The Stars Buy Back and Bridging Buy Back systems are the processes by which members may use acceptances gained prior to joining PSA (or gained during a gap in membership) when they apply for Star, Galaxy or Diamond ratings.

For more information:  Download PSA Stars Buy Back Rules pdf (updated July 2019).

How to Pay for Buy Back Fees:

To pay Buy Back fees (for acceptances gained prior to joining PSA), go to: www.psa-photo.org/index.php?new-member-stars-buy-back

To pay Bridging Buy Back fees (to pay for gaps in membership), go to: www.psa-photo.org/index.php?bridging-buy-back

Contact PSA's Membership Coordinator (membership@psa-photo.org) if you have any questions.

The Recognition of Photographic Achievement (ROPA) Awards of Distinction program was established in February 1997, for the purpose of recognizing Individual PSA member achievements in PSA-recognized international exhibitions. After receiving acceptances in international exhibitions, individual PSA members in good standing may apply for the various levels of ROPA distinctions.  A scan of the latest qualifying certificate(s) from the PSA Division Star/Galaxy Directors (SRDs) granting Star or Galaxy ratings must accompany each application. (Only the highest-level certificate is required.)

There are six levels of distinction awards – Qualified (QPSA), Proficiency (PPSA), Excellence (EPSA), Master (MPSA), Master 2 (MPSA2) and Grand Master (GMPSA).  The GMPSA distinction has five sub-levels. The number of acceptances required for each level is outlined in the link (below) for Minimum Acceptance Requirements for Star Ratings Certificates and ROPA Distinctions. In order to qualify for the ROPA distinctions, you will need proof of acceptances in the form of Star Ratings Certificates from one or multiple PSA divisions.

PSA Membership Required:  All exhibitors applying for ROPA distinctions must be Individual PSA members in good standing.  It is important that a recipient’s membership does not expire before the annual PSA Conference in September or October of each year.

Photo:  An electronic head-and-shoulder color photo image with a blank background (no hats or props included) is required. The image should have a vertical dimension of 1050 pixels at 300 dpi. The photo will be used for publication on the ROPA page of the PSA website.

Fees:  There is a $50 USD processing fee for each ROPA application, to be paid after the application is approved. For QPSA, PPSA and EPSA applications, a Certificate will be issued at no extra charge.  For all other applications, the member may choose to receive a Certificate at no extra charge OR a plaque at the following fees (which include the $40 application fee):  MPSA, MPSA2 – $75; GMPSA – $100; GMPSA/B – $110; GMPSA/S – $120; GMPSA/G – $130; and GMPSA/P – $140.

Application Deadline:  There is no deadline for submitting an application for a ROPA distinction. Applications are processed throughout the year. ROPA award certificates or plaques are now prepared and distributed on a quarterly basis, and in the month following each quarter, the awards are sent from PSA Headquarters.  For those recipients who indicate that they will attend the PSA Conference, the ROPA award is presented at the Conference, unless the recipient chooses to have his award sent after the quarter in which it is approved.  

Information on ROPA Recipients:  Exhibitors are able to use their new distinction “letters” as soon as the recipient receives the distinction approval letter from the ROPA director.  A list of all recent recipients of ROPA distinctions is published quarterly in the PSA Journal in March, June, September, and December of each year.  In addition, photos of recent recipients are published quarterly on the PSA Website.  Also, ROPA distinctions are updated on the PSA membership data base in three to five working days following approval of each distinction.  All ROPA recipients are also encouraged to submit 3 to 6 images of their work and a brief biography for display on the ROPA Galleries pages of the PSA Website.

Submission of the Application:

Applications for ROPA distinctions can be submitted

2. by downloading the application form from the PSA Website and emailing the completed form along with the required photo and the supporting star/galaxy/diamond certificates to
ropa-director@psa-photo.org 

ROPA Director Contact Information:

Gerald H. Emmerich, Jr., HonFPSA, GMPSA/B·

ropa-director@psa-photo.org

Updated    01/01/2019

The following are basic Guidelines, more detailed Guidelines are contained in the downloadable Instructions above.

• Only Individual PSA members are eligible to earn PSA Star, Galaxy and Diamond Ratings.
• Acceptances earned during PSA membership can be applied to Stars/Galaxies/Diamonds in each Division.
• To use Acceptances earned before becoming a PSA member see PSA Stars Buy Back Program.
• Members must maintain continuous membership once the First Star is earned. Lapses in membership can be bridged by paying a fee for each year.
• Members must apply for Star, Galaxy and Diamond Ratings, they are not automatically awarded.
• Only acceptances in PSA Division recognized sections of exhibitions can be used in Star, Galaxy or Diamond Rating applications.
• Only acceptances earned in one Division (for example, Nature) may be used for a Star Rating in that Division (Nature). The entrant must keep a record of which PSA Division or Divisions have recognized each exhibition that the entrant entered. 
• Some exhibitions with PSA-recognition (PSA logo used) are only recognized for one of several sections and only acceptances in that one section can be used for PSA Star Ratings.
• The same title must be used with a particular image every time it is entered or exhibited.
• The entrant's name must be used in the same way for each exhibition entered in order to have the entrant's acceptances recorded properly.  For example, use only one of: M. Harry Smithers; M. H. Smithers; Smithers, Michael Harry; or Michael Harry Smithers. 
• Star Ratings Certificates are needed to apply for PSA Recognition of Photographic Achievement (ROPA) Distinctions (QPSA, PPSA, EPSA, MPSA, MPSA2, GMPSA, GMPSA/B, GMPSA/S, GMPSA/G, GMPSA/P).
• Members must follow PSA Ethical Practices