Skaters compete in five levels: Senior, Junior, Novice, Intermediate, and Juvenile.
Medals are given out in four colors: gold (first), silver (second), bronze (third), and pewter (fourth).
Per 2022 Governing Council approval, the pathway for advancement in the two partnered disciplines has changed to: National Qualifying Series directly to U.S. Ice Dance Final and U.S. Pairs Final (both for entries from all sections), and then to U.S.
[1][2] Modifications began in the 2019-20 season to the conventional structure that skaters who place in the top four at sectionals advance to U.S.
Figure Skating Championships[3][4] -- which no longer hold singles competition at the level of Novice, Intermediate, or Juvenile.