There are four categories of Player Members:
Amateur,
Semi-Professional,
Professional (Active or Inactive) and
Touring Professional.
Amateur Members
Amateurs can join the WPBA directly (by paying $35 to the WPBA) or be granted membership through their current affiliation with a WPBA-sanctioned Regional Tour (by paying the Regional Tour's membership fee). By joining the WPBA directly, you are entitled to receive the WPBA monthly newsletter; however, you are not entitled to play in a WPBA-sanctioned Regional Tour or in WPBA pro tournaments. To be eligible to play in a Regional Tour, you must join that Regional Tour directly. The WPBA currently sanctions eight (8) Regional Tours located in several areas of the country. Regional Tours are eligible to hold local qualifying tournaments for WPBA pro tournaments, or to send their top players in their own season's qualifying format to WPBA pro tournaments. Amateur players may also earn Semi-Pro status by playing in Regional Tour events or winning WPBA qualifiers.
Semi-Professional Members
Once qualifying for participation in a WPBA pro tournament, Amateur Members upgrade their membership status to Semi-Professional member status. The membership fee for a Semi-Pro is $100. Semi-Pros continue to receive the WPBA monthly newsletter, receive a certificate of accomplishment, become eligible to compete in WPBA pro tournaments and become eligible to be included in the WPBA pro ranking list.
Professional Members
After placing in the top half of the field in a minimum of four (4) WPBA pro tournaments within a consecutive twelve-month period, the Semi-Pro is automatically upgraded to Professional status. The Pro membership fee is $150. Once you become a Pro, you cannot lose that status with the WPBA unless you upgrade to Active Professional or Touring Professional status. A Pro may be upgraded to Active Professional member status when she competes in at least 50% of WPBA pro tournaments within a consecutive twelve-month period. The membership fee for an Active Pro is $200. Active Pros receive priority selection above all other Pros and Semi-Pros (regardless of ranking) on the waiting list to compete in WPBA pro tournaments. Active Pros that do not compete in at least 50% of WPBA pro tournaments within a consecutive twelve-month period receive Inactive Pro status.
Touring Professional Members
Pros meeting minimum participation requirements (having played in 80% of WPBA pro tournaments annually) are upgraded to Touring Professional status. The Touring Pro membership fee is $250. Touring Pros are eligible for seeding and selection privileges, i.e., eligible by ranking to compete in the WPA World Championships, invitational tournaments, etc. Touring Pros are also eligible to participate in the Guaranteed Entry Fee Program, which enables them to pay their $500 entry fee for each WPBA pro tournament in person at the players' meeting prior to the commencement of the tournament; rather than mailing the $500 entry fee to the WPBA office prior to the tournament. Other privileges of being a Touring Pro are inclusion in WPBA picture packs, Tour poster and Tour program.
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