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Become a Professional Archer
What should you know about becoming a NFAA Pro?
Taking the step into the Professional ranks is rarely easy and there are no simple answers when you're deciding “if” or “when” is the right time. The decision should be made with care and with consultation of your peers, your family and your coach or mentor.
Remember, "Pro" is not shorthand or slang for Promotional team – it’s short for Professional. Your job requires promotion, your title is Professional. Competing at local events is just as important as competing on the national stage. Turning Pro is about chasing the dream that YOU may become the next poster shooter for a bow brand, or the next national or world champion. Ultimately though, it's about being a great ambassador for yourself, the organization, the sport, and (if you have them) your sponsors.
Being a Professional is very much about being part of our archery community both nationally and locally. It's about giving back to the youth and adult archers who will inevitably look up to you. It does not matter if they are on the line for the first time or if they have 50 years of archery experience, many of them may come to think of you as their archery hero. You must treat them with respect and honor at all times; they are the lifeblood of our organization.
Key facts about being a NFAA Pro
- The NFAA Pro dues are $125 per year, in addition to your annual NFAA membership dues.
- The NFAA recognizes only one Professional style: Freestyle (Compound, long stabilizers, movable sights, mechanical release).
- The NFAA has multiple age groups for Professional divisions, all available for each Male and Female: Adult (18+), Senior (50+), and Silver Senior (60+).
- Archers under the age of 18 may turn Pro with written parental permission. The Parental Authorization Form can be completed online. Professional archers under 18 are required to hold an NFAA Adult Membership type.
- There is a NFAA national championship placement prerequisite.
- There are Professional etiquette rules and expectations.
- NFAA Pro members must compete in a Professional or Championship division at any state, sectional, or national event sanctioned by the NFAA or NFAA Foundation.
- NFAA Pro membership is required to compete in a Professional division at any state, sectional, or national event sanctioned by the NFAA.
- There is a written Professional Code of Conduct and Dress Code that you must agree and adhere to.
- Once earned, the Pro Card is valid for one calendar year (Jan 1-Dec 31) and must be renewed by Jan 31. Allowing your Pro Card to lapse may mean you need to re-qualify.
To apply for a NEW Pro membership, contact the NFAA Executive Secretary via email with (1) the name and date of the event at which the NFAA National Championship Prerequisite was met (see corresponding tab on this page) and (2) the name of an existing NFAA Pro who can serve as a mentor during the first-year probationary period. Once your current NFAA membership is confirmed and all other criteria have been met, you will pay the Pro membership dues and receive your NFAA Pro Membership. Note that you may not apply for a Pro membership at a tournament if you intend to shoot that event as a Pro. You must apply and/or renew not less than 2 weeks in advance of the event.
The Pro Executive Committee holds the authority to approve applicants who do not meet the placement prerequisite, but who demonstrate the caliber and skill level expected of a Professional Division member. Pro applicants seeking to qualify without having met the placement prerequisite must submit a written request for exemption. This request must be sent to the NFAA Pro Chairman and the NFAA Executive Secretary and should explain why the applicant believes they merit an exemption from this prerequisite.
Current Professional members are exempt from the qualification process unless their membership lapses for more than 60 days, except in cases of special exemption (injury, illness, military deployment, etc.). A returning Pro may also claim a provisional exemption if they are a current or former National Team member or an NFAA National Champion. Provisional claims must be within the past five years.
Contact Information for nfaa pro application
NFAA Pro Chairman, Lewis Holmes: unlimitedoutdoorsguideservice@gmail.com
NFAA Executive Secretary, Erika Jones: ejones@nfaausa.com
renew your NFAA Pro membership
As a new Professional, you will need a mentor or someone who will vouch for you and your good character for the first probationary year. Your mentor must be an active, current NFAA Professional whom you personally know and who has agreed to accept this responsibility. The mentor will serve as a guide to help you learn the rules, understand events, and become involved in the archery community. Your mentor’s name will be recorded in your NFAA profile and may be contacted to verify your qualifications or address any questions regarding conduct or professionalism.
To qualify for membership in the Professional Division, an amateur archer must have finished in the top 10% of their division at an NFAA National Championship Tournament one time within the past three (3) years. The prerequisite may be met at one of the following events:
- NFAA National Indoor Championships
- NFAA National Field Championships
- NFAA National Target Championships
- NFAA National Marked 3D Championships
- NFAA National 1-Arrow Marked 3D Championships (Break the Barriers)
The NFAA National Championship Placement Prerequisite is a baseline used by the Professional divisions to indicate a level of proficiency to earn your first Pro Card. It's less about proving perfection or the ability to win and more about showing proficiency and professionalism on the shooting line. This prerequisite is only used to qualify new Pros. As long as your Pro membership stays current, Pros do not need to qualify every year.
Why the prerequisite? Our Professional archers are often asked questions on form, equipment setup, gear selection etc., and an archer who has met the prerequisite will likely have enough experience to express a general working knowledge to the new or inquisitive archer. Additionally, meeting the prerequisite dictates that the incoming Pro has been a member of the NFAA and shot at least one NFAA national event in the past.
The Pro Executive Committee holds the authority to approve applicants who do not meet the top 10% standard, but who demonstrate the caliber and skill level expected of a Professional Division member.
View the NFAA Pro Membership Application tab on this page for more details.
As a Professional archer, you are expected to present yourself in the best manner at all times, especially during competition. There are thousands of pictures taken by people you may or may not know for marketing, advertising, sponsorship and event promotions. Pros are also expected to stand out and be an example for other archers to emulate on a multitude of levels; dressing appropriately is one of those levels.
Article III, Section D, Subsection 3 of the NFAA By-Laws states the following:
3.1 General. The professional archer shall present himself in clean, neat attire, acceptable to public view.
3.2 Professional archers shall dress in a clean, professional manner. Bottoms should look fitted, clean, undamaged, and be of appropriate length. The waist of the attire must shall not fall below the waistline. No ripped or frayed jeans. T-shirts, swimming suits, cut-offs and obscene or vulgar slogans or pictures on clothing are prohibited.
3.2.1 Open toed shoes/flip flops/sandals are unacceptable while competing.
3.2.2 Dress codes are not enforced during practice.
3.2.3 Dress codes shall be enforced for all State, Sectional, and National events, and those events sanctioned by the NFAA.
3.2.4 In the event of inclement weather, over wear (rain gear, cold gear) is permissible and will not violate dress code as long as it holds within the spirit of the rule.
3.2.5 Violations to the dress code will be enforced by the Pro Executive Committee (PEC) and may result in a reprimand, probation, suspension, or as outlined in this article, Section 4. Violations can be brought to the Pro Chair or Pro Rep or a member of the PEC by the Tournament Chair or any competitor.
3.2.6 Archers removed from competition will not be eligible for refunds or entry fees in whole or part.
3.2.7 Archers removed from competition for dress code may not makeup arrows missed for score if they return to competition after meeting dress code.
3.2.8 Archers may petition the PEC for exemption only in cases of extreme hardship (i.e. lost/stolen luggage etc.). Petition must be filed not less than 6 hours prior to competition start. In these cases, the decision of the PEC is final.
3.2.9 At State and Sectional and sanctioned events the dress code shall be enforced by the State Pro Rep or Sectional Pro Rep.
Professional archers are often the first contact for local communities, young archers, and archery clubs/shops. As a result, NFAA Pros are expected to adhere to the following etiquette:
- Knowledge and understanding. Be able to explain the rules of the game (scoring, structure, format, safety, etc.), explain and teach bow tuning and equipment, and understand the basics of tournament operation and standard tournament procedures.
- Stewardship. Be a good ambassador for the sport of archery and the NFAA.
- Be involved. Become a volunteer in your community and help to cultivate upcoming archers and youth programs.
