USCF National Master Requirements

Hello, 

I have a couple questions about achieve a National Master ranking in USCF. 

• USCF has noted here that anyone who has reached a rating of 2200 will be awarded the title. Does it matter for which time control? e.g. Regular/Classical, Quick, Blitz?
• Does the National Master title require norms? USCF mention a "Life Masters" title that require five norms at the performing level plus a rating of 2200+. I'm confuse if "Life Master" is the same thing as National Master?

Thanks!

Life master is the equivalent of the GM title but for the USCF universe, its the next title after NM which chess.com does not recognize. the national master title only requires 2200 classical format and in order to get NM practically you must get USCF CM which has some performance norms and a 2000+ rating at classical tournaments, once you have CM and are over 2200 you are a official National Master and also no longer have to pay for your USCF ID for life which is cool

You can get over 2200 without meeting all the norms and NM does not give a life membership to US Chess; you still have to renew every year or buy the the life membership.

OTB regular rated chess is the only way to get the title though

I am a 2000+ USCF rated at classical tournaments, but how do I get the "performance" norms needed to get CM? And do I really need to get the CM title before getting the NM title? I thought I can just get over 2200 USCF, to get NM, right?

I'm laughing.  I can't even get above 1600.  What's that about?

If I remember correctly, you can bypass the CM title if your end goal is NM+. You don't HAVE to claim the CM title but have the option to if all requirements are met

The USCF "National Master" title predates the norm system that the federation created. Simply said, to be known as a NM you must only have one post-tournament OTB Regular (slow) rating of 2200+. You may accomplish this by playing rated OTB events at G/30 or slower. Even if you drop below 2200, the federation still considers you a NM.

There are two USCF "Life Master" titles. The old one, commonly called "Original Life Master", requires 300 OTB Regular rated games played with a post-tournament rating of 2200+. The OLM title comes with a lifetime rating floor of 2200.

The newer title, simply called "Life Master", requires the NM title plus five "norms" at a score of least 1.0 greater than the expected score of a hypothetical 2200 OTB Regular rated player facing the identical opposition. The LM title only comes with the 2000 rating floor that any NM earns. 

Note that all titles and norms can only be achieved at OTB Regular rated tournaments. Quick or blitz tournaments do not count, nor do any Online rated events.

Michael Aigner (NM, LM, OLM)

I can't wait for the day the world is lifted off my shoulder and I can enjoy life OTB even if just for a little bit, this is great information thanks for sharing. 😊

I have bad news for you. Once you make NM, you will want to become a FM. There's always a higher title or goal.

I have a friend who was NM just about 1-2 years ago, now he’s an IM; and during this time he played plenty of variants and messed around on 4 Player Chess, so I have no idea how he kept on growing and progressing in standard chess and progress this fast…

I mean, Box wasn't that active on 4pc