NWANA Licenses
NWANA licenses are the official status of athletes and professionals in North American Nordic Walking. An active license records your level in the national registry, carries your official results, and opens the professional paths of the federation.
Athlete License
The Athlete License is the official competitive status of a Nordic Walking athlete in the NWANA system. NWANA Series events welcome every participant, and the official standings, season points, ratings, titles and awards belong to athletes with an active Athlete License. The U.S. and North American Championships race open categories for every participant and an official championship standings for licensed athletes.
$65 per year.
The license year runs to December 31. Licenses purchased from October 28, 2026 through December 31, 2026 are valid through December 31, 2027. A license purchased from November 1 covers the rest of the current year and the full following year at the same price.
- Official season standings and rating points in the NWANA Open Series
- Official championship standings at the U.S. and North American Championships
- Titles and awards of the official standings
- 10 percent entry discount at NWANA's own competitions
- NWANA Safe Sport course free in the Academy
- Your record in the national athlete registry
Professional Licenses
Professional licenses confirm an approved role and level in the NWANA system: instructor, coach, judge, race director, technical official. Every professional path begins with the Nordic Walking Instructor, Beginner Level Certification, and each stage builds on the one before it. Each license follows its Academy education: complete the course, earn the certificate, pass the NWANA License Eligibility Review, and purchase the approved license. The certificate records your education; the active license records your current professional status.
Instructor
| License | Annual fee | Path |
|---|---|---|
| Instructor Beginner License | $95 per year | Entry license after the Nordic Walking Instructor, Beginner Level Certification. |
| Fundamentals Instructor License, Level 1 | $125 per year | |
| Fitness & Wellness Instructor License, Level 2 | $175 per year | |
| Competition Technique Instructor License, Level 3 | $225 per year |
Coach
| License | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| Development Coach License, Level 1 | $275 per year |
| Competition Coach License, Level 2 | $325 per year |
| High Performance Coach License, Level 3 | $395 per year |
Officials
| License | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| Competition Judge License, Level 1 | $75 per year |
| Competition Judge License, Level 2 | $125 per year |
| Competition Judge License, Level 3 | $175 per year |
| Competition Technical Official License | $95 per year |
| Race Director License | $195 per year |
Children and Youth Specializations
Children and youth specializations extend an active Instructor or Coach license for work with young participants. The Academy specialization track is in preparation, and license purchase opens for qualified specialists as each course launches.
- Children's Nordic Walking Instructor License: $75 per year.
- Youth Nordic Walking Instructor License: $75 per year.
- Children's Development Coach License: $95 per year.
- Youth Development Coach License: $125 per year.
- Elite Youth Coach License: $195 per year.
- Minor Participant License: $49 per year. The license of a young participant in NWANA programs.
How NWANA Licensing Works
- The license year ends on December 31 for every license. Licenses purchased from October 28, 2026 through December 31, 2026 run to December 31, 2027. Purchases from November 1 run to December 31 of the following year.
- The highest license of a line includes the lower levels of the same line.
- A professional who holds several roles pays the primary license in full and receives each additional license of another line at 50 percent, with each qualification confirmed.
- An active professional license carries the Athlete License at 50 percent.
- Professional licenses renew for each new license year, and renewal builds on the qualification requirements of the role.
- Free NWANA membership and NW Groups participation stand on their own and welcome everyone.