International Certification & Appointment Guide

1. Martial Arts Rank Certificates (Dan)

Applicants and regional representatives should submit their full legal name, country, martial arts background, existing rank evidence, and any evaluation materials requested by headquarters. Eligibility, examination requirements, fees and issuance are determined by the authorized headquarters under applicable rules. No rank is granted solely by holding an organizational title.

2. Instructor & Professional Qualifications

Instructor or professional certification is separate from rank certification. Applicants may be asked for training history, teaching experience, supporting documents and assessments. Headquarters must review and approve each application before issuance.

3. Regional Director Appointments

Regional Director is an organizational appointment, not a Dan rank or instructor qualification. Recommendations should identify the nominee's legal name, proposed jurisdiction, portrait photograph and contact information. Headquarters reviews existing regional representation before confirming appointments. Appointment terms and renewal conditions are stated in the official appointment record.

4. Submission and Approval

Contact your recognized regional representative or IPMA headquarters through the official website. Submit requested information for review. Do not advertise an appointment or certificate as approved until headquarters confirms it. Digital appointment images may be published only after authorization. Issuance of rank or qualification certificates requires separate approval.

5. ICA Registration & Verification

Where applicable, approved records may be entered in the International Certification Authority (ICA) system for verification. Registration is not a substitute for examination or approval. Verify an individual's record using the official ICA verification service linked from the IPMA website; a proposed appointment is not yet a verified record.

6. Website Publication & Privacy

Publication of names, portraits and roles requires headquarters approval and an appropriate basis for using personal information. Do not post private identity documents, home addresses or sensitive records publicly.

7. IPMA and Taekwon Kendo: Integrated Education

Taekwon Kendo is a core martial arts discipline and official training program promoted through IPMA's international martial arts network in cooperation with the World Taekwon Kendo Federation (WTKF). IPMA and WTKF retain their respective organizational identities while coordinating education, instructor development and approved certification pathways. Regional representatives may introduce and promote both programs, but teaching credentials and rank eligibility must be separately assessed and authorized by the appropriate headquarters.

8. Regional Director Authority and Restrictions

A Regional Director appointment does not authorize the independent issuance of martial arts ranks or professional certifications. Regional Directors may promote programs, coordinate training and submit applications for headquarters review. Without prior written authorization from the relevant headquarters, they must not issue, reproduce, sell, approve or delegate the issuance of IPMA or WTKF rank certificates, instructor credentials or official appointment documents; use official logos to imply unauthorized certification authority; or create unofficial verification numbers. Violations may lead to suspension or revocation of appointment after review under applicable organizational rules.

Recommended statement for all new and renewed digital appointment images: “This appointment does not authorize the independent issuance of martial arts ranks or professional certifications.” Each appointment should state its jurisdiction, term, unique appointment reference and verification method. An appointment is not itself a martial arts qualification.

9. Fees, Registration and Verification

Any certification examination, fee, revenue-sharing arrangement or teaching authorization requires a separately published headquarters policy or written agreement. Regional Directors may not collect or promise official certification fees or issue certificates on their own authority. Approved records should be registered in ICA when supported by the system; the actual ICA record and headquarters decision govern verification. A digital appointment image alone is not proof of a valid current appointment.