The first step to becoming a student-athlete is registering
with the NCAA
Eligibility Center. The next step is to apply to NC
State early in your senior year. Finally, you may sign the National Letter
of Intent during your senior year of high school. Use the links below to learn
more!
This page is meant to be a helpful resource during your recruitment. Please feel free to contact the NC State Compliance Office if you have any questions regarding NCAA Rules and your recruitment to NC State.
Division I initial-eligibility requirements have changed.
WHAT
IS THE NEW RULE?
The new requirements increase the number of required core courses from 14 to
16. Students must complete three years of mathematics (Algebra
I or higher), and four years of additional core courses. The
additional core course may be taken in any area: English, mathematics, natural/physical
science, social science, foreign language, or nondoctrinal religion/philosophy.
A breakdown of the requirements can be seen here.
For the classes of 2005, 2006 and 2007: (Division I and Division II)
If you plan to enter college in 2005 or after, your eligibility will be determined under the new rule. That means that you must have 14 core courses to be eligible to practice, play and receive financial aid at a Division I or Division II school.
For the classes of 2008 and after: (Division I only -- 16 core courses)
If you plan to enter college in 2008 or after, you will need to present 16 core courses in the following breakdown:
INFORMATION FOR HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENTS:
Students who were home schooled for any part of high school (grades nine through 12) must now register with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. The clearinghouse will determine whether they will be eligible for practice, competition and institutional financial aid at an NCAA Division I or Division II institution during their freshman year.
The clearinghouse will perform preliminary and final certification reports for home-schooled students. The preliminary analysis of a student's academic record will enable the student to become aware of any deficiencies in their academic record and allow the student to rectify those deficiencies prior to high-school graduation.
It is important to note that before a preliminary certification may be performed, the clearinghouse must receive the student release form (or registration form, which may be completed via the Internet), the registration fee, a transcript with at least six semesters represented, and official test scores on the ACT and/or SAT.
After high-school graduation, once the clearinghouse receives the student's final transcript and proof of graduation, the clearinghouse will perform a final certification.
Home-schooled students should register with the clearinghouse by visiting the clearinghouse Web site at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net. From there, click on "Prospective Student-Athletes," then "Domestic Student Release Form" and follow the prompts.
COMPUTER SCIENCE BEING ELIMINATED FOR CORE-COURSE PURPOSES:
Computer science courses will no longer be able to be used for initial-eligibility purposes. This rule is effective August 1, 2005, for students first entering a collegiate institution on or after August 1, 2005. Computer science courses (such as programming) that are taught through the mathematics or natural/physical science departments and receive either math or science credit and are on the high school's list of approved core courses as math or science may be used after the August 1, 2005, date.
REGISTER ONLINE:
Prospective student-athletes may register with the NCAA Eligibility Center on-line. By registering on-line, prospects will be able to view their eligibility information on-line, and will not have to call the clearinghouse for eligibility updates. On-line registration saves time, and allows prospective student-athletes to view their eligibility status up to six weeks faster than through the paper registration process.
CHANGES IN SAT/ACT TESTS: (Send test scores directly using the 9999 code on your exam)
The SAT and ACT have made changes their tests; one of the most significant changes is the addition of a writing component. On both the SAT and ACT, students will be asked to write an essay. The SAT writing section is mandatory, while the ACT writing section is optional.
The SAT will now have three parts: critical reading (formerly known as verbal), mathematics, and writing. Since each section is worth 200-800 points, the SAT score will now range from 600-2400.
- Will the NCAA require a writing test as part of its initial-eligibility requirements?
The NCAA had determined that the writing component should not be required at the present time. The NCAA has noted the importance of reviewing research related to the impact of the writing component.
- How will the NCAA Eligibility Center use the scores on the new SAT?
Because the critical reading and math sections will still be scored on a 200-800 point scale, the clearinghouse will still combine those two sections for the combined score. The writing section will not be used. The clearinghouse will use scores from the new SAT in combination with scores from the current SAT for the combined score.
- What about ACT?
ACT is also adding a writing component, but the ACT writing component is optional. The scores on the ACT will remain the same.
- Where can I get more information?
The College Board has information about the new SAT on its Web site at www.collegeboard.com, and ACT has information at www.act.org.
(Much of the preceeding information is from the NCAA website.)
Frequently Asked Questions on Initial Eligibility
When should a student register with the NCAA Eligbility Center?
Students should register with the eligibility center after the completion of their junior year in high school. At this time, an official transcript, which includes six semesters of grades, should be sent to the clearinghouse from the high school. Additionally, students must have their SAT or ACT test scores forwarded directly to the eligibility center by using the code 9999 whenever they take the exam.
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 are vested with 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. However, students with a diagnosed disability may file a waiver on their own behalf.
May a nontraditional course be used to meet the 16 core-course requirements?
Yes. Independent study, Internet, distance learning or correspondence courses may be used to satisfy core-course requirements, provided the following conditions are met:
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 16 core-course requirements?
Courses taken in the eighth grade may not be used to satisfy the core-curriculum requirements regardless of the course content or level. However, in the rare event that students need to have courses taken in the eighth grade considered for eligibility purposes, the initial-eligibility waiver process is available (see question No. 5).
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.
May students use courses taken after high-school graduation?
Generally, students who enroll in a Division I institution may not use courses taken after high-school graduation to meet the NCAA core-curriculum requirements. Students who return after graduation to the high school from which they graduated may take courses to meet the core-course requirements. These students cannot enroll in college and participate in intercollegiate athletics until the subsequent fall. Students enrolling in Division II institutions and students with disabilities (enrolling in either Division I or II) may use core courses taken after high-school graduation to meet the NCAA core-curriculum requirements, provided the courses are completed prior to full-time enrollment in a college or university.
May courses taken
by a high-school student at a local college be used to meet the 16 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 (formerly Form 48-H). The high school's list of NCAA Approved Core Courses will include only those courses taught/offered by the high school.
What documents does the NCAA require to enable a student with a disability to use a nonstandard ACT/SAT and/or courses designated for students with disabilities?
The following documentation is required: (a) a signed copy of a professional evaluation report that states the diagnosis of the student's disability; and (b) a copy of the student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP), Individual Transition Plan (ITP) or Section 504 Plan or statement that relates to accommodations received by the student with the disability. The NCAA national office, not the clearinghouse, processes the information.
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 (formerly Form 48-H) in order for a student to receive NCAA credit for the course. In order to use such courses toward a student's core-course requirements, students must document their disability with the NCAA by submitting the required documentation (see question No. 10).
Can a nonstandard ACT/SAT be used for initial eligibility?
Only students with a diagnosed disability may use nonstandard test scores. Please note that students with disabilities must have required documentation (see question No. 10) sent to the NCAA for review.
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, accounting and health. However, courses taught using applied approaches to teaching may very well meet the NCAA standard for a core course. The core-course requirements for each discipline explain in detail the NCAA's requirements for a core course.
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 clearinghouse?
Once the clearinghouse 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 forwards the clearinghouse a revised final transcript, the clearinghouse will not be able to use the changes to issue a revised final certification report. Instead, any changes to a student's final high-school transcript must be approved through the initial-eligibility waiver process (see question No. 5 for more information about the waivers 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 clearinghouse?
Students who have their status requested by an NCAA institution are prioritized by the clearinghouse for processing. If a student's eligibility status is never requested by a member institution, the clearinghouse may not process such a student's status.
Under NCAA amateurism rules, an individual loses his or her amateur status and shall not be eligible for intercollegiate competition in a particular sport if the individual uses his or her athletics skill (directly or indirectly) for pay in any form in that sport. It is important to note that educational expenses (e.g., high-school or preparatory school tuition payments) may be considered a prohibited form of pay based on athletics skill, depending on the source from which the educational funds are received. For example, under current NCAA legislation, a prospective student-athlete may not receive educational expenses from his or her outside sports team or organization when those funds are based in any degree on the recipient's athletics ability. In addition, a prospect may not receive educational expenses from any individual whose relationship with the prospect developed as a result of the prospect's athletics participation or reputation.
However, it is important to note that there are a number of sources of funds
that are available to assist prospects with educational expenses and are permissible
under NCAA amateurism rules. The most common sources from which a prospect may
receive educational expenses without jeopardizing his or her amateur status
are described below: