Just as Shadow assignments do not automatically result in advancement to Supervised status, completion of Supervised Apprentice assignments does not automatically result in advancement to Provisional Judge.

The question is not simply:

“Did you complete the required number of runs?”

It is:

“Have you demonstrated that you are ready to make these decisions without a supervising judge?”

NASDA may consider your assignments, education, feedback, practical performance, professionalism, and overall readiness before approving independent judging privileges.

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Shadow vs. Supervised: Know the Difference

	Shadow Apprentice	Supervised Apprentice
Primary purpose	Learn and practice	Judge with oversight
Course setting	Participate and learn	Take an active/substantial role
Timing	Practice in tandem	Apprentice is responsible
Scoring	Practice and compare	Apprentice is responsible
Calls	Consider and discuss	Apprentice makes judging decisions
Judge of Record	Judges and teaches	Supervises and mentors
Independence	Observation/practice	Increasing independence
Goal	Prepare to judge	Demonstrate readiness to judge independently

The simplest distinction:

SHADOW: “What would I do?”

SUPERVISED: “What am I going to do?”