Understanding initial eligibility, certification of amateurism and the National Letter of Intent

Frequently Asked Questions on Initial Eligibility

What requirements do I need to be able to practice, play and get a scholarship at a Division I or Division II school?
You need to complete the following:
Graduate from high school;
Complete a minimum of 14* core courses;
Present a minimum grade-point average (GPA) in those 14* core courses; and
Present a qualifying test score on either the ACT or SAT test.
* In Division I, the minimum number of core courses is 16 for students who enter a Division I school August 1, 2008, and after.

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:
Go to the NCAA Eligibility Center Web site    
Click on "General Information"    
Click on "List of Approved Core Courses"    
Input your high school's code (if you know it) or search by your high school's name and state.    
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 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 they do this every year to make sure the core courses you are taking appear on the list.

May a correspondence or independent study course be used to meet the 14 core-course requirements?
Yes. Independent study, Internet or correspondence courses may be used as core courses if the following conditions are met:
They meet all requirements for a core course;      
The instructor and student have access to one another during the course for the purpose of teaching, evaluating and providing assistance to the student;      
Evaluation of the student's work is conducted by the appropriate academic authorities in accordance with the high school's established academic policies; and      
The course is acceptable for any student and is placed on the high-school transcript.

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 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 14 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.

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. 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.

May students use courses taken after high school graduation?
In Division I, all core courses must be completed in the first eight semesters of high school, based on when a student first started ninth grade. If a student graduates on time with his or her class (in eight semesters), the student may use one core course taken after graduation.
In Division II, all core courses will be used up until the student enrolls as a full-time student in any college or university.

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 test scores forwarded directly to the eligibility center whenever they take the exam.

May courses taken at a local college be used to meet the 14 core-course requirements?
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.

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.

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.

Are vocational courses acceptable?
Traditional vocational courses are not acceptable. These include courses such as agriculture, auto mechanics, driver's education and health.

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, they are 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.

May courses taken at high school "A" be accepted if they appear on high school "B's" transcript?
No. High school "A" may provide the eligibility center with an official copy of high school "B's" transcript, but grades from one high school cannot be accepted on another high school's transcript.

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. If a student's eligibility status is never requested by a member institution, the eligibility center may not process such a student's status.

[NOTE: This is not a complete list of NCAA regulations regarding initial eligibility. Please call or write the NCAA Eligibility Center or access the NCAA Web site if you have specific questions.]
NCAA Eligibility Center
P.O. Box 7136
Indianapolis, IN 46207-7136
317/223-0700 (phone)
317/968-5101 (fax)
877/262-1492 (toll free) 
www.ncaa.org