Attention Student Athletes

The NCAA has established a central clearinghouse to certify athletic eligibility for Division I and II. Here are the answers to the questions that are frequently asked by students about what they need to do to participate in college sports under this new process.

Division I & II Academic Eligibility Requirements

DIVISION I

If you are first entering a Division I college on or after August 1, 1996, in order to be classified a "qualifier," you are required to:

• Graduate from high school
  
  
• Successfully complete a core curriculum of at least 13 academic course units as follows:
  
  English--4 years
  
  Math--2 years (at the level of Algebra I or above)
  
  Natural or Physical Science--2 years (including at least one laboratory course)
  
  Additional couses in English, Math, or Natural or Physical Science--1 year
  
  Social science--2 years
  
  Additional academic courses [in any of the above areas or foreign language, computer science*, philosophy or nondoctrinal religion (e.g., comparative religion) courses]--2 years
  
  *NOTE: For students first entering NCAA institutions on or after August 1, 2005, computer science courses cannot be used to meet initial-eligibility requirements.
  
  
• Have a core-course grade-point average (based on a maximum of 4.000) and a combined score on the SAT verbal and math sections or a sum score on the ACT based on the qualifier index scale.

DIVISION I QUALIFIER INDEX
Core GPA	ACT* sum of scores	SAT** on or after 4/1/95
2.475	69	830
2.450	70	840-850
2.425	70	860
2.400	71	860
2.375	72	870
2.350	73	880
2.325	74	890
2.300	75	900
2.275	76	910
2.250	77	920
2.225	78	930
2.200	79	940
2.175	80	950
2.150	80	960
2.125	81	960
2.100	82	970
2.075	83	980
2.050	84	990
2.025	85	1000
2.000	86	1010
*Previouly, ACT score was calculated by averaging four scores. New standards are based on sum of scores.
**For SAT tests taken on or after April 1, 1995.

DIVISION II

If you are first entering a Division II college on or after August 1, 1996, in order to be classified a "qualifier," you are required to:

• Graduate from high school
  
  
• Have a GPA of 2.000 (based on a maximum of 4.000) in a successfully completed core curriculum of at least 13 academic course units as follows:
  
  English--3 years
  
  Math--2 years
  
  Natural or Physical Science--2 years (including at least one laboratory course)
  
  Additional couses in English, Math, or Natural or Physical Science--2 year
  
  Social science--2 years
  
  Additional academic courses [in any of the above areas or foreign language, computer science*, philosophy or nondoctrinal religion (e.g., comparative religion) courses]--2 years
  
  
  *NOTE: For students first entering NCAA institutions on or after August 1, 2005, computer science courses cannot be used to meet initial-eligibility requirements.
  
  
• Have a combined score on the SAT verbal and math section of 820 (if taken on or after April 1, 1995) or a sum score on the ACT of 68.

For More Information and Complete Eligibility Requirements, Visit The NCAA Website.

Why do I need to register and be certified?

If you intend to participate in Division I or II athletics as a freshman in college, you must be registered with and be certified as eligible by the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse (CH).
Please note that initial-eligibility certification pertains only to whether or not you meet the NCAA requirements for participation in Division I or II athletics and has no bearing on your admission to a particular Division I or II institution.

When should I register?

You should register with the CH whenever you decide you would like to participate in athletics as a college freshman. It's generally best to register after your junior year grades appear on your transcript. Although you can register anytime prior to participation, if you register late, you may face delays that will prevent you from participating and competing.

How do I register?

Students have two options for registering with the clearinghouse. You may complete your registration online at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net. or by completeing and mailing the Student Release Form to the address included on the form. You can print these forms from the NCAA website or you can obtain registration materials from your high school guidance counselor. (If your school has run out of materials, your counselor should call the NCAA at 1-800-545-5201 to obtain additional forms.) These materials include a Student Release Form. Complete and mail the top (white) copy of the form to the Clearinghouse along with the $30 fee. (The fee can be waived if you received a waiver for the ACT or SAT test fee.) Give the pink and yellow copies of the Student Release Form to your high school counselor, who will then send the yellow copy, along with an official copy of your high school transcript, to the Clearinghouse. The high school will keep the pink copy of the form for its files. After graduation and before the school closes for the summer, your school also must send the clearinghouse a copy of your final transcript that confirms graduation from high school.

What if I have attended more than one school?

If you have attended multiple high schools since ninth grade, each school will need to send your official transcripts to the Clearinghouse. You should give the pink and yellow copies of the Student Release Form to the counselor at the high school from which you will be graduating. You will also need to make copies of this form and send them to the counselors at the other schools that you have attended.

Are standardized test scores required?

Qualifying test scores are required for participation at both Division I and Division II colleges. If you intend to participate at either a Division I or II school, the test scores may be taken from your official high-school transcript or be sent to the clearinghouse directly from the testing agency.

How can I arrange for my scores to be sent directly from the testing agency?

When you register to take the ACT or the SAT, you can mark code 9999 so that the Clearinghouse will be one of the institutions receiving your scores; or alternatively, you can submit a request (and fee) for an "Additional Score Report" to the appropriate testing agency by indicating code 9999 on your request.

What will the Clearinghouse provide to these institutions that are recruiting me?

The Clearinghouse will send your eligibility status to any Division I or II institution that requests it, provided that you have given your permission on your Student Release Form for the institution to receive that information. Please note that the Clearinghouse will not send your eligibility information at your request; rather, the institution must make the request for that information.