The National Physique Committee (NPC) is the largest amateur bodybuilding organization in the United States. Amateur bodybuilders compete in various competitions from local to national competitions sanctioned by the NPC. One amateur organization per country is recognized by the International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFBB), which claims to be bodybuilding's international professional organization and the IFBB recognizes the NPC as its amateur extension for the United States.
In order to become an IFBB professional bodybuilder in the United States you must first win a class at the NPC Nationals Championship or be the overall winner at the NPC USA Championship. However, there are other organizations and federations in the US that also promote amateur athletics and have a professional extension. While the NPC and the IFBB are the largest and most well known, there are other amateur and professional bodybuilding organizations and federations as well.
The NPC also sanctions various bodybuilding fitness and figure competitions across the United States.