If you want to practice, compete and receive an athletics scholarship during your first year at a Division I or II NCAA school, the NCAA Eligibility Center must certify you as eligible (eligibility for Division III is determined on campus).

REMEMBER: As a college-bound student-athlete, you are responsible for your eligibility — that means planning ahead, taking high school classes seriously and protecting your amateur status. It can be a difficult first step, but the benefits of being a student-athlete are worth the effort.

Here is the recommended timeline from the NCAA:

9th Grade: Plan

  • Start planning now! Take the right courses and earn the best grades possible.
  • Find your high school’s list of NCAA-approved core courses at eligibilitycenter.org/courselist.
  • Sign up for a free Profile Page account at eligibilitycenter.org for information on NCAA requirements.

10th Grade: Register

  • If you fall behind academically, ask your counselor for help finding approved courses you can take.
  • Register for a Profile Page account or Certification account with the NCAA Eligibility Center at eligibilitycenter.org.
  • Monitor your Eligibility Center account for next steps.
  • At the end of the year, ask your counselor at each high school or program you attended to upload your official transcript to your Eligibility Center account.

11th Grade: Study

  • Check with your counselor to make sure you are on track to complete the required number of NCAA-approved core courses and graduate on time with your class.
  • Take the SAT/ACT and submit your scores to the Eligibility Center using code 9999.
  • Ensure your sports participation information is correct in your Eligibility Center account.
  • At the end of the year, ask your counselor at each high school or program you attended to upload your official transcript to your Eligibility Center account.

12th Grade: Graduate

  • Complete your final NCAA-approved core courses as you prepare for graduation.
  • Take the SAT/ACT again, if necessary, and submit your scores to the Eligibility Center using code 9999.
  • Request your final amateurism certification beginning April 1 (fall enrollees) or Oct. 1 (winter/spring enrollees) in your Eligibility Center account at eligibilitycenter.org.
  • After you graduate, ask your counselor to upload your final official transcript with proof of graduation to your Eligibility Center account.
  • Reminder: Only students on an NCAA Division I or II school’s institutional request list will receive a certification.