diff --git a/docs/getting-started/CONTRIBUTOR_CURRICULUM.md b/docs/getting-started/CONTRIBUTOR_CURRICULUM.md
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+# New Contributor Curriculum
+
+A staged path from first reading to a useful first pull request.
+
+---
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+- Python 3.11+
+- Basic familiarity with command line and git
+- Read [CONTRIBUTING.md](../CONTRIBUTING.md)
+
+## Stage 1: Orientation (30 min)
+
+Read these in order:
+
+1. `README.md` — project overview and quickstart
+2. `docs/evidence/LIMITATIONS_OVERVIEW.md` — honest limitations
+3. `docs/getting-started/QUICKSTART.md` — run the demo
+4. `AGENTS.md` — operating principles (useful even for humans)
+5. `AGENT_TASKS.json` — safe task categories
+
+## Stage 2: Core Concepts (1-2 hours)
+
+1. `docs/engineering/ARCHITECTURE.md` — system architecture
+2. `docs/evidence/EVIDENCE_CERTIFICATE.md` — evidence schema
+3. `docs/evidence/BENCHMARK_GOVERNANCE.md` — benchmark policies
+4. `docs/evidence/PROOF_LADDER.md` — evidence levels
+5. `docs/evidence/SYNTHETIC_DATA_POLICY.md` — data labeling rules
+
+## Stage 3: Practice Tasks
+
+Choose a task type based on your comfort level.
+
+### Docs-only (no Python needed)
+
+- Fix a broken doc link: `python scripts/check_doc_links.py`
+- Improve a section in any docs/ file
+- Add a test for an existing doc (see existing test_*.py files for patterns)
+
+### Tests
+
+- Add a missing-file error test (see `tests/test_missing_file_errors.py`)
+- Add a metric polarity test (see `tests/test_metric_polarity_registry.py`)
+- Improve coverage on an existing test file
+
+### Schemas
+
+- Review a schema in `schemas/` for completeness
+- Add a validation test for a schema
+
+### Local checks (scripts/)
+
+- Improve `scripts/check_claims.py` pattern list
+- Add a pattern to `scripts/check_doc_links.py`
+- Improve `scripts/check_pyproject.py`
+
+## Stage 4: First Pull Request
+
+1. Pick an issue from the open issues list
+2. Comment on the issue that you're working on it
+3. Create a branch, make your change, add tests
+4. Run `python3 -m pytest -q` to verify nothing is broken
+5. Run `python scripts/check_doc_links.py` to check links
+6. Create a PR that references the issue number
+
+## Task Types Requiring Maintainer Discussion
+
+- Changes to scoring weights (`configs/pipeline.yaml`)
+- Changes to the calibration pipeline
+- Changes to safety policy or review templates
+- Adding new dependencies to `pyproject.toml`
+- Any change that modifies benchmark thresholds
diff --git a/tests/test_contributor_curriculum.py b/tests/test_contributor_curriculum.py
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+"""Tests for contributor curriculum."""
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+def test_file_exists():
+    assert Path("docs/getting-started/CONTRIBUTOR_CURRICULUM.md").exists()
+
+
+def test_has_stages():
+    text = Path("docs/getting-started/CONTRIBUTOR_CURRICULUM.md").read_text()
+    for stage in ["Stage 1", "Stage 2", "Stage 3", "Stage 4"]:
+        assert stage in text
+
+
+def test_has_prerequisites():
+    text = Path("docs/getting-started/CONTRIBUTOR_CURRICULUM.md").read_text()
+    assert "Prerequisites" in text
+
+
+def test_has_docs_only():
+    text = Path("docs/getting-started/CONTRIBUTOR_CURRICULUM.md").read_text()
+    assert "Docs-only" in text
+
+
+def test_has_maintainer_discussion():
+    text = Path("docs/getting-started/CONTRIBUTOR_CURRICULUM.md").read_text()
+    assert "Maintainer Discussion" in text