I'm thinking about taking the Professor's Exam. People who are already Professors, please help.

[Brave Vesperia]

I want to be a Professor, but first I need these questions answered.

1. Do I have to remain active as a Professor? I'm not able to go to many tournaments that aren't local, so I don't want to be stripped of my rank just because I can't go somewhere.

2. If for whatever reason I have League and can't make it in time to be there one week, am I in trouble?

3. Similar to the above question, what if I can't contact my players to let them know I won't be there or that League is cancelled for that week?

4. Do the points you use for the shop ever expire?

5. Can points be bought?

6. If I am called upon for help or to go somewhere, and can't answer that person's question or go where I need to be, what happens?

7. Are Professors allowed to trade with other people while helping out at tournaments?

8. Do I have a choice to play or Judge? (pretty much, do I have to judge or help if I'm asked instead of playing at the tournament like I was intending to?)

9. Is there a limit to how much playing, judging, rulings, ect. I can do?

10. Can/do I get rewarded with packs or cards instead of/along with points?

11. Are being a Judge and a Professor seperate things?

12. If the answer to 11 is yes, is there a seperate exam for Judges?

13. Can I be both a Professor and a Jugde?

14. Is there any info I should know beforehand that isn't on Pokemon.com?

15. What are some good places to study besides the Compendium? (the Compendium's bright background really hurts my eyes and I can't read Bright Red text very well)

 

[King Arceus]

1. Do I have to remain active as a Professor? I'm not able to go to many tournaments that aren't local, so I don't want to be stripped of my rank just because I can't go somewhere.

The only requirement I know of is that you have to retake the exam every year. The only thing I judge that is out of state is Regionals and Nationals.

2. If for whatever reason I have League and can't make it in time to be there one week, am I in trouble?

No. You might want to have a backup person though to run league though.

3. Similar to the above question, what if I can't contact my players to let them know I won't be there or that League is cancelled for that week?

Best advice is to contact the venue and let the employees there know. You can update it on pokemon.com, but if they don't check the site they won't. You might also consider a facebook group for your league.

4. Do the points you use for the shop ever expire?

No unless you lose your Professor Status in which they send you stuff for the points you had.

5. Can points be bought?

No. If you run a league like I do you'll have plenty soon enough.

6. If I am called upon for help or to go somewhere, and can't answer that person's question or go where I need to be, what happens?

You are not required to judge a particular event. If you can't make it, you can't make it. You have to make the best call you can in situations during tournaments. If you don't know first consult another judge at the event if any or the tournament organizer. If you are still unable to get the answer, make the call you feel is right then look it up when you get home.

7. Are Professors allowed to trade with other people while helping out at tournaments?

After the tournament is over you can. While the tournament is going on you are expected to be judging. You can't judge while trading.

8. Do I have a choice to play or Judge? (pretty much, do I have to judge or help if I'm asked instead of playing at the tournament like I was intending to?)

The choice is yours. Your Tournament Organizer cannot force you to judge.

9. Is there a limit to how much playing, judging, rulings, ect. I can do?

No.

10. Can/do I get rewarded with packs or cards instead of/along with points?

No. You get a combination of packs, sometimes a staff promo card depending on the event, and points.

11. Are being a Judge and a Professor seperate things?

Technically yes. A judge is someone who is making calls during the tournament. The difference with Professor is that the person passed the exam.

12. If the answer to 11 is yes, is there a seperate exam for Judges?

No.

13. Can I be both a Professor and a Judge?

Yes.

14. Is there any info I should know beforehand that isn't on Pokemon.com?

Besides the Compendium nothing that I can think of. Use common sense when possible.

15. What are some good places to study besides the Compendium? (the Compendium's bright background really hurts my eyes and I can't read Bright Red text very well)

Study the Tournament Rules & Procedures Manual.

 

[DNA]

1. Technically no, but the Professor Exam must be renewed annually, and each time, you need to get a passing grade (80%) to retain the status.

2. Not unless your League Leader needs you to be there for some reason. People do have lives and such and it's understandable if someone doesn't show up to a league.

3. If there's someone else at the venue to vouch for you, tell that person. Also, if you run the league yourself, just have a contact list to mass email peeps. If you don't run it, just try and see if you can contact your League Leader or whatever.

4. No.

5. No.

6. Depends. If you give advance notice you'll be fine. If not, you might not be called upon to help again, but that's going to be completely independent of your Professor status.

7. Usually not, since while staffing at a tournament you are considered to be 'on the clock' and effectively at the TO's beck and call. Lunch break is generally an exception, but if you are staffing, you're expected to do your job.

8. It's your choice. If you want to judge, then ask your TO if you can. If you want to play, just play.

9. No.

10. As well as. Tournament staff is paid in packs as compensation for their time spent.

11. Yes.

12. No.

13. Yes. The positions are considered separate.

14. I don't...think so?

15. http://www.pokemon.com/us/organized-play/tournaments/rules/
The Compendium basically just covers card rulings. For everything else tournament related, this link is like the Holy Grail.

 

[CarlosDuranJr]

The compendium lv X has a bright background, but the compendium BW doesn't. There is also a mobile version of the site, but it navigates funny. They also have it as a downloadable pdf. I sometimes use the pdf in my ebook since the e ink display is easy on the eyes and the text is searchable. Revolutionary, I know ;-)