August 7, 2026 — The United Pickleball Association of America (UPA-A) today announced a change to its Inaugural Annual Fee structure for new paddle manufacturers entering the UPA-A Certification Program.
Effective immediately, brands applying for certification with UPA-A for the first time will pay a reduced inaugural annual fee based on the calendar quarter in which their application is submitted. The change is intended to create a fair and accessible entry point for manufacturers joining the certification system throughout the year, rather than requiring all new applicants to pay a full annual fee regardless of when they enter.
Inaugural Annual Fee Schedule for First-Time Applicants
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Application Submission Period
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Annual Fee
|
|---|---|
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January – March
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$10,000
|
|
April – June
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$8,500
|
|
July – September
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$6,000
|
|
October – December
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$3,500
|
This prorated fee schedule applies only to manufacturers enrolling in the UPA-A Certification Program for the first time. Existing participating brands will continue to renew their annual participation at the standard annual rate.
“UPA-A is committed to building the most transparent, fair, and accessible equipment certification system in pickleball,” said Jason Aspes, President of UPA-A. “As more manufacturers around the world choose to participate in our certification program, we want the onboarding process to reflect common business practices while maintaining the integrity of our standards. This change ensures that brands entering later in the year are paying a fee that is proportionate to the time remaining in the annual certification cycle.”
The revised fee structure reflects UPA-A’s continued focus on expanding participation while maintaining rigorous testing, certification, and compliance standards that support fair play at every level of organized competition.
Manufacturers interested in joining the UPA-A Certification Program can begin the application process on the UPA-A Website.