Amateurism Certification Process Frequently Asked Questions

Amateurism Certification Process Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center?
Yes. If you want to compete in NCAA Division I or II athletics in your first year of college, you must register with the Eligibility Center and be certified academically and as an amateur.

When should I register with the Eligibility Center?
Register for the Eligibility Center at the beginning of your junior year in high school. The athletics participation section should be updated regularly so that institutions recruiting you will have up-to- date information about you. Be sure to ask your high school guidance counselor to send your high school transcript to the Eligibility Center after you have completed at least six semesters of high school coursework.

Is there a registration deadline?
No. However, you must be certified both academically and as an amateur before you are eligible to compete at an NCAA Division I or II institution during your first year of enrollment.

Is the registration form available in languages other than in English?
At this time, it is only available in English since that is the primary language needed to complete academic work at American colleges and universities.

What is the cost of the registration fee?
The registration fee is $60 for domestic college-bound student-athletes and $85 for international college-bound student-athletes. There is only one fee to register for the Eligibility Center, which covers both the academic and amateurism certifications. In addition, there is no reduction of the fee if the college-bound student-athlete does not need an academic certification (e.g., has already served an academic year in residence at a collegiate institution).

May I receive a fee waiver?
Yes, you are eligible for a waiver of the initial-eligibility certification fee if you have already received a fee waiver (not a state voucher) for the ACT or SAT. If you have not been granted a fee waiver by ACT or SAT, then you will NOT be eligible for a waiver of the certification fee. If you are seeking a waiver of the certification fee, you should confirm your eligibility with your high school guidance counselor. Your high school guidance counselor MUST submit an electronic fee waiver confirmation before your registration may be processed.

Who can help me complete the amateurism registration process?
Anyone can assist you in completing the process. However, when you have completed the registration process, YOU will be the only person allowed to submit the information to the Eligibility Center.

If I complete the registration process but don't attend a Division I or II institution immediately following high school, do I need to complete the registration process again if I want to attend a Division I or II institution later? Before being certified for a Division I or II institution, you will be required to update the information you provided for the amateurism questions. You will not be charged a registration fee to update your file.

Do transfer student-athletes also have to register with the Eligibility Center?
Every college-bound student-athlete who is attending an NCAA Division I or II institution full time for the first time must be certified by the Eligibility Center.

If I am transferring from a junior college to either a Division I or II institution and all I need is my amateur certification, do I need to pay the full amount to register?
Yes, the fee is a flat rate: $60 for domestic college-bound student-athletes and $85 for international college-bound student-athletes.

If I am transferring from a junior college to either a Division I or II institution, do I have to receive an academic and an amateurism certification?
You will definitely need to receive an amateurism certification. However, you may not need an academic certification. The institution that is recruiting you will be able to advise you on this matter based on your specific academic record.

What if I enroll in an NCAA Division I or II institution and decide to participate in a sport other than one of the three I had listed on the amateurism certification registration form?
If you decide to participate in a sport other than one listed on the registration form, the Eligibility Center will need to be contacted so you can add this sport and be certified under the amateurism certification process.

Will a paper copy of the amateurism form be available?
No, the registration form will only be available on the Eligibility Center Web site and must be completed online.

If I have been participating in events related to my sport for a significant period of time, what events do I need to list on the amateurism registration form?
You should include all events in which you participated, beginning with the ninth grade and thereafter.

Once I complete the amateurism questions, how long will it take to find out if I am certified as an amateur?
After you complete all of the questions, the length of time it will take for you to receive your "preliminary status report" will depend on the answers you provided.

Can I receive different amateurism certifications for Divisions I and II?
Yes. Divisions I and II have different rules, so it is possible that your certification status may be different for each division.

How often can I update my information?
You can update your information as often as you need until you request a final certification of your amateurism status. At that point, you will no longer be able to update your amateurism information.

When can I request final amateurism certification?
Beginning April 1 for fall enrollees and beginning October 1 for spring/winter enrollees.

How do I request final amateurism certification?
1. Log in to your account at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net;
2. From the menu options, select “Enter/Update Amateurism Questionnaire";
3. Enter or verify the accuracy of your answers;
4. After you have correctly and honestly answered all questions, scroll to the end of the page and click the “Final Authorization Signature” button. Enter the information requested, read the statement and click “Submit” to request final certification;
5. After you have completed these steps, your request for final amateurism certification has been made and no further changes to your questionnaire can be made; and
6. Before logging out of your account, make sure your e-mail and other personal information is current should the Eligibility Center staff need to contact you for additional information.

Who will be certified?
Every college-bound student-athlete, both domestic and international, who is attending an NCAA Division I or II institution for the first time, must be certified by the Eligibility Center. This includes college-bound student-athletes who are transferring from any two- or four-year institutions (including international institutions) that are not members of NCAA Division I or II. Thus, if an individual wants to participate in athletics at an NCAA Division I or II institution, the college-bound student-athlete must register with the Eligibility Center and submit the appropriate documentation to receive a certification decision.

Am I automatically ineligible if I violated the amateurism rules?
No. The Eligibility Center will review your athletics participation history. If there are violations of NCAA amateurism rules, the Eligibility Center may certify you with conditions, which must be fulfilled before you are eligible for competition. The conditions will be set based on which rule was violated and the severity of the violation. Such conditions may include repayment of money or sitting out of competition for a specified number of games, or both. In some cases,
the Eligibility Center may determine that the violations are such that permanent ineligibility for competition is the appropriate penalty.

Can I appeal a certification decision regarding my amateur status?
Yes. The NCAA has an appeals process in place if you choose to appeal the certification decision. You will need to work with an NCAA institution since all appeals must be filed by a member institution.