The IBJJF Black Belt Certification is the process that recognizes Black Belts who have met the requirements, and can also recognize the number of degrees the Black Belts hold. The Black Belt Certification process is separate from the Membership process. Black Belts must have active, non-provisional membership to start the certification process.

Log into your account at ibjjfdb.com and request your certificate directly through the portal. All required documents must be uploaded for review. Black Belts must have active, non-provisional membership to start the certification process.

The review process can take up to 30 days.

No, the head professor of an academy does not need to have a Black Belt Certificate. However, they must be registered in the IBJJF system as a non-provisional Black Belt through the membership process.

No, the professor does not need to have the Black Belt Certificate to sign for memberships under the academy they are listed as a professor for. However, if you need to sign for students of higher rank that require an instructor with degrees, you will have to certify your degrees to change your status in the IBJJF system.

The first Black Belt Certificate costs $400.00 USD. Each renewal costs $150.00 USD. The Black Belt Certificate does not need to be renewed yearly, only when you wish to certify a new degree.

For USBJJF athletes, please allow up to 20 days after its print date to receive it in the mail.

For IBJJF athletes, please allow up to 45 days after its print date to receive it in the mail.

If you have not received your Black Belt Certificate and it has been longer than the allotted time we requested, please contact us.

Once you have successfully certified your degrees, your account will be updated with your new rank. However, if you wish to receive a new membership card, you will need to renew your membership under the new rank. If your previous membership payment was within 30 days, we will waive the fee.

The first time an athlete applies for the Black Belt Certificate, they will have the degrees recognized based on the number of years they have been actively registered as Black Belt with IBJJF. For example, if they have enough time actively registered to be certified as Second Degree, but never certified their First Degree, they can still apply for their first certificate as Second Degree.

Athletes are not able to retroactively pay for membership registration for years that were missed.

• Active membership: keeping active/renewed membership through the year(s).
• Registering an academy with IBJJF: academy listed as an IBJJF-Certified Academy.
• Approving students: Professor who regularly approves students’ IBJJF membership forms throughout the year(s).
• Prior Black Belt/Degree Certification granted by IBJJF: proof of prior Black Belt/Degree Certification granted by IBJJF in accordance with article 4.1.5.
• Championship registrations: proof of registration in the IBJJF Championships.
• IBJJF Referee Training Program Certificate.

Log into your account at ibjjfdb.com and request your certificate directly through the portal. All required documents must be uploaded for review.

If you would like to certify your degrees, you must renew the Black Belt Certificate. Membership and Black Belt Certification are separate processes. In order for your membership to recognize your degrees, you must have them certified first.