Depending on who you know, it can take up to 10 years or more. I do High School Basketball and it took on of our board members 10 years to get into junior college officiating. But I am sure if you go to officiating camps, and are really serious and start to like what you do then you can become a college official at the Div 1 or Div 2, level within 10 to 12 years. Thats because officiating and playing are completely different mindset which others don't realize. Basketball officiating can be one of the toughest sports to offiaciate.
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In order to become certified and registered, you will normally have to complete a certification course offered by your local association or federation. You will usually start as a Level 8 referee and are limited to low-level and recreational games (youth refs start at level 9 and only do recreational games). In most places, clinics are offered in the off-season or slow season when fewer if any games are played. Once certified and registered, you may begin getting game assignments within a few weeks to a few months, whenever the referee assignor in your area has a position available. In order to referee bigger and more important games, you will need to be evaluated at the lower levels and sometimes attend further clinics to reach a higher level. After many years and hundreds of matches, you may reach a high enough level to officiate national and international games. Only the world's best and most experienced referees will work tournaments like the FIFA World Cup.