You just ripped some packs, and there it is. The chase card you've been hunting through hundreds of bulk cards and dud rips. Now, you want to slab it, but aren't sure how to get started. We've put together a step-by-step guide (with pictures!) on how to go grade with PSA from fresh pull to new slab.
Whether you're submitting a vintage Charizard you just pulled at a convention, a modern hit from a sleeved booster you picked up on Rare Candy, or if you just want to immortalize and protect a childhood memory, PSA is a great way to ensure safety, authenticity, and value!
Protect Your Pull Right Away
The first rule of grading: handle your card carefully, as damage of any kind to corners, edges, or surface could lower your grade. As soon as you pull something worth grading, slide it straight into a penny sleeve to avoid fingerprints and surface damage. From there, place it in a semi-rigid holder like a Card Saver 1, which is PSA’s preferred choice because it’s secure but easy for graders to remove.
If you’re grading multiple cards, stack them neatly in separate semi-rigid holders and seal them together in a slab bag or perfect fit sleeve to keep everything organized and protected in transit. If you've ever wondered what your cards' values could be in a PSA 10, Rare Candy's new Grade Worthy feature in your Rare Candy profile shows you the top cards in your collection based on if they grade a PSA 10!
Download the Rare Candy App and start adding your cards now
Secure Your Cards for Shipping
To protect your cards during shipping, sandwich your sleeved cards between two pieces of cardboard cut slightly larger than your stack. Secure them gently with rubber bands or masking tape, tight enough to keep them from shifting, but not so tight that they bend. Then wrap the entire bundle in bubble wrap for a little extra protection.
Your goal is a sturdy little package that doesn’t rattle or bend, compact, padded, and ready for travel.
Create Your PSA Account and Start Your Submission
Head to PSA’s Submit page to set up your account. When you create your first submission, use code RC25 to save $25 on your first PSA grading order, an exclusive deal for the Rare Candy community.
Follow PSA’s prompts to choose your grading service level, which depends on your card’s declared value and desired turnaround time. Then begin entering your cards: include the full card name, set, and declared value for each.
Once your submission looks good, print out your form and barcode sheets; you’ll need them for labeling and packaging.
Finish Packaging and Ship It Off
Place your printed forms inside your shipping box and tape one of your barcodes to the outside. Then add your bubble-wrapped card bundle, ensuring everything fits snugly. Seal the box with packing tape and ship it through a tracked and insured carrier like USPS Priority, FedEx, or UPS.
Once it arrives, PSA will update your online account with status updates throughout the grading process, from “Received” to “Grading” to “Assembly” and finally “Shipped.”
Enjoy That Slabbed Feeling
That’s it, you’ve just completed your first PSA card submission. Now, you play the waiting game. The process is simple once you know the rhythm: sleeve, secure, submit, ship. When your cards return from PSA, you’ll have them sealed, authenticated, and protected for the long haul, ready to display, trade, or sell.
And don’t forget: you can track your graded cards’ market values and trends anytime on Rare Candy. It’s the best place to manage your collection, discover new cards, and show off your freshly graded slabs to fellow collectors.
