Last updated: 15th September, 2025
To compete at BCPA Provincials, CanPL Regionals, or CanPL Nationals, athletes must meet certain qualifying totals, age & weight class criteria, and volunteer requirements. Below is a complete guide to help you understand how to qualify.
Volunteering at 2025 CanPL Westerns can be used for 2026 CanPL Nationals volunteer requirements.
Calendar
These approximate timeframes should help you plan out your competitions:
BCPA Provincials: Late spring / early summer
CanPL Regionals: Late August to mid-November
CanPL Nationals: Late winter to early Spring
1. Qualifying for BC Provincials
- What you need:
Meet the regional qualifying total for your age category and weight class in an IPF-sanctioned competition within the 24 months before the BC Provincial Championship date. - Equipped vs Unequipped:
- If you reach the total in Equipped, you may compete as Unequipped.
- If you compete as Unequipped, you cannot use that total to qualify as Equipped.
- Bench-Only Events:
Bench-only totals may be used if obtained in a bench-only competition or as part of a full powerlifting event’s bench press portion.
2. Qualifying for CPU Regionals & Nationals
First-Time Competitors
| Event | Requirement |
|---|---|
| CanPL Regionals | Must have competed at any provincial championship within Canada in the past 24 months + met volunteer requirements. |
| CanPL Nationals | Must have competed at CanPL Regionals within 24 months + met BC volunteer requirements for your first nationals appearance. |
Returning Competitors
Must fulfill BCPA’s volunteer requirement.
Must achieve the correct national qualifying total for their age category (can be done at any IPF-sanctioned event).
Need more help? Check out this walkthrough of where to find everything:
3. Volunteer Requirements
You must do at least one of the following within the previous 12 months (before the National or Regional competition you wish to attend):
- Compete in or volunteer at the BC Provincial Championships.
- Act as a meet director for a sanctioned competition in BC.
- Assist in an executive-run BCPA meet in an official role.
- Assist BCPA committees or tasks (non-board member), as assigned.
Note: Athletes outside Metro Vancouver or Fraser Valley may fulfill some volunteer duties locally with written agreement from BCPA.
Ensure you meet these standards before registering for Regional or National Championships.
As a way to double-check volunteer requirements, you can use this volunteer requirement checker tool, which is updated somewhat shortly after valid competitions.
If you have previously competed at CanPL Nationals
If you have previously competed at nationals and wish to compete at nationals again you have two requirements:
- Obtain a national qualifying total for the age category you wish to compete in (at any IPF sanctioned competition)
- Complete BCPA volunteer requirements
The qualifying total can be obtained at any level of competition as long as the competition was sanctioned by the BCPA, CanPL, a CanPL-affiliated province, an IPF-affiliated member organization, or the IPF itself.
4. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What counts as a “sanctioned competition”?
A: Competitions must be sanctioned by BCPA, CanPL, an IPF-affiliated member organization, or the IPF itself.
Q: What is a BCPA run meet?
A: These are typically Winter Open, Summer Open, Fall Classic, or BCPA Provincials. Any exceptions to this will be circulated to the members on this page, via email, and social media.
Q: How long before an event must I achieve my qualifying total?
A: Within 24 months of the start date of the event.
Q: Can I change weight class and still qualify?
A: Yes. You must get your qualifying total in the weight class you competed in. Once you meet that, you can compete in any weight class in that age category.
Q: What are the deadlines for weight class changes or registrations?
A: Competition registration deadlines depend on BCPA or CanPL policies, depending on which event you’re registering for. All weight class changes, age category changes, qualifying totals and provincial requirements must be completed 21 days prior to the competition start date.
Resources
Information about qualifying standards and pathways can be found in these places:
Still confused? Contact us.
Please provide as much information as possible and ensure you’ve done your own research/due diligence first.