To referee high school soccer games in the state of Illinois you have to become certified by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). It's a fairly simple process. Contact the IHSA and ask for a officials application. You'll have to send in the application with $35 (application fee). They will send you back a test and rules book. Fill out the test (open book test) and send it back. You will also need 3 references from either high school officals or teachers. After all this is done the IHSA will send you your test score and badge (if you passed the test). Every August you will have to attend a rules interp clinc (free) and pay yearly dues ($35) to the IHSA.

To referee United States Soccer Federation (USSF) games you have to be certified. The start of the process is to attend a two day clinic. Usually on a weekend, 9 to 5 each day. With a 100 question test at the end of the weekend (not open book). The fee will be $50 ($25 annual USSF dues + $30 clinic fee). You will have to attend a refresher clinic every year ($25) to keep current. With USSF certification you can work trounaments and leagues through out the country. In the state of Illinois the best resource for information on clinics is the IYSA.

In order to officiate college soccer you have to join the Nation Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NISOA). To do that you need 2 year experience as a USSF referee, the recomendation of 3 NISOA referee's, and you have to join a NISOA affiliated organization. The best place to start is by contacting the NISOA and finding out where the closest affiliated group is and then contacting them.

Good Luck