The Qualifying Minimum Score (QMS) is the benchmark Technical Element Score (TES) for the free program that must be met or exceeded in order to enter Skate Canada Challenge or Skate Canada Trophy (as applicable). Note, that the QMS is the TES only and does not include bonuses or deductions.
The QMS for 2025-2026 are as follows:
| Men | Women | Pairs | Ice Dance | |
| Pre-Novice | 19 | 22 | 15 | 15 |
| Novice | 26 | 27.5 | 19 | 18 |
| Junior | 35.5 | 35.5 | 28 | 24 |
| Senior | 44.5 | 40 | 38 | 40 |
Pre-Novice and Novice: The QMS must be met between July 1st of each season and the deadline date for entries to the Skate Canada Trophy.
Junior and Senior: The QMS must be met between July 1st of the preceding season and the deadline for entries to the Skate Canada Challenge
The QMS must be met at the same or lower level of competition, and in the same discipline as that to be competed in at the Skate Canada Challenge or the Skate Canada Trophy. Any STARSkate free program score may also be used to meet the established QMS.
Athletes qualify to Skate Canada Challenge or Skate Canada Trophy as follows:
- Normal Quota Entries: The normal quota of entries is granted to each Section (as outlined in the Sectional Championships – Normal Quota of Entries portion of the Competitions rule) if the QMS has been met. It is the Section’s responsibility to confirm that the minimum score has been achieved by each of their entries.
- Exception to QMS – if a section has no entries who have met the QMS, the QMS requirement will be waived for one entry in that category. In Senior, this entry must achieve the QMS prior to or at Challenge in order to be eligible to advance to the Canadian Figure Skating Championships.