PDR Requirements
Effective for PDR Cycle 17: June 16, 2022 – June 15, 2025
The PDR Cycle is from June 16, 2022 through June 15, 2025. Where credits are restricted per cycle year, the PDR Cycle Year is defined as June 16th of one year to June 15th of the next year.
- Total Credits (54) ‐ A total of 54 credits must be earned, with at least 30 credits from Required Education Credits/Specified Player Engagement Programs and at least 6 credits from the Required Meeting/National Surveys Credits, while the other means of obtaining credits toward the total requirement remain per the prior program.
- 30 Required Credits ‐ PGA Approved Education, Professional Standards Education/Training and/or Specified PGA Player Engagement Programs
- 6 Required Credits ‐ PGA Meeting Attendance and/or National Survey Completion
- All credits earned in the Required Category are also credited toward the Total Category.
If you are participating in online education, there are specific course requirements to be eligible for credits. Those requirements are outlined below:
- The program must be at least an hour-long and have at least 30 screenshots for 1 PDR to be awarded.
- The program must have an assessment associated with it consisting of 8-10 questions per hour of content.
- PGA Education must be given access to the content and assessment for final approval, please email Todd Sammons at tsammons@pgahq.com and Nicole Pillay at NPillay@pgahq.com.
- Following approval the Membership Department has reporting requirements that must be met as well.
For more information regarding PDR credits, CLICK HERE. Please contact Membership Director Kristine Alonso at the Section office if you have any questions regarding PDR credits at kalonso@pgahq.com or (540) 784-4723.
30 Required Credits ‐ PGA Approved Education, Professional Standards Education/Training, and Specified PGA Player Engagement Programs:
- Attending career-specific education, including serving as a speaker/instructor. Attending education on topics such as youth safety, diversity, equity and inclusion, and mental health wellbeing. 1 credit per hour of attendance.
- It is recommended that education be completed within one’s current, or desired career path (Executive Management, Golf Operations, or Teaching and Coaching)
- Any online education must have an assessment which is successfully completed.
- Specified Player Engagement Programs – Credited Per Below
- PGA HOPE Clinics (1 credit for an hour or each hour of participation, up to six credits per PDR cycle year
- PGA Junior League (6 credits per team/season, maximum of two PGA Members earning credit per team/season, up to twelve credits per PDR cycle year
- PGA Family Cup ‐ (6 credits per team/season, maximum of two PGA Members earning credit per team/season, up to twelve credits per PDR cycle year
- PGA Junior Camps – (2 credits per camp week, up to six credits per PDR cycle year)
- Drive Chip & Putt ‐ Host PGA Professional ‐ 4 PGA Required PDR credits. Other PGA Professionals participating/volunteering ‐ 2 PGA Required PDR credits for five to eight hours participation, 1 PGA Required credit for four hours participation, up to eight credits per PDR cycle year.
6 Required Credits ‐ PGA Meeting Attendance and National Survey Completion:
- Attending National, Section, or Chapter Meetings, including Board and Committee Meetings – 1 credit per hour of attendance. (If a meeting is offered both in‐person and virtual, in‐person attendees will receive full credit, while virtual attendees will receive half (1/2) credit.
- Completing National Surveys (such as: Compensation Survey, Annual Operations Survey, Member Offering Survey, Career Planning Survey, Revenue Scorecard) – max 2 credits per National survey, per cycle year
54 Total Credits ‐ Credits Toward the Total Requirement:
- Serving the Section, Chapter, National PGA, or Allied Association. Participating in the advancement of the game activities such as radio shows, TV shows, speeches, golf promotional non‐playing events, golf clinics, and other volunteer activities, such as non‐playing tournament official. Section Surveys. (1 credit per hour of participation with a maximum of 8 credits per day)
- Serving as a golf coach or assistant golf coach of a high school/college golf team in a capacity not considered the Member’s primary employment. (Maximum of 6 credits per PDR cycle year)
- Participation in Section sanctioned golf tournaments or tournaments conducted by the PGA of America National Office. (2 credits per Section event. 4 credits per National event)
- Attending a National, Section, or Allied Association Merchandise Show. (Maximum of 8 credits per PDR cycle year. 2 credits per show)
- PGA approved news, media, and magazine articles or published book. (Maximum of 4 credits per PDR cycle year. 1 credit per article)
- PGA National Club Championship ‐ 1 credit per year for submitting the Club Champion.
- High School Seminars ‐ 2 credits for participating
- NCCGA Event Host ‐ 2 credits for hosting
- NCCGA Coach ‐ 6 credits for coaching per season
- City Tour ‐ 2 credits for hosting
The PDR Cycle is from June 16, 2022, through June 15, 2025. Where credits are restricted per cycle year, the PDR Cycle Year is defined as June 16th of one year to June 15th of the next year.
- Total Credits (54) ‐ A total of 54 credits must be earned, with at least 30 credits from Required Education Credits/Specified Player Engagement Programs and at least 6 credits from the Required Meeting/National Surveys Credits, while the other means of obtaining credits toward the total requirement remain per the prior program.
- 30 Required Credits ‐ PGA Approved Education, Professional Standards Education/Training, and/or Specified PGA Player Engagement Programs
- 6 Required Credits ‐ PGA Meeting Attendance and/or National Survey Completion
- All credits earned in the Required Category are also credited toward the Total Category.
Associate Orientations
Once you are a registered Associate, you must attend an Associate Orientation if you desire to participate in Section tournaments. All Orientations are conducted at the MAPGA Section office and cost $25.00 to attend. You will take a 50 question rules test that will determine whether you earn your playing privileges within the Section. Below are the Orientation dates for 2023;
- THURSDAY, MARCH 23RD
- THURSDAY, MAY 18TH
- THURSDAY, AUGUST 3RD
- THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5TH
- THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH
Playing Ability Test (PAT)
The Playing Ability Test or “PAT” is a measure of golfing ability. It means PGA Professionals have the skills needed to teach and grow the game. The 36-hole playing ability test is something you must pass to become a PGA Professional.
Registration links for each site will be available shortly.
| Date & Site | Fee | Phone Number & Registration |
|---|---|---|
| April 11th PAT Great Hope GC Westover, MD |
Registration Fee: $120 Onsite Fee: $60 (includes greens fee, range, golf cart, and lunch) |
Site Phone Number: (410)-651-5900 |
| May 8th PAT Swan Point CC Issue, MD |
Registration Fee: $120 Onsite Fee: $60 (includes greens fee, range, golf cart, and lunch) |
Site Phone Number: (301)-259-0047 Register |
| May 15th PAT Brickshire GC Providence Forge, VA |
Registration Fee: $120 Onsite Fee: $60 (includes greens fee, range, golf cart, and lunch) |
Site Phone Number: (804)-966-7888 Register |
| June 12th PAT Ruggles GC Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD |
Registration Fee: $120 Onsite Fee: $60 (includes greens fee, range, golf cart, and lunch) |
Site Phone Number: (410)-278-4794 Register |
| June 26th PAT University of Maryland GC College Park, MD |
Registration Fee: $120 Onsite Fee: $60 (includes greens fee, range, golf cart, and lunch) |
Site Phone Number: (301)-314-4653 Register |
| July 10th PAT The Dominion Club Glen Allen, VA |
Registration Fee: $120 Onsite Fee: $60 (includes greens fee, range, golf cart, and lunch) |
Site Phone Number: (804)-360-1200 Register |
| July 26th PAT Old Trail GC Crozet, VA |
Registration Fee: $120 Onsite Fee: $60 (includes greens fee, range, golf cart, and lunch) |
Site Phone Number: (434)-823-8101 Register |
| August 21st PAT Evergreen CC Haymarket, VA |
Registration Fee: $120 Onsite Fee: $60 (includes greens fee, range, golf cart, and lunch) |
Site Phone Number: (703)-754-4125 Register |
| September 11th PAT Hidden Valley CC Salem, VA |
Registration Fee: $120 Onsite Fee: $60 (includes greens fee, range, golf cart, and lunch) |
Site Phone Number: (540)-389-8146 Register |
| October 5th PAT Eaglewood GC Langley AFB, VA |
Registration Fee: $120 Onsite Fee: $60 (includes greens fee, range, golf cart, and lunch) |
Site Phone Number: (757) 764-4547 Register |
Click here to learn more about the Playing Ability Test.
Click here to view PAT Policies and Procedures.
Become A Member
There are two primary pathways that lead to PGA Membership:
PGA Professional Golf Management Program
To become a PGA Member, you’ll need to become a registered Associate before completing the PGA Professional Golf Management (PGA PGM) Program – an award-winning educational program designed for aspiring PGA Professionals that focuses on the People, the Business, and the Game.
The PGA Golf Management University Program
The PGA Golf Management University Program, accredited by The Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA), is a college degree program designed to attract and educate bright, highly motivated men and women to service all aspects of the industry and produce PGA Members.