What is the Difference Between the IFBB Pro League and the NPC?
The History of the IFBB and NPC
The International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness (IFBB) was founded in 1946 in Montreal, Canada, by the "Brothers of Iron" Joe and Ben Weider. Canada and the USA were the first two participating countries in the federation.
The IFBB held its first professional competition, the "Mr. Olympia", on September 18, 1965, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York City.
On November 27, 2005, Joe and Ben Weider officially announced the formation of the IFBB Professional League, separate from the International Federation of Body Builders. Joe and Ben selected Jim Manion, President of the National Physique Committee (NPC) of the USA, to head the IFBB Pro League.
On November 25, 2017, Jim Manion officially announced the founding of "NPC Worldwide", the international counterpart of the NPC.
IFBB Pro League vs. NPC – The Most Important Differences
The IFBB Pro League is the division of the association in which the professionals compete and the NPC for the amateurs from the USA & Canada and the NPC Worldwide for amateurs from other parts of the world.
The Path to the Pro Card
At the NPC there are two levels to qualify for the IFBB Pro League:
- Regional competitions: Each athlete must first participate in a regional competition to qualify for the next level.
- Pro Qualifier: After successfully completing a regional competition, athletes can participate in a Pro Qualifier. In the USA, these are competitions such as the Nationals or Universe, where each class winner - sometimes even the top 2 - receives a Pro Card.
In contrast, at the NPC Worldwide only the overall winner receives a Pro Card. The exception is the Olympia Amateur, where the top 3 in the overall winner playoff receive their Pro Card.
Costs and Fees
- At the NPC, athletes must pay an entry fee for the competitions, but in most cases do not receive any prize money.
- As soon as you have won the IFBB Pro Card, you can start in the IFBB Pro League. There are no longer any size or weight classes here - everyone competes against each other in one big class.
- In the IFBB Pro League there is no entry fee, but an annual Pro Card fee must be paid.
Prize Money and Qualification for the Mr. Olympia
- If an athlete places in the top 5 of a pro competition, there are prize money.
- The winner of a pro competition also receives a ticket to the Mr. Olympia, where he or she can compete against the best professionals in the world.
The Arnold Classic is one of the most prestigious pro competitions, offering not only high prize money but also a stage for top athletes on their way to Mr. Olympia. Learn more about the Arnold Classic.
