NCAA: Playing College Sports

The NCAA Clearinghouse is an essential step in becoming eligible to play college sports. Over 180,000 potential college athletes register with the NCAA every year.

If you want to play NCAA college sports and receive a scholarship at the DI or DII level, you will need to register and be cleared by the NCAA. The Eligibility Center is the organization within the NCAA that determines the academic eligibility and amateur status for all NCAA DI and DII athletes.

To be eligible to compete in NCAA sports during your first year at a Division I school, you must meet ALL the following requirements:

• Earn 16 NCAA-approved core-course credits:
  • Four years of English.
  • Three years of math (Algebra 1 or higher).
  • Two years of science (including one year of lab).
  • One additional year of English, math or science.
  • Two years of social science.
  • Four additional years of English, math, science, social science, world language or nondoctrinal religion/philosophy.
• Complete 10 of your 16 NCAA-approved core-course credits, including seven in English, math or science, before the start of the seventh semester.
• Complete your 16 NCAA-approved core-course credits in eight academic semesters or four consecutive academic years from the start of ninth grade.
• Earn a minimum 2.3 core-course GPA.
• Submit your final transcript with proof of graduation to the Eligibility Center.

More information regarding the impact of COVID-19 can be found at on.ncaa.com/COVID19_Spring2023. 

How do I register with the NCAA Clearinghouse?

All athletes will eventually create an account. You can create your account during freshmen year, just make sure you create your account by your junior year of high school to avoid getting caught in the backlog of athletes trying to get cleared at the end of the year. Once your account is created you will have several more steps to submit your transcripts, test scores and answer your amateur status questionnaire before you are finished.

Please note, you cannot send transcripts or test scores on your own. Transcripts need to be uploaded to your NCAA account by your high school. Testing scores by the testing center. Once the NCAA has your complete academic records and test scores, they will not review your information unless it has been requested by an NCAA University. If you have registered with the NCAA and have not had your eligibility status completed, chances are it has not been requested by a coach. Over 60% of athletes who are registered with the NCAA are never recruited by a college coach. Click here to find more information on how to contact a college coach.

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