Academic Eligibility
Please ensure that you have reached the requirements for academic eligibility prior to registering for Collegiate Nationals. USA Powerlifting will not grant refunds to those who are deemed academically ineligible.
Who is academically eligible for The Collegiate National Championships?
To be academically eligible, one must meet the following standards:
- The student must be enrolled in a 2 or 4-year higher education institution.
- The student must be enrolled as a full-time student at the institution. This is determined by what their university considers full-time enrollment.
- The student must be in good academic standing at the institution (Must not be on academic probation).
When is the earliest I can submit my eligibility documents?
Verification of Eligibility opens one month out from the start date. We will not accept or verify any documents that are generated prior to one week before.
2026 Dates:
Opens: March 10th, 2026
Earliest document date accepted: March 2nd, 2026
When is the deadline to submit eligibility documents?
The deadline is two weeks from the start date of Collegiate Nationals.
2026 Date: March 24, 2026, at 11:59 PM CST
What happens if I do not submit my proof of eligibility?
If you do not provide proof of your eligibility, you will not be eligible to compete and will be withdrawn from the championship.
I’m graduating this semester and taking below the number of credits to be considered full-time. Can I still compete?
Graduating students will be eligible, as long as they are taking the amount of courses they need to graduate in the upcoming quarter/semester. However, most universities consider students in this situation full-time. Please check with your university to verify this.
I’m currently enrolled in a cooperative education program and am working instead of taking classes. Can I still compete?
Students who are part-time due to enrollment in a university cooperative education program may be eligible to compete. Official Documentation to verify student enrollment in a university cooperative education program is required.
We have a team. Is there an option where we can provide documentation for the entire team all at once?
Yes! The Office of the Registrar in most colleges and universities can provide this information in one document. Ask your Registrar if they are able to provide a document indicating that the students they have listed in the document are “full-time and in good standing with the university.” This document can then be sent to collegiate@usapowerlifting.com
What other options do I have to verify academic eligibility?
Here are the most commonly used ways to show proof of eligibility. If you are unable to use any of these options, email collegiate@usapowerlifting.com, and our eligibility officer will work with you.
- Generate Enrollment Verification through the National Student Clearinghouse
- Step 1: Visit https://verify.studentclearinghouse.org/registration/landing-page
- Step 2: Under “Verifications”, click the “Verify Now” Box.
- Step 3: Complete the Verification Form.
- Step 4: Submit the Enrollment Verification .pdf through the Jotform available on the Collegiate Nationals Website. This Jotform will not be available until March 3rd.
- Official Transcript
- Step 1: Receive an official transcript from the Office of the Registrar at your institution.
- Step 2: Submit the .pdf or scanned copy through the Jotform available on the Collegiate Nationals Website. This Jotform will not be available until March 3rd.
Is a school schedule enough to verify my eligibility?
No. Documentation verifying full-time status and good standing must be provided.
How can I verify that my eligibility was submitted and accepted?
Once you submit your form, you will get a confirmation of submission. Your eligibility is then verified by members of the collegiate committee. Status can be checked here after submission: https://collegiate.nationals.usapowerlifting.com/athlete-eligibility/. If there is missing information, you will receive an email from the collegiate committee.
For further questions, please contact collegiate@usapowerlifting.com