Junior and senior level skaters and novice through senior level teams compete in their respective sectional singles or pairs or ice dance finals for a spot at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. This competition, usually held in January, is the culmination of the national skating season and brings together the top athletes in U.S. figure skating.
The advancement criteria for the U.S. Championships is based on the singles sectional and pairs and ice dance finals as follows:
Singles
- Junior: maximum of 18 skaters from the Sectional Singles Final
- Top 4 skaters from each section
- Top 2 novice skaters from each section invited to skate up to junior
- Senior: maximum of 18 skaters from the Sectional Singles Final and byes combined
- Athletes receiving a bye per the U.S. Figure Skating Rulebook or approved bye criteria
- Top 2 athletes per section from Sectional Singles Final
- Next best scores nationwide until maximum is met
Pairs
- Novice: maximum of 4 entries from the U.S. Pairs Final
- Top 4 teams from U.S. Ice Dance Final
- Junior: maximum of 8 entries from the U.S. Pairs Final
- Top 8 teams from U.S. Ice Dance Final
- Senior: maximum of 12 entries from the U.S. Pairs Final and byes combined
- Teams receiving a bye per the U.S. Figure Skating Rulebook or approved bye criteria
- Next best teams from U.S. Pairs Final until maximum is met
Ice Dance
- Novice: maximum of 5 entries from the U.S. Ice Dance Final
- Top 5 teams from U.S. Ice Dance Final
- Junior: maximum of 10 entries from the U.S. Ice Dance Final
- Top 10 teams from U.S. Ice Dance Final
- Senior: maximum of 15 entries from the U.S. Ice Dance Final and byes combined
- Teams receiving a bye per the U.S. Figure Skating Rulebook or approved bye criteria
- Next best teams from U.S. Ice Dance Final until maximum is met