FAQ – Pro Cards- USA Powerlifting

2025 Pro Card FAQ

These are the events where you can earn a Pro Card. Pros and Non-Pros can attend these events unless otherwise stated.

Example: At Southeast Regionals, 3 pros are entered, one of them wins best lifter. No new pros will earn a pro card, but the pro that won best lifter will renew their pro card if they hit the minimum dots. All 3 pros get ranked on the leaderboard from that regional meet.)

Where can you earn a Pro Card?

Raw Full Power (Open)

*Minimum Dots: 475 Female / 500 Male Required + one of the following (for both male and female):

Arnold Raw Challenge: Top 3 Best Lifters (by Dots)
Regionals: Best Lifter (by Dots)
- Best Lifter at each Regionals
Open World Cup: Top 3 Best Lifters (by Dots)
Raw Nationals: Top 3 in each Weight Class
- International Affiliate Nationals as well
Arnold Grand Prix and Arnold Pro Finals Count for 2024 Leaderboard (all lifters are Pros)

Raw Bench Only (Open)

*Minimum Dots: 85 Female / 105 Male Required + one of the following (for both male and female):

Bench Nationals: Top 2 in each Weight Class
- International Affiliate Nationals as well
Bench World Cup (Top 3 overall by dots)
Arnold Bench Bash and Arnold Pro Series Bench Finals Count for 2024 Leaderboard (all lifters are Pros)

Raw Masters Full Power

* Minimum Age/Dots: 400 Female / 425 Male Required + one of the following (for both male and female):

Arnold Masters of Iron: Best Lifter (by age/dots)
Regionals: Best Lifter (by age/dots)
- Best Lifter at each Regionals
Masters World Cup: Top 3 Best Lifters (by age/dots)
Raw Nationals: Top 15 Best Lifters (by age/dots)
- International Affiliate Nationals as well
Masters Pro Series Finals Count for 2024 Leaderboard (all lifters are Pros)

Raw Masters Bench Only

*Minimum Dots: 75 Female / 95 Male Required + one of the following (for both male and female):

Arnold Masters of Iron Bench: Best Lifter (by age/dots)
Bench Nationals: Top 10 Best Lifters (by age/dots)
- International Affiliate Nationals as well
Bench World Cup (Top 3 overall by age/dots)

Equipped Full Power (Open)

* Minimum Dots: 475 Female / 500 Male Required + one of the following (for both male and female):

Regionals: Best Lifter (by Dots)
- Best Lifter at each Regionals
Open World Cup: Top 3 Best Lifters (by Dots)
Equipped Nationals: Top 2 in each Weight Class
- International Affiliate Nationals as well
Arnold Grand Prix and Arnold Pro Finals Count for 2024 Leaderboard (all lifters are Pros)

Equipped Bench Only (Open)

*Minimum Dots: 85 Female / 105 Male Required + one of the following (for both male and female):

Bench Nationals: Top 2 in each Weight Class
- International Affiliate Nationals as well
Bench World Cup (Top 3 overall by dots)
Arnold Bench Bash and Arnold Pro Series Bench Finals Count for 2024 Leaderboard (all lifters are Pros)

Equipped Masters Full Power

* Minimum Age/Dots: 400 Female / 425 Male Required + one of the following (for both male and female):

Arnold Masters of Iron: Best Lifter (by age/dots)
Regionals: Best Lifter (by age/dots)
- Best Lifter at each Regionals
Masters World Cup: Top 3 Best Lifters (by age/dots)
Equipped Nationals: Top 10 Best Lifters (by age/dots)
- International Affiliate Nationals as well
Masters Pro Series Finals Count for 2024 Leaderboard (all lifters are Pros)

Equipped Masters Bench Only

*Minimum Dots: 75 Female / 95 Male Required + one of the following (for both male and female):

Arnold Masters Bench Bash: Best Lifter (by age/dots)
Bench Nationals: Top 10 Best Lifters (by age/dots)
- International Affiliate Nationals as well
Bench World Cup (Top 3 overall by age/dots)

Coefficients used in the Pro Series

DOTS Coeffecient

DOTS coefficient male

=500/(-0.0000010930*Bw^4+0.0007391293*Bw^3-0.1918759221*Bw^2+24.0900756*Bw-307.75076)
The male’s formula is only accurate from 40kg to 210kg. Lifters heavier than 210kg are assigned the coefficient for 210kg.

DOTS coefficient female

=500/(-0.0000010706*Bw^4+0.0005158568*Bw^3-0.1126655495*Bw^2+13.6175032*Bw-57.96288)
The female’s formula is only accurate from 40kg to 150kg. Lifters heavier than 150kg are assigned the coefficient for 150kg. After the DOTS coefficient is calculated, it is multiplied by the lifter’s 3-lift total to compute DOTS points. The lifter with the highest DOTS points is the “best lifter”.