If you want to referee at the professional level you will need to upgrade. Everyone starts getting experience officiating local youth games. Then they continue to work hard and upgrade to the highest level in their state, a Grade 6 State Referee. A State Referee officiates the most competitive matches within the state and region. They work as many affiliated games and events as possible to build their portfolio and work with U.S. Soccer scouts and assessors and then get selected to be a National Official by U.S. Soccer.