Everything You Need To Know About The NCAA Eligibility Centre
If you’re a student-athlete who dreams of playing collegiate sports in America at a four year school that competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), you need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. The NCAA is one of two main governing bodies for college sports in the USA, and they have established academic and amateurism requirements that student-athletes must meet to compete at the Division I or Division II level. This is not required for NCAA Division III school’s where you can not be awarded athletic scholarships.
The NCAA Eligibility Center is responsible for evaluating whether high school athletes meet these requirements. The evaluation process is rigorous, and it can be complex for student-athletes who are unfamiliar with it. In this blog post, we’ll take a deep dive into the NCAA Eligibility Center and explain everything you need to know. For our clients at U.S Sports Scholarships we provide all the expert support needed to pass through the NCAA Eligibility Centre and ensure that they are eligible both academically and athletically in order to compete.
Why Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center?
The first question you may have is why you need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center in the first place. The answer is simple: the NCAA has established eligibility standards that you must meet to compete at the Division I or Division II level. These standards include both academic and amateurism requirements.
The academic requirements are designed to ensure that student-athletes are prepared for the academic rigours of college-level coursework. The amateurism requirements are designed to ensure that student-athletes are not receiving payment or benefits that would compromise their status as amateur athletes.
By registering with the NCAA Eligibility Center, you can demonstrate that you meet these requirements and are eligible to compete at the college level.
How to Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center
Now that you understand why you need to register, let’s talk about how to do it. The registration process is straightforward, but it does require some time and effort on your part.
Step 1: Create an Account
The first step is to create an account on the NCAA Eligibility Center website. You’ll need to provide some basic information, such as your name, date of birth, and contact information. Once you’ve created an account, you can log in and start the registration process.
Step 2: Complete the Registration Process
The registration process involves providing information about your high school coursework, standardised test scores (SAT or ACT exam), and any other relevant academic information. You’ll also need to complete an amateurism certification to verify that you haven’t received payment for participating in any sports activities.
Step 3: Provide the Required Documents
To complete your registration, you’ll need to provide several documents. The most important of these is your high school transcript / certificates, which should include all of your completed coursework and your grade point average (GPA). You’ll also need to provide your SAT, ACT, or other standardised test scores, as well as any other relevant academic information. When registering for the SAT exam if you add the NCAA as a score recipient by using code 9876 they will then receive your SAT score automatically once you have taken the exam but make sure you have created your NCAA account prior to this.
Step 4: Pay the Registration Fee
Finally, you’ll need to pay a fee to complete your registration. The fee is currently $80 for domestic students and $135 for international students. For student-athletes you will be needing both academic and athletic amateurism reviews.
What Documents Do You Need to Provide?
We’ve already touched on this briefly, but let’s take a closer look at the documents you’ll need to provide to the NCAA Eligibility Center.
High School Transcript
Your high school transcript is one of the most important documents you’ll need to provide. This transcript should include all of your completed coursework, your grade point average (GPA), and any honours or awards you’ve received. It’s essential as an American citizen to request an official copy of your transcript to be sent directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center for international student-athletes you have more options to make it easier that can be viewed here.
Standardised Test Scores
You’ll also need to provide your SAT, ACT, or other standardised test scores. As explained above, you should request that these scores be sent directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center from the testing agency.
Amateurism Certification
The amateurism certification is a form that verifies that you haven’t received payment or benefits for participating in any sports activities. You’ll need to complete this form and submit it as part of your registration with the NCAA Eligibility Center. In order to be eligible it is key you haven’t been paid within a professional setting to compete or that you have worked with an agent to represent you that is paid based on successful placement.
NCAA International Student-Athlete Guide
F0r international student-athletes there are lots of helpful documents available including the following guide from the NCAA.
Conclusion
In conclusion, registering with the NCAA Eligibility Center is a crucial step for any high school athlete hoping to play college sports at the NCAA Division I or Division II level. By understanding the registration process, providing the necessary documents, and meeting the NCAA’s eligibility standards, you can increase your chances of being deemed eligible to compete. Keep in mind that the NCAA Eligibility Center’s evaluation process is rigorous, so it’s essential to start early and stay organised throughout the process. For our clients at U.S Sports Scholarships we provide all the expert support needed to pass through the NCAA Eligibility Centre and ensure that they are eligible both academically and athletically in order to compete.