Qualifying Standards for NGA Pro Competition
The NGA maintains strict qualifying standards for eligibility in reference to athlete participation in NGA Professional sanctioned events.  These standards include the following:

Participation in Qualifying for Professional Competitions
Those amateur athletes who participate in amateur competitions identified as qualifiers for Pro competition, and whom place in accordance to standards identified by the NGA shall be eligible to join the NGA pro ranks.  Sample qualification standards include:

a. Qualifying status of athletes (men and women open divisions) will be stated upon entry of said contest (excludes Masters, Juniors, and Teens unless otherwise stated by the NGA), automatically qualify for Pro competition.

       
b. NGA TIER III pro qualifiers entitles the overall male and female to receive an application to become a member of the NGA pro bodybuilding division (unless otherwise stated).

c. NGA TIER IV pro qualifiers entitles the male and female winners in each weight class to receive an application to become a member of the NGA pro bodybuilding division (unless otherwise stated).  A valid pro qualifier is a class with a minimum of five competitors.

        
d. By qualifying in a given year, athletes maintain their qualification eligibility for two calendar years immediately following the contest they qualified in.

e. All NGA Pro competitions are 7 years drug-free.

Professional Men’s Master Division
Effective January 2002, the NGA will include a pro men’s master and pro qualifier events.

                TIER A    Pro Qualifier Men’s Master Championship

                TIER B    Professional Men’s Master Division

a. All Promoters have the opportunity to apply for a sanction to promote the above TIERS A or B without any additional fee.

b. Pro Master Qualifier - NGA competitive athlete must be at least 40 years of age.  The promoter has the option to split the class depending on the age group allowing 2 athletes to turn pro in the pro master division.

c. Qualified Pro Masters can not reenter a master non-qualifier event.  Athlete must enter a masters pro event or move up in the tier divisions established by the NGA.

d. Pro masters qualifier events - Promoters must ensure and protect the quality of all athletes by maintaining a minimum of 5 athletes per class for pro-status awards.

e. Professional Master - athlete must move up to a higher level TIER II, III, or IV.  This will give the athlete the opportunity to attain winning the professional titles in above tiers and also qualify for our open Professional Bodybuilding Division.

f. Professional NGA Bodybuilders are eligible to enter any Pro Master event providing they have reached their 40th birthday.

g. Professional open and professional master divisions - athletes that receives prize money must maintain pro-status as a professional.

h. Promoters have the option to promote a non-qualifier masters championship from ages 35 and over.

i. Promoter shall submit the names and addresses of the master winners to the NGA.  The application to join the masters pro-division is a fee of $50 per pro-card.
           

Maintaining Amateur Status While Holding a Pro Card
Athletes who hold an NGA pro card and have not placed in the money or have not accepted the money can still maintain their amateur status and enter NGA amateur shows.  These rules will offer an athlete the opportunity to continue competing in NGA qualifiers so they can reach their goals in attaining other overall championship titles.