=== Eligibility ===
To play in the NASC, you must (1) be a NASPA [[membership|member]], and (2) have played in an officially sanctioned SCRABBLE tournament to earn an official tournament [[rating]].
If you live in the United States or Canada, that rating should be a NASPA rating; if you live elsewhere it may be a [[WESPA]] rating or other comparable national rating.
==== QR Rating ==== Placement into respective divisions is determined by your Qualification Rating (QR). Your QR consists of the '''highest tournament rating attained at the end of any NASPA NWL or Collins''' rated tournament (or segment of a split-rated tournament) which finished during the period from July 20, 2019 to July 14, 2020 (the start of last year's Championship to the close of registration). If you have a rating, but do not play during this period, your QR is the higher of your unchanged current NWL or CSW rating. ==== NWL Divisions====
If you meet the eligibility criteria and wish to play using the NASPA Word List 2018 (NWL), you may do so. Four NWL divisions will be offered, divided by Qualification Rating (QR), with unlimited play-up available. If your QR is 1800 or higher, or if you do not have a NASPA rating, you must play in Division 1. If your QR is in the range 1450–1799, you must play in Division 1 or 2. If your QR is in the range 1150–1399, you must play in Division 1, 2 or 3. If your QR is below 1100, you may play in any of the four divisions.
Your QR consists of the highest tournament rating attained at the end of any NASPA '''NWL or Collins''' rated tournament (or segment of a split-rated tournament) which finished during the period from July 20, 2019 to July 14, 2020 (the start of last year's Championship to the close of registration). If you have a rating, but do not play during this period, your QR is your unchanged current rating.
==== Collins Divisions ====