promotion
     candidates for 8th Dan shall be void of the Gyoroogi (free sparring) and Kyukpa (breaking) requirements. Dan
     Promotion candidates for 9th and 10th Dan shall be void of the physical content of the practical test and shall
   only be subject to the verbal exam. Modified practical testing requirements for any Dan Promotion candidate
     who can legitimately demonstrate a physical disability or other “special need” shall be recommended by the
     Supreme Promotion Board and approved by the President.
Theory—shall include a written or oral examination or a written thesis on a designated subject (consisting of
10 or more type written pages)

Article #12—Examination Grading System

The grading system used for the Promotion Examinations will be a 10 point scale for each element of the candidate's examination—with 10 being the highest and 1 being the lowest. A score will be assigned to each element of the candidate's exam by the members of the Promotion Board, with a minimum grade of 6.5 as "passing."

Article #13 - Dan Promotion and Certification Fees

Rank	Certification Fee
1st Dan	$50
2nd Dan	$75
3rd Dan	$100
4th Dan	$125
5th Dan	$150
6th Dan	$175
7th Dan	$200
8th Dan	$225
9th Dan	$250
10th Dan	$275

Any member who holds a valid and current Dan Certificate from another legitimate martial arts organization may apply for a USTW Dan Conversion to that current rank without being required to take a USTW Promotion Examination. Applicants for Dan Conversion must submit to the Office of the President, for processing a completed USTW Dan Promotion/Conversion Application together with copies of the last two Dan Certificates issued to the Applicant and the appropriate Dan Certification Fee listed, above pursuant to these Regulations. The Dan Conversion Fee will be $40 if the request is being submitted in conjunction with the application for another USTW Certification (e.g., Instructor).

Article #14—Administrative Issues

All applications/requests for promotion (and supporting documents, if any), test results, and fees shall be first sent to the USTW President's office.

The Supreme Promotion Board, subject to review, approval, and recommendation, will send all applications/requests, test results, and fees to the USTW President for final approval.

Once approved by the President, certificates of promotion shall be issued and shall be countersigned by the President and the Chairperson of the Supreme Promotion Board.

Article #15—Privileges

Under special circumstances such as advanced education, special contribution to the development of Taekwondo, or international tournament experience, the Supreme Promotion Board may grant one reduction in a specific aspect of a promotion examination. This consideration may be taken only one time in the career of a candidate.

The following are examples of special circumstances, but are not all inclusive:

Outstanding people—those individuals documenting involvement in exceptional training and research.
Eminent personality—those individuals with documented contribution to promotion and development
of Taekwondo.

Article #16—Chairperson of the Supreme Promotion Board

The Chairperson of the Supreme Promotion Board shall be recognized as having the authority to administer all promotion examinations for candidates seeking USTW promotion status. This authority is derived from the USTW Dan Certification Promotion Regulations, as published and approved by the Board of Directors.

Article #17—Promotion Examination Administration

     All applications for promotion, supporting documentation, test results, and fees must be submitted to and
     approved by the office of the President. The President will refer applications to the appropriate Promotion
     Board for handling.

    The Supreme Board of the USTW must review all applications and test results and submit recommendations
     for promotion to the President within twenty (20) days after receipt from Special, State, or Local promotion
     boards.

The USTW Supreme Promotion Board must issue certificates of promotion (if warranted) or notices of
declination (if warranted) within thirty (30) days after receipt of the original promotion recommendations.

Article #18 - Gup Certification Program (Optional)

All affiliated school and club members, in good standing, may elect to participate in the optional USTW Gup Certification Program when conducting and administering their promotion examinations for ranks below the 1st Dan. Official USTW Gup Certificates, in blank and in bulk, shall be ordered strictly from the USTW and shall only be used by eligible school and club members that elect to participate in the optional USTW Gup Certification Program, pursuant to the Regulations and program fees approved by the USTW Board of Directors.

The Regulations applicable to all eligible school and club members, that elect to participate in the optional USTW Gup Certification Program, are as follows:

     General Requirements—Eligibility of the candidates for all USTW promotions below the 1st Dan is
   based on the following criteria: moral character, attitude and maturity; technical proficiency; and, time in
     grade. All candidates for such promotions must be current members of the USTW, who observe and follow all
     USTW Rules and Regulations, and must wear a uniform approved by the USTW or the examining school/club
     member. The USTW reserves the right to determine the eligibility of the candidates for all USTW promotion
     examinations below the 1st Dan that are conducted by eligible school and club members who elect to
     participate in the optional USTW Gup Certification Program.
     Examination Performance/Content—The requirements for all USTW promotions below the 1st Dan
     are the standards of the USTW and must be followed by the examining school/club member. All such
     promotion examinations must have a practical test. Testing and evaluation by the examining school/club
     member must be conducted by using a combination of physical and verbal components. The content and the
     grading system to be used for all such promotion examinations shall be established and determined by the
     examining school/club member. The USTW reserves the right to approve, monitor and supervise all USTW
     promotion examinations below the 1st Dan that are conducted by eligible school and club members
     who elect to participate in the optional USTW Gup Certification Program.
     Administrative Issues—All applications, supporting documentation, test results and fees for all USTW
     promotions below the 1st Dan shall be submitted to, approved, recorded and maintained by the
     examining school/club member. The examining school/club member must issue a USTW Gup Certificate (if
     warranted) or a Notice of Declination (if warranted) within thirty (30) days after completion of the promotion
     examination. All USTW Gup Certificates issued by the examining school/club member must be countersigned
     by a USTW individual member in good standing who holds a current USTW Dan Certificate. The USTW
     reserves the right to approve, monitor and supervise all eligible school and club members who elect to
     participate in the optional USTW Gup Certification Program.