What We Grade

Collectible Grading Authority currently offers grading services under 4 different divisions based on the type of item you’d like to have graded. A general outline of the divisions and the grading scales offered by each is as follows:

AFA (Action Figure Authority) – for packaged, loose, and prototype action figures and related toys

  • Modern Grading Scale - recommended for sealed in package toys produced from 1995 – present
  • Standard Grading Scale - for sealed/new in package toys, new in mailer box toys, and proof material from all years
  • Loose Grading Scale – for loose, complete action figures from all years Qualified Grading Scale (items are accompanied by documentation) – for open packaged toys with new contents, hand-made prototype toys, incomplete rare and pre-production loose toys, and autographed toys  
If you need help determining which AFA grading scale or tier categories to submit your items under, please visit our category examples page or let us help by contacting us with your questions.

When submitting items to AFA for grading, please be aware of the following policies: 

AFA WILL NOT grade any item which exhibits the following:
  • Restoration defined as any foreign and permanent addition to an item (examples include ink used to cover flaws, glue used to re-seal blisters, etc.) AFA reserves the right to determine what constitutes restoration.
  • Glued limbs, weapons, or accessories
  • Holes or cracks large enough to allow a figure, weapons, or accessories to be removed from a blister or box
  • Reproduction Items
  • Incomplete Items (i.e. missing weapons or accessories)
  • Incorrect action figure - accessory combination
  • Re-sealed Packaging
  • Hand-made pieces excluding prototypes and pre-production items
  • Double-Taped items in which the bottom layer of tape has been cut
  • Extensive damage which is deemed likely to worsen if sealed in a case
  • Repainted action figures, weapons or accessories.
  • AFA reserves the right to refuse any item for any reason.
AFA WILL grade unsealed boxes if the following criteria is met:
  • For grading under the standard or modern grading scales, an item must not have originally come sealed from the factory. This must be the exclusive or most common way the item was released and the contents must be verified as new. We will only grade boxed items which are no longer tape sealed (i.e. tape cut or lifted) under either of these grading scales if a boxed item also has an intact interior blister seal, and all of the accompanying contents and paperwork are stilled sealed in their respective bags when applicable.
  • For grading under the qualified grading scale, an item can be opened, but must contain unused contents. To qualify, all parts must be attached to plastic trees or in their original factory state, sticker sheets must be unused, and all cardboard, styrofoam, or plastic inserts as well as all documentation and paperwork must be present. Tears in plastic bags and other similar flaws must be deemed unintentional to qualify (i.e. happened at the factory or from contact with a sharp part within the box). However, these flaws may be noted on the qualified COA which accompanies each item graded under this scale.


CDA (Collectible Doll Authority) – for packaged collectible dolls and related toys

  • Modern Grading Scale - recommended for sealed in package toys produced from 1995 – present
  • Standard Grading Scale – for sealed/new in package collectible dolls from all years

For more information, please visit the CDA - What We Grade web page

DCA (Die-Cast Authority) – for packaged die-cast vehicles and related toys

  • Modern Grading Scale - recommended for sealed in package toys produced from 1995 – present
  • Standard Grading Scale – for sealed/new in package die-cast collectibles from all years

For more information, please visit the DCA - What We Grade web page.

VGA (Video Game Authority) – for packaged and prototype video games and related items

  • Standard Grading Scale – for sealed/new in package video games, systems, and accessories from all years
  • Qualified Grading Scale (items are accompanied by documentation) – for opened package with new contents video games, consoles and accessories from all years

For more information, please visit the VGA - What We Grade web page.