Does anyone know if you are skating in a non-qualifying event can you skate up a level?

Yes, you can.

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Terri C is a Bronze lady!
Gold Moves, here I come!

not at nationals though, right?

For sectionals, it depends on which sectional you are entering. The test requirements for any event that is nonqualifying are at the discretion of the LOC, so one could be different from another. For example, it looks like PCAS is using the rulebook requirements.

For nationals, it depends on the level. For Bronze, Silver, Gold and Masters Intermediate singles events, you cannot skate up. But for the other Masters singles events, you can.