If you're first entering a Division I college on or after August 1,1996, or thereafter, in order to be considered a "qualifier," you're required to:

Graduate from high school
Successfully complete a core curriculum of at least 13 academic courses [this core curriculum includes at least four years in English, two in math, one year of algebra and one year of geometry (or one year of a higher-level math course for which geometry is a prerequisite), two in social science, two in natural or physical science (including at least one laboratory class, if offered by your high school); one additional course in English, math or natural or physical science; and two additional academic courses (which may be taken from the already-mentioned categories, e.g., foreign language, computer science, philosophy or nondoctrinal religion)].

Have a grade-point average (based on a maximum of 4.000) and a combined score on the SAT verbal and math sections or a sum score on the ACT based on the following qualifier index scale.

A "partial qualifier" is eligible to practice with a team at its home facility and receive an athletics scholarship during his or her first year at a Division I school and then has three seasons of competition remaining.

A partial qualifier may earn a fourth year of competition, provided that at the beginning of the fifth academic year following the student-athlete's initial, full-time collegiate enrollment, the student-athlete has received a baccalaureate degree.

In order to be considered a "partial qualifier," you have not met the requirements for a qualifier but you're required to:

Graduate from high school
Successfully complete a core curriculum of at least 13 academic courses in the appropriate core areas. Present a core-course grade-point average (based on a maximum of 4.000) and a combined score on the SAT verbal and math sections or a sum score on the ACT based on the following partial qualifier index scale.

Division II Academic Eligibility Requirements If you're first entering a Division II college on or after August 1, 1996, or thereafter, in order to be considered a "qualifier," you're required to:

Graduate from high school
Have a GPA of 2.000 (based on a maximum of 4.000) in a successfully completed core curriculum of at least 13 academic courses [this core curriculum includes three years in English, two in math, two in social science, two in natural or physical science (including at least one laboratory class, if offered by your high school) and two additional courses in English, math or natural or physical science; and two additional academic courses (which may be taken from the already-mentioned categories, e.g., foreign language, computer science, philosophy or nondoctrinal religion) Have a combined score on the SAT verbal and math sections of 700 if taken before April 1, 1995, or 820 if taken on or after April 1, 1995, or a 68 sum score on the ACT.

A "partial qualifier" is eligible to practice with a team at its home facility and receive an athletics scholarship during his or her first year at a Division II school, and then has four seasons of competition remaining.

In order to be considered a "partial qualifier," you have not met the requirements for a qualifier, but you're required to graduate from high school and meet one of the following requirements:

Specified minimum SAT or ACT score; or Successful completion of a required core curriculum consisting of a minimum number of courses and a specified minimum grade-point average in the core curriculum.

Test-Score Requirements

In Divisions I and II, you must achieve the minimum required SAT or ACT score before your first full-time college enrollment. Your test scores must be achieved under national testing conditions on a national testing date [i.e., no residual (campus) testing or regional testing dates].

All prospective student-athletes, including natives of foreign countries, must achieve the minimum required test score on a national testing date. Foreign prospective student-athletes should contact the appropriate testing agency for more information about registering to take the test on a national testing date.

The following interpretations apply to the combination of test scores from more than one national testing date:

If you take the SAT, the highest scores achieved onthe verbal and math sections of the SAT from two different national testing dates may be combined in determining whether you have met the minimum test-score requirement. [Note: This includes combining converted subscores from the "recentered" and "non-recentered" versions of the SAT.]

If you take the ACT, the highest scores achieved on the individual subtests from more than one national testing date may be combined in determining whether your sum score meets minimum test-score requirements.

Nonstandard Test Procedures

The following have been approved regarding the SAT and ACT test-score requirement for learning-disabled students:

The student must register for the nonstandard testing as outlined by the testing service, which requires that the handicap or learning disability be diagnosed professionally and properly documented and confirmed.
The procedures outlined by the testing service must be followed, and the individual(s) giving the test may not be a member of your high school's athletics department or an NCAA school's athletics department.

The following records must be sent to the NCAA national office:
A copy of all records sent to the testing service to register for the test, including the professional diagnosis of the learning disability or handicap; A complete record of your SAT or ACT scores; and Please note that if you take a nonstandard ACT or SAT, you still must achieve the minimum required test score; however, the test doesn't have to be taken on a national testing date. Assuming proper documentation is received, the NCAA Division I or II Academic Requirements Committees then may approve your completion of the test-score requirement.

Waiver of Bylaw 14.3 Requirements

Waivers of the initial-eligibility requirements may be granted based on evidence that demonstrates circumstances in which your overall academic record warrants a waiver. All requests for such a waiver must be initiated through an NCAA school that officially has accepted you for enrollment as a regular student or if acceptance is contingent on a favorable subcommittee decision. You should contact the school recruiting you for more information about this waiver process.

Students with learning disabilities may initiate the initial-eligibility waiver process on their own without the help of a member institution. Please contact the national office for more information.

Additional Information

Several additional points about the NCAA's initial-eligibility requirements should be emphasized:

These requirements currently do not apply to Division III colleges, where eligibility for financial aid, practice and competition is governed by institutional, conference and other NCAA regulations. This rule sets a minimum standard only for athletics eligibility. It's not a guide to your qualifications for admission to college. Under NCAA rules, your admission is governed by the entrance requirements of each member school.

The General Education Development (GED) test may be used under certain conditions to satisfy the graduation requirement of Bylaw 14.3 but not the core-course or test-score requirements. Contact the NCAA national office for information about these conditions.