To be certified for Divisions I and II, you need to graduate from high school and have a 2.0 grade point average in the core curriculum of at least 13 academic courses (as defined by the NCAA) and achieve a qualifying test score on the ACT or SAT.

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 generally is best to register after your junior year grades appear on your transcript. Although you can register any time prior to participation, if you register late, you may face delays that will prevent you from practicing and competing.

How do I register?

You will need to obtain registration materials from your high-school counselor. If your school has run out of materials your counselor should call the High School Counseling Office to obtain additional forms. These materials include a student-release form and a red brochure entitled 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 required fee (the fee can be waived if you received a waiver of the ACT or SAT test 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.

What if I have attended more than one school?

If you have attended multiple high schools since ninth grade, each school will need to send your official transcripts 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 will also need to make copies of this form and send them to the counselors at the other schools you have attended.

Are standardized test scores required?

Qualifying test scores are required for participation at both Division I and II institutions. You scores may be sent to the Clearinghouse directly from the testing agency or the test scores may be taken from your official high school transcript.

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; 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.

What will the Clearinghouse provide to those institutions that are recruiting me?

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

General Recruiting Regulations (Divisions I, II and III).

You become a "prospective student-athlete" when you start ninth-grade classes. Before the ninth grade, you become a prospective student-athlete if a college gives you (or your relatives or friends) any financial aid or other benefits that the college does not provide to prospective students generally. You become a "recruited prospective student athlete" at a particular college if any coach or representative of the college's athletics interests (booster or representative) approaches you (or any member of your family) about enrolling and participating in athletics at that college. Activities by coaches or boosters that cause you to become a recruited prospective student-athlete are:

•  Providing you with an official visit;
• Placing more than one telephone call to you or any other member of your family; or
• Visiting you or any other member of your family anywhere other than the college campus.