What requirements do I need to be able to practice, play and get a scholarship at an NCAA Division I or II college or university?

You need to complete the following:

1.            Graduate from high school;

2.            Complete a minimum of 16 core courses;

3.            Present a minimum grade-point average (GRADE-POINT AVERAGE) in those 16 core courses; and

4.            Present a qualifying test score on either the ACT or SAT.

5.            Complete the amateurism questionnaire and request final amateurism certification.

How do I know if the courses I'm taking will count as core courses?

You need to look at your high school's list of NCAA-approved core courses.  Follow these steps:

1.            Go to the NCAA Eligibility Center Web site at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net;

2.            Click on "General Information";

3.            Click on "List of Approved Core Courses";

4.            Input your high school's CEEB code (if you know it) or search by your high school's name and state; and

5.            Review the list.

*Very important:  If a core course you took is not on the list, it won't be used in your eligibility determination.  Courses that appear on your transcript must exactly match what is on the list.

What is the lowest grade that will be used for a course to count as a core course?

The lowest grade is D.

What do I do if a core course I took isn't on the list?

See your high school counselor immediately.  Someone at your high school is responsible for keeping your high school's list updated.  It is important that our high school does this every year to make sure the core courses you are taking appear on the list.

May courses taken in the eighth grade that are high school core courses (e.g., Algebra I, Spanish 1, Freshman Composition) be used to meet the 14 core-course requirements? 

A high school course taken in the eighth grade may be used if the course is on the high school transcript with a grade and credit and if the course is on the high school's list of approved core courses.

How is my core-course GRADE-POINT AVERAGE calculated?

Your core-course GRADE-POINT AVERAGE is the average of your best grades achieved for all required core courses.  If you have taken extra core courses, those courses will be used in your GRADE-POINT AVERAGE, only if they improve your GRADE-POINT AVERAGE.

Will courses taken after my senior year meet core-course requirements?

For Division I, maybe. Only courses completed in grades nine through 12 will qualify as core courses for Division I. If you graduate from high school on schedule (in eight semesters) with your incoming ninth grade class, you may use one core course completed in the year after graduation (summer or academic year). You may complete the core course at a location other than the high school from which you graduated and may initially enroll full time at a collegiate institution at any time after completion of the core course. 

For Division II, yes. All core courses completed before your full-time enrollment at any college may be used by the Eligibility Center.

For Division I students with diagnosed disabilities, yes.  If you have a properly diagnosed and documented disability, you may use one or more core courses completed after high school but before full-time enrollment in college.

May independent-study, Internet and correspondence courses count as core courses?

Yes, if the following four conditions are met:

1.                  The course meets core-course requirements

2.                  You and the instructor have access to each other during the course so that the instructor can teach, evaluate and provide assistance to you;

3.                  Appropriate academic authorities evaluate your work according to the high school's academic policies; and

4.                  The course is acceptable for any student to take and is placed on your high school transcript.

May college courses count as core courses?

College courses may be used to satisfy core-curriculum requirements if the courses are accepted and awarded 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 approved core courses.  The high school's list of NCAA approved core courses will include only those courses taught/offered by the high school.

Will credit-by-exam courses meet core-course requirements?

No.  Courses completed through credit-by-exam may not be used.

Are vocational courses acceptable?

No.  Traditional vocational courses (e.g., typing, auto mechanics, driver's education and health) are not acceptable.

May my study in a foreign country help me meet core-course requirements?

If you attended a secondary school outside the United States for all or part of grades nine through 12, different evaluation procedures will be applied to your international education documents.  You must register with the Eligibility Center if you completed course work outside the United States and you must submit original-language documents with certified translations for Eligibility Center evaluation.

How is the NCAA core 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 16 core units.  High school grade-point averages generally include the grades from most or all courses attempted in grades nine through 12.

Can weighted grades for honors or advanced placement courses be factored into the calculation of the student's core 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 for the purpose of determining class rank.  Additionally, in no instance may the student receive greater than 1.000 additional quality points for purposes of calculating the grade-point average for initial eligibility.

Do pass-fail grades count?

Yes, these grades may satisfy your core-course requirements.  The Eligibility Center will assign your high school's lowest passing grade for a pass-fail class.

How are courses taken over two years counted?

A one-year course that is spread over a longer period of time is considered one course and will receive a maximum of one core-course credit.  (Example: Algebra 1, spread over two years, would receive one unit of credit.)

How does the NCAA treat courses similar in content?

Some approved core courses might be considered duplicates.  That is, the content of one course is the same as that of another, even though the classes might have different titles.  If you have taken two classes considered to be duplicates, you will receive only one core-course credit (typically for the course with the higher grade).  Please ask your high school counselor if you have questions about duplicate courses.

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 an NCAA initial-eligibility waiver process.  NCAA academic committees have the authority to authorize waivers of the initial-eligibility requirements based on objective evidence that demonstrates circumstances in which a student's overall academic record warrants the waiver of the normal application of the legislation.  The waiver must be filed by an NCAA institution (college or university) on behalf of the student.

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, which includes six semesters of grades, should be sent to the Eligibility Center from the high school.  Additionally, students should have their SAT or ACT scores forwarded directly to the Eligibility Center whenever they take the exam.

Can 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 in order for a student to receive NCAA credit for the course.

May a nonstandard ACT/SAT be used for initial eligibility? 

Yes.  Students with diagnosed disabilities may take a nonstandard ACT or SAT.  The test score must still be provided to the Eligibility Center, just as any other test score.

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, as a regular core course offered in that academic area.

What if a student's final high school transcript contains an error or the student has grade changes that are not included on the first final transcript mailed to the Eligibility Center? 

Once the Eligibility Center has received all required documentation, including a final high school transcript for a student, the Eligibility Center is able to produce a final certification report.  If a high school sends a revised final transcript, the Eligibility Center will not be able to use the changes.  Instead, any changes to a student's final high school transcript must be approved through the initial-eligibility waiver process.