What is the NCAA Eligibility Center?

• Verifies the academic and amateur status of all student athletes who wish to compete in Division I or Division II athletics. NOTE: DIII institutions do not require certification by the Eligibility Center

  • • Academic Certification

    • Amateurism Certification

• Set up for college-bound student-athletes, and tracks requirements needing to be met for student athletes in their first year of enrollment to: practice, compete, and receive athletically related financial aid

• BEFORE you register

  • • Make sure you have a valid email address

    • Make sure you know/keep track of your basic education history

    • NCAA needs ALL HS Transcripts recorded!!

    • Sport Participation history (Certification Accounts only)

Academic Requirements

• Initial eligibility academic requirements are different for DI, DII, and DIII

• Because they are different it is possible for a prospective student-athlete to be eligible for one division and not another

• It is possible to:

  • • Be certified by the Eligibility Center but not meet the institution’s academic standards;

    • It is also possible to meet the institution’s standards but not be certified by the Eligibility Center

• The Eligibility Center is separate from the university’s admission process

Test Scores

• For individuals enrolling in 2023-24 and beyond, a test score is not required to meet the NCAA academic requirements

  • • May still be a requirement for the institution you choose to attend.

• Most recruits will create their NAIA profile during their high school years, starting as early as freshmen year.

• Students can receive their official eligible decision as early as after their junior year for high academic achievers.

• NAIA Eligibility Center is only responsible for making sure recruits meet the academic requirements. It’s up to the student-athlete to understand the academic requirements and make sure they are on track to meet those requirements.

• Registration process is similar to the NCAA’s process!

• High school should send all required records and documents to the NAIA Eligibility Center via the NAIA High School Portal.

• “Two-year colleges” or Community College

• Due to the unique academic and athletic situation of each individual, and the complexity of the NJCAA eligibility rules, it is recommended that each potential student-athlete discuss their athletic eligibility with the athletic personnel at the NJCAA college where they have chosen to attend.

• Much different rules for eligibility and amateurism as compared to NCAA and NAIA schools.

• NJCAA FAQ

• NACAC: Tips for Student-Athletes & their Families

• NCAA Initial Eligibility Course (Online; Free)

• NCAA – How to Register with the Eligibility Center

• NCAA Eligibility Center Twitter

• Academic Standards for Initial-Eligibility

• Eligibility Center FAQ link – Great for any questions PSA’s may have