In my last five posts, I provided lists of all the men who earned IFBB Professional Status by competing onstage in the Men’s Physique Division in NPC events and at the IFBB North American. Here are the totals for each year:

2011: 23
2012: 49
2013: 99
2014: 110
2015: 99 *NOTE: There will be 12 more men joining this group in late November after NPC Nationals takes place.

That’s a total of 380 IFBB Men’s Physique Pros who won their status on a bodybuilding stage in the five years since the Men’s Physique Division was established. However, there are a number of IFBB Men’s Physique Pros who got their Pro Cards in Bodybuilding, then crossed over after they went pro. There are also international IFBB Men’s Physique Pros who have competed in Pro events.

The IFBB Men’s Physique Pro Ranks have grown dramatically as a result of the increase in the number of Pro Cards offered at national events. There are now twice as many cards handed out as there were in the early days of this division. However, the sheer number of competitors who funnel through national amateur events each year continues to make the designation of IFBB Men’s Physique Pro a highly desirable and honorable title to have.