If you would like to judge a single breed rather than train across all the breeds catered for by a Judge Progression Group (JPG), the Speciality (Single) Breed Judge route is for you. It is the specialist alternative to the multibreed Student Judge pathway, and — like every judging route — it begins once you have qualified as a GCCF Steward.
This page explains, in plain English, who the route is for, how to apply, and what is involved in training and qualifying.
Looking for the official documents or forms? All Judge Training Programme documents and application forms are kept up to date on the Downloads page — always use those when applying or submitting paperwork, as they carry the official authority.
Is this route right for you?
Choose this route if you want to focus on judging one breed to a high standard, rather than training across a whole group. You should already be a qualified GCCF Steward with strong breeding and exhibiting experience in your chosen breed.
Eligibility to apply
Breeder route
To apply via the breeder route you must:
- Be a registered GCCF Steward.
- Be a recognised breeder of the breed for at least 4 years, with a minimum of 5 litters.
- Have been a regular exhibitor for at least 4 years, with exhibits taken through the levels to at least Imperial status.
- Show proven success to at least Imperial status with exhibits of your own breeding (these do not need to still be in your ownership).
Neuter owner route
To apply via the neuter owner route you must:
- Be a qualified GCCF Steward.
- Have at least 4 consecutive years of regular exhibiting experience with at least one breed catered for by the JPG you are applying to.
- Have owned and campaigned exhibits to at least Imperial level.
Acceptance onto the Speciality (Single) Breed Judge (Provisional) level does not guarantee eventual appointment as a Speciality (Single) Breed Judge within a JPG list. There is no minimum time limit for completing this stage.
How to apply
Applying takes two steps:
- Send the JPG Payment Form to the GCCF Office and make your payment to the Office.
- Complete the Speciality (Single) Breed Judge (Provisional) Application form and send it to your chosen JPG.
Once both steps are done, acceptance as a Speciality (Single) Breed Judge (Provisional) is automatic — though it does not guarantee eventual appointment as a Full Judge.
Forms you need
Serving as a Speciality (Single) Breed Judge (Provisional)
While serving as a Provisional, you will build the experience and expertise needed to become a GCCF Full Speciality (Single) Breed Judge. You will judge kitten and neuter breed classes, along with miscellaneous classes, within your chosen breed, and gain experience through tutorials, presentations and report writing. With feedback from the BAC and JPG, you will progress towards your final assessments — after which you can apply for removal of your provisional status and promotion to Full Speciality (Single) Breed Judge.
How the training works
Your training is built around a few kinds of activity. Here is what each one involves in practice.
Engagements
An engagement is a session where you judge kitten breed classes (and/or adult, kitten and neuter miscellaneous or club classes) for your breed at a GCCF show. You need at least 10, and they form the core of your experience and your written reports.
Teaching & Learning tutorials
A tutorial is an oral session where you talk through exhibits with an assessing Full Judge and receive feedback. Tutorials take place at a show where you are judging, or at a relevant seminar. You need at least two, with two different Full Judges from the JPG’s preferred list.
Progress in Learning presentations
A presentation is a verbal breed presentation, given at a show or seminar and assessed on the day by a Full Judge of your breed (preferably from the preferred list). You need at least two. You don’t have to be engaged to judge to give one — you just need the show manager’s and the Full Judge’s permission. Writing critiques on the cats you present is encouraged but not required.
Parallel judging
Parallel judging is where you judge two certificate breed classes (adults or neuters) alongside the appointed judge, with your awards slip countersigned by a Full Judge of the breed.
Final Assessments
Final Assessments are the last step before you can apply for promotion, so you should only arrange them once everything else is complete. You need two (and no more than three), each with a different Full Judge from the preferred list. The Full Judge gives you a list of exhibits — ideally adults, kittens and neuters — with each cat’s age, sex and breed number. You describe each exhibit, say what award you would give, and place them in their class. A tutorial and a Final Assessment can be done on the same day at a double show, provided the exhibits and the Full Judge are different.
You will also complete one veterinary assessment and pass the Stage Two online assessment (pass mark 85%). The full list of what you must achieve is below.
What you must complete before applying for removal of Provisional status
Before applying to have your provisional status removed, you must:
- Serve a minimum of 12 months as a Provisional.
- Complete a minimum of 10 engagements.
- Complete at least 6 kitten classes for single-breed classes (or 10 for breeds with multiple colour/pattern classes).
- Complete at least 2 Teaching & Learning tutorials with two different Full Judges from the preferred list.
- Parallel judge 2 certificate breed classes (adults or neuters), with the awards slip countersigned by a Full Judge of the breed.
- Undertake at least 2 Progress in Learning breed presentations.
- Complete a successful veterinary assessment.
- Reach a competency score of 85% on all Stage Two online assessments.
- Complete a minimum of two, and no more than three, Final Assessments, each with a different Full Judge from the preferred list. Final Assessments should only be arranged once all other requirements are complete.
Throughout your training you must keep records of your engagements (copies of all forms and reports), comply with GCCF rules on the submission of show reports, attend such JPG/BAC seminars as are held (in person or virtual), and be ready to receive and act on constructive feedback. Ideally your loading should not exceed 40 exhibits. Where a breed has low numbers and 6 breed-class critiques/tutorials are not achievable, Teaching & Learning tutorials and critiques on exhibits outside certificate classes will be accepted (see the addendum for the list of minority breeds). You may apply for promotion, using the relevant form, when you feel ready and have met every requirement.
Submitting your forms
All tutorial, presentation, engagement and veterinary forms must be submitted to your JPG Secretary within 28 days of the show or seminar. For a Final Assessment, send a neat copy of your critiques to the Full Judge within 7 days of the assessment; the Full Judge then completes the Final Assessment Form and sends it, with your critiques, to the JPG within four weeks.
Applying for removal of Provisional status
When you have met all the requirements and served at least 12 months, you may apply — using the relevant form — for removal of your Provisional status and promotion to Full Speciality (Single) Breed Judge. Unlike the Student Judge stage, this promotion is not automatic: it is decided by an anonymised JPG vote, with a simple majority applying (a tied vote is decided by lot). If your application is successful, the change of status takes effect immediately and is recorded by the GCCF office. If it is not carried, you have a right of appeal.
Frequently asked questions
Can I accept engagements to judge breed classes?
Yes — but only kitten breed classes.
When am I allowed to take the Final Assessments?
You must complete all other requirements first — the minimum tutorials, presentations, engagements and reports must all be done before you take your Final Assessments. A Tutorial and a Final Assessment may be done on the same day at a double show, but both the exhibits and the Full Judge must be different, and a Final Assessment must not be sought on the same exhibits or with the same Full Judge as a Tutorial at the same show.
Do I have to attend seminars before I apply for promotion?
If you feel ready to apply and have not attended a seminar, you may still apply — but there is a real expectation that where a seminar is available, you should attend.
Do I have to be judging at a show to do a tutorial?
Yes — you need to be judging at a show, or attending a seminar, to do a tutorial. Teaching & Learning tutorials are given as an oral presentation with feedback to the assessing Full Judge.
Can I do a presentation with any Full Judge, and do I need to be engaged to judge?
You can do a Progress in Learning presentation with any Full Judge of the breed, though it is preferred you use a Full Judge on the JPG’s preferred list. You do not need to be engaged to judge — you just need permission from the show manager and the Full Judge. Writing critiques on the cats in the presentation is encouraged but not compulsory.
Do the cats used in a Final Assessment have to be in the Full Judge’s or my own book?
It is preferred that they are in your book or the Full Judge’s book, but if suitable cats cannot be taken from the books, other cats in attendance may be used. The Full Judge supplies a list of exhibit numbers — including, where possible, adults, kittens and neuters — with the date of birth/age, sex and breed number of each exhibit to be discussed and placed.
Your judge training journey — where you are:
