All Level 7 to 6 promotion candidates will be expected to meet the following criteria:

* attend a recognised in-service training seminar
* successfully complete an examination on the laws of the game
* keep the Referees Department informed of all their fixtures
* referee a minimum of 20 11v11 appointed matches during the promotion season, of which a maximum of six games may be at Under 18s level
* respond to all correspondence efficiently, preferably by E-Mail
* meet the required performance standard within the Referee Observations carried out during the promotion season

All Level 6 to 5 promotion candidates will be expected to meet the following criteria:

* must have met all of the above Level 7 to 6 criteria
* must have completed five 11v11 matches as an appointed assistant referee during the promotion season at senior level

All Level 5 to 4 promotion candidates will be expected to meet the following criteria:

* referee a minimum of 20 adult matches in total during the period 1st July to 30th April
* complete a minimum of ten appointments as an assistant referee on adult matches during the period 1st July to 30th April (it is recommended that as many as possible are at Supply League level) 
* be prepared, and regularly available, to referee Saturday and midweek matches
* attend regional in-service nomination training sessions, delivered by The Football Association
* successfully complete an examination on the laws of the game
* successfully complete an FA Referee Fitness Test prior to nomination. The minimum standard to be attained is: twelve-minute continuous run (minimum distance completed 2,600 metres), two 50-metre sprints (maximum 7.5 seconds for each sprint)
* meet the required performance standard within the Referee Observations carried out during the promotion season

All Level 4W to 3W promotion candidates will be expected to meet the following criteria:

* attend a promotion seminar held by the Essex County FA
* successfully pass a laws of the game exam
* keep the Referees Department informed of all of their fixtures
* referee a minimum of 20 11v11 open-age matches (70% must be women’s open-age at tier five, six and/or seven of the women’s football pyramid) during the promotion season, of which a maximum of six games may be at Under 18s level
* must have completed three 11v11 open-age matches as an appointed assistant referee during the promotion season
* respond to all correspondence efficiently, preferably by E-Mail
* meet the required performance standard within the referee observations carried out during the promotion season

* attend a promotion seminar held by the Essex County FA
* attend women’s football training events delivered by The FA
* successfully pass a laws of the game exam
* successfully pass the required fitness test (delivered by The FA)
* keep the Referees Department and The FA informed of all of their fixtures
* referee a minimum of 20 11v11 open-age matches (70% must be women’s open-age at tier five, six and/or seven of the women’s football pyramid) during the promotion season, of which a maximum of six games may be at Under 18s level
* must have completed eight 11v11 open-age matches as an appointed assistant referee during the promotion season
* respond to all correspondence efficiently, preferably by E-Mail
* meet the required performance standard within the referee observations carried out during the promotion season