1. A top four finish in the previous year's National Scholastics Championship
2. A top two finish in a PACE-affiliated tournament with less than 20 teams in the field
3. A top four finish in a PACE-affiliated tournament with 20 to 39 teams in the field
4. A top eight finish in a PACE-affiliated tournament with 40 or more teams in the field
5. A top four finish in a state championship tournament that does NOT require prior qualification at another tournament, such as (but not exclusive to) the following:
   • Any NAQT State Championship/Qualifier
   • Florida Commissioner's Academic Challenge (CAC) (4 per classification)
   • Georgia Academic Team Association (GATA) State Tournament (4 per classification)
   • Louisiana Association for Academic Competition (LAAC) Quiz Bowl (4 per classification)
   • New Hampshire Quiz Bowl League
   • North Carolina Open Academic State Tournament (NCOAST)
   • Tennessee Academic Coaches Association (TACA) Academic Championship
   • West Virginia Academic Coaches Association (WVACA) State Tournament (4 per classificaion)
6. Qualification for a state championship tournament that does require prior qualification at another tournament, such as (but not exclusive to) the following:
   • Alabama Scholastic Competition Association (ASCA) State Championship (16 teams)
   • Arkansas Governor's Quiz Bowl Association (AGQBA) State Tournament (8-16 teams per classification)
   • Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Scholastic Bowl State Championship (8 teams per classification)
   • Illinois Masonic Academic Bowl State Tournament (16 teams)
   • Indiana State Championship (16 teams)
   • Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) State Scholars' Bowl (8-16 teams per classification)
   • Kentucky Association for Academic Competition (KAAC) Governor's Cup Quick Recall State Finals (32 teams)
   • Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Academic Competition State Tournament (8 teams per classification; pending MSHSAA rules changes)
   • Ohio Academic Competition (OAC) State Championship (12 teams)
   • Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association (OSSAA) Academic Bowl State Championship (8 teams per classification)
   • Vermont-NEA Scholars' Bowl State Tournament
   • Virginia High School League (VHSL) Scholastic Bowl State Championship (8 teams per classification)
   • Washington State Knowledge Bowl State Tournament (9 or 18 teams per classification)

In addition to automatic qualifications, teams are encouraged to apply for at-large bids. To receive an at-large bid, please follow the procedures outlined in the NSC registration information. PACE will consider both individual best performances and overall results to determine who will receive at-large bids. You may disclose up to five tournaments held on or after August 1. Your performance against other teams that have already qualified for the NSC will also be taken into account.