Novice Level

Open to any competitor who has not:

1. Placed 1st in their category at the Novice level in an officially sanctioned physique competition
hosted by any organization.

2. Placed in the Top 3 at the Open or Advanced level in an officially sanctioned physique competition hosted by any organization.

Competitors may bypass the Novice level and begin at the Open level if they choose.

Once a competitor has placed 1st at the Novice level, or in the top three in the Open level at any sanctioned physique competition, they must move to the Open level. Competitors may choose to move to the Open Level at any time.
Novice level competition may not be available at every WNSO event.

Open Level

Open to any competitor who is not a current WNSO Elite or Pro level competitor under the current WNSO tier system.

Competitors who have not placed 1st in their category at an officially sanctioned physique competition hosted by any organization, or in the Top 3 at an Open or Advanced level competition, may compete at the Novice level (when available) or at the Open Level.

Competitors must qualify to advance from the Open level to the Elite level
(see Elite level qualification requirements).

Elite Level - Pro Qualifying Level

Open to any current WNSO competitor who has earned Elite level status (see qualification requirements below). Experienced competitors from other organizations may apply for WNSO Elite level status prior to competing.

Qualification Requirements:

1. Any competitor who has earned Advanced or Elite Status with WNSO/FAME under the
old tier system is automatically granted Elite level status in the 2011 WNSO tier system.

2. 1st Place winners in the Open Level at designated Elite Qualifier Events earn WNSO Elite Status*

3. If there are 10 or more competitors in a category at a designated Elite Qualifier Event,
2nd place winners earn WNSO Elite Status.

4. 1st Place winners at a Novice Elite Qualifier event earn WNSO Elite Status*

5. Experienced competitors from other organizations may apply for WNSO Elite level status.
Competitors must be able to document that they have placed in the top 2 at a State, Regional,
or National level event at the “Open” level or equivalent (not a Novice level event)
with a recognized physique competition organization within the past 3 years.
Competitors may document placing with links to official organization web sites listing
competition results.

* Automatic qualification requires a minimum of 5 athletes in the category.
If fewer than 5 athletes are in a category, the Head Judge of the event must approve
qualification to Elite Status.

Pro Level - Top Level Athletes in the WNSO Tier System

WNSO Pros are eligible to compete for cash, endorsement contracts, trips and other valuable
prizes and merchandise.

Qualification Requirements:

1. Any competitor who has earned Pro Status with WNSO/FAME under the old tier system is
automatically granted Pro status in the 2011 WNSO tier system.

2. The 1st place winner in a pre designated Pro Qualifier category at a Pro
Qualifier Event will win WNSO Pro Status*

3. The 1st place winner in all Categories ( Except Routine Only and Fit Duos ) at the
WNSO World Championships will win WNSO Pro Status*

If there are 15 or more competitors in a Pro Qualifier category at
the WNSO World Championships, the 2nd place winner will receive Pro Status*

If there are 20 or more competitors in a Pro Qualifier category at the WNSO World
Championships, the 3rd place winner will receive Pro Status*

Note: Not all Categories at all events are Pro Qualifiers.
A category must be pre designated as a Pro Qualifier for the winner to receive Pro Status.

4. Pro competitors from other organizations may apply for WNSO Pro status.
Competitors must be able to document that they have earned Pro Status, or competed
as a Pro with a recognized physique competition organization within the past 5 years.

A competitor must not have been banned or disqualified from competition for the use of
any banned substances by any other organization. If it is learned that a competitor
granted Pro status with the WNSO was banned by another physique organization for the use
of a banned substance, the competitors WNSO Pro status can be revoked.

Any Pro competitor from another organization granted WNSO Pro status will be subject to
mandatory drug screening at their first WNSO Pro event.

* pending successful passing of drug screening

* Automatic qualification requires a minimum of 5 athletes in the category.
If fewer than 5 athletes are in a category, the Head Judge of the event must approve
qualification to Pro Status.