Junior and senior level skaters and novice through senior level teams compete in their respective sectional singles, U.S. Pairs Finals, or U.S. 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. Figure Skating Championships is based on the singles sectional, U.S. Pairs Finals, and U.S. Ice Dance Finals as follows:
Singles
- Junior – maximum of 18 skaters from the sectional singles finals
- Top four skaters from each section
- Top two novice skaters from each section invited to skate up to junior
- Senior – maximum of 18 skaters from the sectional singles finals and byes combined
- Athletes receiving a bye per the U.S. Figure Skating Rulebook or approved bye criteria
- Top two athletes per section from sectional singles finals
- Next best scores nationwide until maximum is met
Pairs
- Novice – maximum of four entries from the U.S. Pairs Finals
- Top four teams from U.S. Ice Dance Finals
- Junior – maximum of eight entries from the U.S. Pairs Finals
- Top eight teams from U.S. Ice Dance Finals
- Senior – maximum of 12 entries from the U.S. Pairs Finals 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 Finals until maximum is met
Ice Dance
- Novice – maximum of five entries from the U.S. Ice Dance Finals
- Top five teams from U.S. Ice Dance Finals
- Junior – maximum of 10 entries from the U.S. Ice Dance Finals
- Top 10 teams from U.S. Ice Dance Finals
- Senior – maximum of 15 entries from the U.S. Ice Dance Finals 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 Finals until maximum is met