NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearing House
All athletes need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center no later than April 1st of your senior year. FAILING TO REGISTER WITH THE CLEARINGHOUSE WILL MAKE YOU ineligible to play at the NCAA DIVISION I or II LEVEL YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR OF COLLEGE AND MAY COST YOU YOUR PLAYER ELIGIBILITY.
Grade 9
Verify with your high school guidance counselor and the online core-course listing to make sure you are on track.
Grade 10
Verify with your high school guidance counselor and the online core-course listing to make sure you are on track.
Grade 11
Register with the eligibility center.
Make sure you are still on course to meet core-course requirements (verify you have the correct number of core courses and that the core courses are on your high school's 48-H with the eligibility center).
After your junior year, have your high school guidance counselor send a copy of your transcript. If you have attended any other high schools, make sure a transcript is sent to the eligibility center from each high school.
When taking the ACT or SAT, request test scores to be sent to the eligibility center (the code is "9999").
Begin your amateurism questionnaire.
Grade 12
When taking the ACT or SAT, request test scores to be sent to the eligibility center (the code is "9999").
Complete amateurism questionnaire and sign the final authorization signature online on or after April 1st of your senior year if you are expecting to enroll in college in the fall semester. (If you are expecting to enroll for spring semester, sign the final authorization signature on or after October 1 of the year prior to enrollment.)
What is the NCAA Eligibility Center?
If you are interested in attending an NCAA Division I or II school, the body that assigns your qualification status is the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. If you intend to compete at the NCAA Division I or II level, you must register with this organization.
Think of the Clearinghouse as a big database where all your core courses, grades, and test information is "entered" or submitted. Then, when a college coach contacts the Clearinghouse to request a certification decision on you, the Clearinghouse evaluates all the information it has in your file and declares you a qualifier, partial-qualifier, or non-qualifier.
But simply applying to the Clearinghouse does not ensure certification. There are tens of thousands of athletes every year who register with the Clearinghouse and never get recruited or even pursued by coaches. So to cut down on its workload, the Clearinghouse does not evaluate every student's record as it arrives, but instead waits until a coach requests a certification decision on a particular student. If a program does not call asking for your certification status, the Clearinghouse will not evaluate your information.
Registering with the Clearinghouse is a pretty easy process, but it does take some effort on your part. Here's how and when to register.
The NCAA Eligibility Rules handbook recommends that athletes register with the Clearinghouse early in their senior year or late in their junior year. Doing so will give you a chance to identify any missing core-courses, GPA shortcomings, or low test scores, and will give you time in the coming year to remedy them. If you're hoping to join a Division I team, it's important that you fulfill all your course requirements before the end of your senior year. This is because the Clearinghouse will not consider the results from any summer-school sessions that follow your senior year when it decides on your certification. For Division II eligibility, however, summer-school courses are considered.
To apply to the Clearinghouse, get your application form from your high school's guidance counselor. The fee for processing the information is $25. You must complete the "Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse Student Release" form and mail the white copy in with the fee. The remaining pink and yellow copies will be used by your school to file your official transcripts with the Clearinghouse. It is your responsibility to make sure your high school gets the pink and yellow forms. It's also your job to make sure those final high school transcripts are mailed out before your school office closes for the summer. If they aren't sent to the Clearinghouse before then, you may be stuck waiting for the Clearinghouse to receive and process your transcripts in the fall--which could mean a delay in receiving scholarship opportunities. If you have attended more than one high school, the Clearinghouse will need an official transcript for each school you attended. If the form is not available at your school, you can request the release form by calling (800) 638-3731.
You also need to make sure the Clearinghouse gets your official test scores. Although it would be easier, you cannot send a photocopy of your personal copy of your test scores. Instead, you need to either request that your high school include your SAT or ACT test score on your official transcript, or, if your school won't do that, you need to request that the scores be sent directly from the testing agency. If you have yet to take the test, you can have your scores sent directly to the Clearinghouse by using the code 9999 on the test form. If you have already sat for the SAT or ACT, you'll need to write the appropriate testing agency and request that your official scores be sent to the Clearinghouse.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
REGARDING NCAA INITIAL-ELIGIBILITY LEGISLATION
1. When should a student register with the NCAA Eligibility Center?
Students should register with the eligibility center after the completion of their junior year in high school. At this time, a transcript that includes six semesters of grades should be sent to the eligibility center from the high school. Additionally, students should request all SAT or ACT test scores be forwarded directly to the eligibility center by entering code "9999" as a reporting selection when they register for the exam.
2. How are students prioritized for processing at the eligibility center?
Students who have their status requested by an NCAA institution are prioritized by the eligibility center for processing. Students with disabilities and students who individually request a preliminary status report will also be prioritized. If a student's eligibility status is not prioritized in one of these three ways, the eligibility center may not process the student's file.
3. How is the NCAA core-course grade-point average different from a student's overall grade-point average?
The NCAA core-course grade-point average is calculated using only NCAA-approved core courses in the required core academic areas (e.g., English, mathematics, natural or physical science, social science). High school grade-point averages generally include the grades from most or all courses attempted in grades nine through 12. Please check your high school's list of NCAA-approved core courses for more information.
4. May weighted grades for honors or advanced placement courses be factored into the calculation of the student's core-course grade-point average?
A school's normal practice of weighting honors or advanced courses may be used as long as the weighting is used for computing grade-point averages. Weighting cannot be used if the high school weights grades solely for the purpose of determining class rank. Additionally, in no instance may the student receive greater than 1.000 additional quality point for purposes of calculating the core-course grade-point average for initial eligibility. It is the responsibility of the high school to provide the weighted grading scale to the eligibility center.
5. What options are available to students who do not meet the NCAA initial-eligibility standards?
Students who do not meet the initial-eligibility standards may be granted a waiver of their deficiency through the NCAA initial-eligibility waiver process. NCAA academic committees are vested with the authority to authorize waivers of initial-eligibility requirements based on objective evidence that demonstrates circumstances that may warrant a waiver of the normal application of the legislation. The waiver may only be filed Frequently Asked Questions Page No. 2 _________ by an NCAA institution (college or university) on behalf of the student. Additionally, there is a waiver process for a student who needs a core course that was approved after the student's graduation and needs to be retroactively applied to a student's NCAA initial-eligibility certification. Either the high school or NCAA institution may contact the eligibility center to begin the "48-H Waiver" process. This particular waiver is done through the eligibility center.
6. May courses taken in the eighth grade that are high school core courses (e.g., Algebra I, Spanish I, Freshman Composition) be used to meet the core-course requirements?
Yes, courses taken in the eighth grade that are high school core-course requirements, provided the eighth grade courses appear on the student's high school transcript and receive high school graduation credit.
7. May students use courses taken after high school graduation?
Generally, students who enroll in an NCAA Division I institution may use only courses completed in grades nine through 12 or the international equivalent as specified in the NCAA Guide to International Academic Standards for athletics eligibility to meet the NCAA core-curriculum requirements. If a student graduates from high school within the core-curriculum time limitation (e.g., in a student's first eight semesters or 12 quarters), he or she may use one core course, completed in the year after graduation (summer or academic year), but not later than the end of the academic year immediately after the high school graduation date of the student's class. Students enrolling in Division II institutions and students with disabilities (enrolling in either Divisions I or II) may use core courses taken after high school graduation to meet the NCAA core-curriculum requirements, provided the courses are completed before full-time enrollment in a college or university.
8. Are vocational courses acceptable?
Traditional vocational courses are not acceptable. These include courses such as agriculture, auto mechanics, accounting and health. The core-course review instructions (located on the High School Review Administration main page) explain in detail the NCAA's requirements for a core course.
9. May courses taken by a high school student at a local college be used to meet the core-course requirements?
College courses may be used to satisfy core-curriculum requirements if the courses are accepted and awarded graduation credit by the high school for any student and meet all other requirements for core courses. For NCAA Division I only, such courses must be placed on the student's high school transcript. Courses taken at a college will not appear on the high school's list of NCAA-approved core courses. The high school's list of NCAA-approved core courses will include only those courses taught or offered by the high school. Frequently Asked Questions Page No. 3 _________
10. Does a student with a disability have to submit information to the eligibility center to document their disability?
Students with disabilities may receive accommodations in order to meet NCAA initial-eligibility requirements. To receive the accommodations, the student's disability must be documented. In Division I only, if a student uses approved core courses taken after the eighth semester of high school (including courses taken in the summer after high school graduation) and before initial full-time collegiate enrollment, certain documents must be submitted to the eligibility center. Those documents are: (1) a current signed copy of a professional evaluation report that states the diagnosis of the student's disability; and (2) a copy of the student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP), Individual Transition Plan (ITP) or Section 504 Plan or statement that relates to accommodations received by the student with the disability.
11. May students with a diagnosed disability use courses that are designated for students with a disability to meet NCAA core-course requirements?
Students with appropriately diagnosed disabilities may use courses for students with disabilities for the purpose of meeting NCAA core-course requirements. Courses for students with disabilities must appear on the high school's list of NCAA-approved core courses (i.e., designated on the high school's list with an "=" sign) in order for a student to receive NCAA credit for the course.
12. Does the prohibition against special education, remedial or compensatory courses apply to students with disabilities?
No. In order for courses designated for students with disabilities to be approved, the course must be substantially comparable, qualitatively and quantitatively, to an NCAA-approved core course offered in that academic area. Also, the course must be placed on the high school's list of NCAA-approved core courses.
13. What if a student's final high school transcript contains an error or the student has grade changes that are not included on the final transcript mailed to the eligibility center?
Once the eligibility center has received all required documentation, including a final high school transcript with proof of graduation for a student, they are able to produce a final certification report. If a high school forwards a revised final transcript to the eligibility center, the eligibility center will not be able to use the changes to issue a revised final certification report. Instead, any changes to a student's final high school transcript must be approved through the initial-eligibility waiver process (see question No. 5 for more Frequently Asked Questions Page No. 4 _________ information about the waiver process). Therefore, it is very important that final transcripts are checked for accuracy before being sent to the eligibility center.
14. May courses taken at high school "A" be accepted if they appear on high school "B's" transcript?
No. High school "B" may provide the eligibility center with an official copy of high school "A's" transcript, but courses from one high school cannot be accepted on another high school's transcript.
15. May courses taught via nontraditional methods (i.e., independent study, Web based, correspondence courses) be used to meet the core-course requirements?
Students may use courses taught via nontraditional methods to satisfy the core-curriculum requirements provided certain criteria are met. If approved, these courses appear on the high school's list of NCAA-approved core courses. The core-course requirements will explain in detail the NCAA's requirements for nontraditionally taught courses, which include the requirement that nontraditional courses be placed on the student's home (or graduating) high school transcript.
16. How is my core-course grade-point average calculated?
Your core-course grade-point average may be calculated using your best grades from the required minimum number of core courses that meet the core-course distribution requirements. Core courses beyond the required minimum may be used to meet the core-course grade-point average if the distribution requirements are met.
17. How are courses taken over two years counted?
A course that is normally taught in one year but spread over a longer period of time (i.e., two years, three semesters) is considered as one course and would receive a maximum of one core-course credit. A core course may never receive more than one unit of credit.
18. Where can I find a list of my high school's approved core courses?
Each high school's list of approved core courses may be found by linking to the eligibility center Web site at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.
19. May computer science courses be used to meet the core-course requirements?
Effective for students first entering a collegiate institution on or after August 1, 2005, computer science courses may not be used to meet the core-course requirements. Frequently Asked Questions Page No. 5 _________ NCAA 18035-10/07 Last Updated: October 2007
****In an effort to continue the NCAA Eligibility Center emphasis on the educational mission of intercollegiate athletics, the responsibilities of the NCAA Eligibility Center will expand to include evaluating the amateurism status of these prospects. This process, which is scheduled to open November 20, 2006, will focus on amateurism issues by asking the prospect several questions about his/her athletics participation prior to enrolling at a Division I or II institution. The intent is to determine if a prospect is still an amateur, and therefore qualified to participate in college athletics at the Division I or II level.
Although this expansion of the Clearinghouse will require prospects to provide more information than in the past, this change should not affect the level of involvement of our school. Please note that completing the amateurism certification process is required only if the prospect intends to participate at a Division I or II institution for the first time starting in the fall 2007. If the prospect plans to enroll at a non-NCAA member institution, a two-year institution or an NCAA Division III institution, the prospect will NOT need to register with the clearinghouse.
*****All SAT and ACT scores must be reported directly to the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse by the testing agency. Test scores that appear on transcripts will no longer be used. When registering for the SAT or ACT, use the clearinghouse code of 9999 to make sure the score is reported to the clearinghouse. If the student failed to use the clearinghouse code when he/she registered for the test, additional score reports may be requested.
To determine the status of documents sent or to check on your eligibility status, contact:
NCAA Eligibility Center
Certification Processing
P.O. Box 7136
Indianapolis, IN 46207-7136
877/262-1492 (customer service)
317/223-0799
