Certification

If you intend to participate in Division I or II athletics as a freshman, you must register and be certified by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. Refer to the Academic Eligibility and Core Courses pages to determine the initial-eligibility standards that apply to you.

Clearinghouse Registration Materials

Your counselors can obtain registration materials, at no cost, by calling the clearinghouse at 319/337-1492.

Registration Process

Your counselors should provide you with a student-release form and a red brochure titled, "Making Sure You Are Eligible to Participate in College Sports." In order to be registered with the clearinghouse, you must complete the student-release form and mail the top (white) copy of the form to the clearinghouse along with the $18 registration fee. Give the yellow and pink copies of the form to a high-school official who then sends the yellow copy, along with an official copy of your high-school transcript, to the clearinghouse.

Your high school should keep the pink copy for its files. After graduation and before the school closes for the summer, your school also must send the clearinghouse a copy of your final transcript that confirms graduation from high school.

Fee Waivers

High-school counselors may waive the clearinghouse fee if you have previously qualified for and received a waiver of the ACT or SAT fee. Fee-waiver information is specified on the student-release form.

Test Scores

To be certified, you also must submit your ACT or SAT scores to the clearinghouse. You may either have your scores sent directly from the testing agency to the clearinghouse or have your test scores reported on your official high-school transcript. You can have your scores sent directly to the clearinghouse by marking code 9999 as one of the institutions to receive your scores on your ACT or SAT registration form or by submitting a request for an "Additional Score Report" to the appropriate testing agency.

List of NCAA Approved Core Courses (Formerly Form 48-H)The list of NCAA approved core courses (formerly Form 48-H) identifies courses that may be used in meeting NCAA core-course requirements. Be sure that all courses in which you are taking for core-course purposes are listed on your high school's confirmation list of NCAA approved core courses (formerly Form 48-H).

Questions and Answers About the Clearinghouse

Q: Why do I need to register and be certified?

If you intend to participate in Division I or II athletics as a freshman in college, you must be registered with and be certified as eligible by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. Refer to the Academic Eligibility and Core Courses pages to determine the initial-eligibility standards that apply to you. Please note that initial-eligibility certification pertains only to whether you meet the NCAA requirements for participation as a freshman in Division I or II athletics and has no bearing on your admission to a particular Division I or II institution.

Q: When should I register?

You should register with the clearinghouse whenever you decide you would like to participate in athletics as a college freshman. It's generally best to register after your junior-year grades appear on your transcript. Although you can register anytime before participation, if you register late you may face delays that will prevent you from practicing and competing.

Q: How do I register?

You will need to obtain registration materials from your high-school guidance counselor. (If your school has run out of materials, your counselor should call the clearinghouse at 319/337-1492 to obtain additional forms.) These materials include a student-release form and a red brochure titled, "Making Sure You Are Eligible to Participate in College Sports." Fill out the student-release form completely and mail the top (white) copy of the form to the clearinghouse along with the $18 fee. (The fee can be waived if you received a waiver of the ACT or SAT fee.) Give the pink and yellow copies of the student-release form to your high-school counselor who will then send the yellow copy, along with an official copy of your high-school transcript, to the clearinghouse. The high school will keep the pink copy of the form for its files.

Q: What if I have attended more than one high school?

If you have attended multiple high schools since ninth grade, you must send your official transcript from each school to the clearinghouse. You should give the pink and yellow copies of the student-release form to the counselor at the high school from which you will be graduating. You also will need to make copies of this form and send them to the counselors at the other schools that you have attended.

Q: Are standardized test scores required?

Qualifying test scores are required for participation at both Division I and Division II colleges. If you intend to participate at either a Division I or II school, the test scores may be taken from your official high-school transcript or be sent to the clearinghouse directly from the testing agency.

Q: How can I arrange for my scores to be sent directly from the testing agency?

When you register to take the ACT or the SAT, you can mark code 9999 so that the clearinghouse will be one of the institutions receiving your scores; or alternatively, you can submit a request (and fee) for an "Additional Score Report" to the appropriate testing agency by indicating code 9999 on your request form.

Q: What will the clearinghouse provide to the colleges that are recruiting me?

The clearinghouse will send your eligibility status to any Division I or II college that requests it, provided you have given permission on your student-release form for the college to receive that information. Please note that the clearinghouse will not send your eligibility information at your rather, the college must make the request for that information.