The USPA Constitution binds USPA "to sanction skydiving competitions, to document officially all state, national and world skydiving records set by citizens of the U.S., and to select and train the United States Parachute Team for world competition." The Skydiver's Competition Manual prescribes procedures by which national competitions are selected and conducted, how judges are rated, how records are set, and how teams are selected. Download or purchase a copy of the Skydiver's Competition Manual on the right.

Annually, USPA conducts the National Skydiving Championships to recognize national champions in seven skydiving competition disciplines: Canopy Formation, Canopy Piloting, Formation Skydiving, Freefall Style, Accuracy Landing, Artistic Events (Freestyle Skydiving and Freeflying) and Vertical Formation Skydiving. (see descriptions of disciplines.) In addition, USPA hosts the National Collegiate Parachuting Championships annually for the collegiate skydiving community.

From the results of the National Championships, except the Collegiates, U.S. Teams are chosen from the top competitors in each Open class to represent the United States at international skydiving meets.

As a division of the National Aeronautic Association (NAA, the national aeroclub of America), USPA has the sole authority in the United States to control all parachuting activities, in consonance with the NAA's responsibilities as the overall representative of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).

USPA is a member of the International Parachuting Commission (IPC), the parachuting arm of the FAI, as a result of its association with the NAA. The FAI is responsible for administering rules by which the world meets and world records are conducted. USPA's delegate to the IPC is National Director Kirk Verner and the alternate delegate is James Hayhurst, USPA's Director of Competition.

Between January 20 and February 20 of each year, the IPC meets to deal with issues of international importance.