In Great Britain, the Poultry Club produces a list of qualified judges in the Year Book - the Judges Panel . Local show committees can select whom they would like to judge their shows but, if they wish the show to be recognised by the Poultry Club and so offer Club Specials, a majority of the judges must be from the official list. Not only does this help to ensure high standards of competency, it also provides an assurance that the stock on display will be judged expertly, with the utmost attention given to careful handling of the birds on display. The list is divided into four categories - Panel A, Panel B, Panel C, and Panel D. Judges work their way up from Panel D to Panel A over a number of years. From a first 'unofficial' judging appointment to Panel A could be achieved in eight years but, in practice, it is usually ten to fifteen years before the top panel is reached.
Judges usually start their judging careers by judging the breeds they keep at a local show.
In Britain, Breed Clubs exist to promote their breed and they stage classes at several Area shows as well as staging a main Club Show, usually held at the Poultry Club's National Show in December. Once a judge has been elected by a Breed Club to officiate at their main Club Show, they can be listed on Panel D with the name of the breed or breeds they have qualified to judge. To gain promotion to Panel C an examination has to be taken. This is set and organised by a sub-committee of the Poultry Club Council. The National Championship Show, The Scottish National, or Stafford Federation.