USAW Level 2 Coaching Certification
Signup for your USAW L2
Level 2 Signup Calendar, opens in a new tabUSA Weightlifting is the national governing body for the sport of weightlifting in the United States. For over 40 years, the USAW Level 2 Coach Certification is recognized as the gold standard in weightlifting education. The USAW Level 2 course is nationally accredited by the United States Center for Coaching Excellence. The curriculum has been rigorously reviewed and stands as one of only 30 accredited programs in the US, providing a quality coaching education. Our Level 2 course is designed for weightlifting coaches and strength & conditioning professionals looking to deepen their programming skills, and develop their competition coaching strategies.
When you choose USA Weightlifting, you are learning from the very best in the business, ensuring your coaching career starts with a strong foundation.
Upgrade Your Coaching
Sign Up Today and Take Your Coaching to the Next Level
The USAW Level 2 Course is nationally accredited by the United States Center for Coaching Excellence.
Read more, opens in a new tabStart Your Pathway to Certification
Future USAW L2 Courses, opens in a new tabWhat You'll Learn
Learn Advanced Weightlifting Techniques
Use biomechanical analysis to assess the snatch, clean and jerk. Learn how to effectively communicate about technique.
Pricing
- $549 (Includes all course materials, exam and certification)
- A valid USAW Coaching Membership is required to participate
Duration
- In person courses are held Saturday 8a-5p and Sunday 8a-5p
- Online courses are held on weekends.Click HERE for more info on online courses.
Coach Robert M., Certified USAW Level 2 Coach
"The course really improved my ability to analyze a lift in real time, understand why errors occur, and prioritize which errors to address."
Coach Abby H., Certified USAW Level 2 Coach
"I learned a ton about periodization and competition strategy. My most profound takeaway was increased confidence in myself as coach, and a renewed sense of possibility and ability."
Coach Connor T., Certified USAW Level 2 Coach
"I loved learning about program design and building programs during the course. I have much more confidence in my ability to coach and train athletes. Most importantly, I felt safe asking for help from the instructors if I didn't know something."
Level Up your Coaching USA Weightlifting’s Level 2 Certification
Start Earning Your USAW Level 2 Certification
If you’re serious about coaching weightlifting the right way—safe, effective, and backed by the best—there's only one place to start: USA Weightlifting’s Level 2 Coach Certification.
Sign up today!, opens in a new tabTo take a Level 1 course, all you need is a Coach Membership. Before the course you will have time to review course materials. Following the course, you will have the opportunity to take the Level 1 Exam and complete your SafeSport Certification.
Yes - when you participate in USAW's Level 1 Coaching Course, you'll attain CEU's recognized by NASM and ACSM. We encourage you to submit for CEUs with your certification body, such as NSCA, ASCM, NASM, CSCCa and ACE. Each organization has different requirements for obtaining CEUs or CECs. Our USAW Level 1 and Level 2 courses each have 13 contact hours.
To report CEUs for the NSCA, please select that you attended a non-NSCA event with 13 contact hours. You earn 0.1 CEUs per contact hour so a total of 1.3 CEUs are earned for L1 or L2. For those holding the SCCC credential from the CSCCa, one would earn 0.5 CEU's for each hour of attendance at approved non-CSCCa conferences or meetings. For USAW Level 1 and Level 2 courses, this would be 6.5 CEUs earned. USAW is not a pre-approved ACE CEC provider, however, participants in USAW courses may petition ACE to receive CECs for attending the course. Petitions allow ACE to review the material covered and make a CEC value determination. All petitions can be submitted through your My ACE Account under Petition for CECs.
Yes. While USAW hosts the Level 1 Coaching Course world-wide (primarily in the USA), we offer Online options so you can accomplish the certification from anywhere.
Recertification is simple! To keep your Coach Certification all you need is a current USAW Coach Membership and SafeSport Certification. The last step is to take the quick 10-Question (2 attempts) Recertification quiz in the Learning Academy (Level 1 Coaches ONLY). Once you have completed the Level 2 Coach Certification, you will not need to recertify.
The SafeSport Certification is required to be a Level 1 (or higher) coach; it is also required to become a Club Administrator at a USAW weightlifting club, officiate at any competition, and volunteer or serve on any USAW committee or working group. Based on the important information it provides, we recommend all USAW members take the SafeSport certification, which is free of charge. SafeSport training can be accessed here.
Inclement weather that creates unsafe travel conditions may cause a course cancellation. In addition, USAW requires a minimum of 8 registrations per course. In the event a course does not reach the minimum participation level it is subject to cancellation.
In the event that USAW cancels or reschedules a course, a full refund or free transfer to another course date will be made available. USAW will make every effort to cancel courses at least 48 hours before the start of the course, though extenuating circumstances such as inclement weather may cause later cancellations. To request a refund or transfer to another course of your choosing, please email education@usaweightlifting.org. When transferring be sure to check our course calendar to let us know which course you’d like to move into.
What happens if USAW cancels or reschedules the course I signed up for?
In the event that USAW cancels or reschedules a course, a full refund or free transfer to another course date will be made available. USAW will make every effort to cancel courses at least 48 hours before the start of the course, though extenuating circumstances such as inclement weather may cause later cancellations.
To transfer to another course, please email education@usaweightlifting.org to let us know what future course you would like to enroll in.
To request a refund, please email education@usaweightlifting.org with your original course date and location. Please note that USAW is not responsible for any hotel, travel or other costs incurred by course registrants in the event a course is canceled or rescheduled.
Yes. You are able to make a one-time transfer at no additional cost to another course date if the transfer is done prior to the close of registration of the course you originally registered for and the new course is at least 14 days in the future. For example, if your course was scheduled to run June 15, the last date to transfer out would be June 1. At that time you could register for any course beginning June 15 or later in the year.
To request a transfer to another course, please email education@usaweightlifting.org to let us know what course you would like to enroll in. Participants must complete the course within 1 year of originally scheduled course date.
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No, you are not required to purchase additional insurance as a condition of completing a USAW course or maintaining your certification. However, it is a wonderful benefit to coaches who are seeking insurance coverage.
USAW’s Certified Coaches General Liability Policy provides coverage to protect insured USA Weightlifting certified instructors/coaches from third party claims of bodily injury, property damage, personal injury and advertising injury due to alleged negligence arising from coaching or officiating activities. The policy costs only $65 for $1,000,000 coverage for a full calendar year.
To find out more information on this coverage offered to you please visiting here.
To purchase USAW General Liability Insurance, please click here and log into BARS.