Qualifications and Eligibility for 2025 Arnold Amateur
ALL ATHLETES MUST READ THESE RULES AND MEET ALL QUALIFYING CRITERIA. PLEASE REVIEW IT ALL BEFORE YOU REGISTER TO VERIFY YOU ARE ELIGIBLE.
Everything is covered here, but if you have questions, write arnoldamateur@npcevents.com
The 2025 Arnold Amateur is OPEN TO ALL COMPETITORS around the world, regardless of federation affiliation. YOU MUST PRE-QUALIFY IN A NON-TESTED EVENT (not a Natural event). Choose below to see the rules for your country.
REQUIRED CARDS
All athletes (except Canadian athletes) must be a member of the National Physique Committee.
Canadian athletes must have an active CPA card.
US ATHLETES NEED A VALID NPC USA CARD
ATHLETES FROM OUTSIDE THE US AND CANADA NEED JUST AN NPC WORLDWIDE CARD. USA card not required for athletes from outside the US and Canada
CARDS MUST BE PURCHASED BEFORE THE EVENT AND ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT CHECKIN. Purchase from the entry form on this site!
FIND THE SECTION BELOW WHICH APPLIES TO YOUR COUNTRY
ARE YOU FROM THE UNITED STATES?
HERE ARE QUALIFYING RULES FOR ATHLETES FROM THE UNITED STATES:
(This includes US Citizens and those with valid US green cards of proof of residency in US for at least 4 months)
OPEN DIVISIONS
OPEN DIVISION athletes from U.S. must have placed in TOP TWO of an OPEN CLASS at an NPC national qualifier since January 2024. This must be an OPEN EVENT, and not an NPC Natural event.
OR
Placed in the TOP 5 of an OPEN class at one of the following 2024 NPC or NPC Worldwide (USA) Pro Qualifier contests (placing for the following must occur in 2024).
NPC NATIONAL EVENTS:
NPC Junior USA Championships
NPC Wheelchair Nationals
NPC Junior National Championships
NPC Universe & National Fitness Championships
NPC USA Championships
NPC National Championships
NPC WORLDWIDE (USA):
Arnold Amateur (USA)
North American Championships (USA)**
Olympia Amateur (USA)
MASTERS DIVISIONS
MASTERS DIVISIONS just must have competed at an NPC national qualifier since January 2024. No placing is required. Pro cards are not awarded in Masters divisions. If you want to be in an OPEN division, you must meet the OPEN division rules above)
Proof of USA citizenship must be one of the following:
A birth certificate, voter’s registration card, Military discharge papers. Naturalization Papers(Form N560), Consular Service Form FS24 for those born outside of the United States to United States parents, or a valid United States Green Card
Residency:
Note: Residency is four (4) months prior to a contest or must be a full time student in the area.
ARE YOU FROM CANADA?
CANADIAN ATHLETES
For the 2025 Arnold Amateur only, Canadian competitors just must have competed in an open Pro qualifier CPA event in Canada since January 2024 and have an active CPA card.
Contact the CPA at ronhache@unitz.ca for any additional info for Canadian competitors
ARE YOU FROM A COUNTRY OTHER THAN the U.S. AND CANADA?
HERE ARE QUALIFYING RULES FOR ATHLETES FROM ANY COUNTRY OTHER THAN THE UNITED STATES OR CANADA
Athletes from outside of the United States and Canada must meet the qualifying rules below, plus have an NPC Worldwide card which matches the country of their passport. More info on NPC cards below.
Athletes from some countries are required to get a regional certificate from an event in their country (see below for list of countries with this requirement). If you have questions, contact arnoldamateur@npcevents.com
OPEN DIVISIONS FOR:
Athletes from Countries OTHER THAN the US and Canada
OPEN DIVISION athletes from countries OTHER THAN the United States and Canada must have competed in an OPEN class at a regional in their home country, since January 2024. This may not be a Natural event. No specific placing is required. They must also meet the other requirements shown below, such as attaining a regional certificate from an event in your home country (if required) and having a proper NPC WORLDWIDE card. See below for more info on these subjects.
MASTERS DIVISIONS FOR:
Athletes from Countries OTHER THAN the US and Canada
MASTERS DIVISIONS athletes must have competed in a MASTERS class at a REGIONAL non-natural event in their home country, since January 2024. No specific placing is required. They must also meet the other requirements shown below, such as attaining a regional certificate from an event in your home country (if required) and having a proper NPC WORLDWIDE card. See below for more info on these subjects.
REGIONAL CERTIFICATES
Regional Certificates Are
REQUIRED FOR SOME ATHLETES FROM COUNTRIES OTHER THAN US AND CANADA:
Some athletes from outside of the US are required to get a regional certificate from their qualifying event.
WHICH COUNTRIES REQUIRE REGIONAL CERTIFICATES?
To review rules about regional certificates:
CLICK HERE
LETTERS OF INVITATION
FOR ATHLETES FROM OUTSIDE THE US and CANADA
In some countries outside the US, a letter of invitation may be requested to allow the athlete to travel or obtain a visa to compete in the event. If you DO require a letter of invitation, please REGISTER and PAY FOR THIS EVENT (The Arnold Amateur), and then you can generate an invitation letter from your "athlete profile", which will be sent to you after you register.
NPC CARD
All athletes (except Canadian athletes) must be a member of the National Physique Committee.
Canadian athletes must have an active CPA card.
US ATHLETES NEED A VALID NPC USA CARD
ATHLETES FROM OUTSIDE THE US AND CANADA NEED JUST AN NPC WORLDWIDE CARD. USA card not required for athletes from outside the US and Canada
CARDS MUST BE PURCHASED BEFORE THE EVENT AND ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT CHECKIN. Purchase from the entry form on this site!
CARDS ARE NOT SOLD AT THE EVENT. PRE-PURCHASE ONE from entry form
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS:
If you have further questions on qualifying requirements or this Arnold Amateur event, please review everything above. If your question is not covered here, please contact arnoldamateur@npcevents.com.