Frequently Asked Questions

NCAA Clearinghouse

1)       What is the NCAA Clearinghouse?

·         The Clearinghouse is an organization that works with the NCAA to determine a student-athletes eligibility for athletics participation in his or her first year of college.  The NCAA Clearinghouse certifies both the academic and amateurism status of a prospective student-athlete. 

2)       Who needs to register with the NCAA Clearinghouse?

·         Any individual that thinks there is a chance that he or she may participate in athletics at a Division I or II institution.  This includes prospective student athletes in high school as well as student-athletes who are considering transferring from a junior college or a Division III institution to a Division I or II institution. 

3)       How do I register with the NCAA Clearinghouse and what will I be required to do?

·         Prospective student-athletes can go to www.ncaaclearinghouse.net to register.  The Clearinghouse will require that your high school transcripts from each high school attended are sent directly from the high school to the NCAA Clearinghouse.  Additionally your test scores (SAT and/or ACT) must be sent directly from the testing agency to the NCAA Clearinghouse.

4)       When should I register with the Clearinghouse?

·         You should register with the Clearinghouse after the completion of your junior year in high school

5)       Is there an expense for registering with the NCAA Clearinghouse?  If so can that fee be waived?

·         There is a $50 fee for domestic students and a $75 fee for international students to register with the NCAA Clearinghouse.  This fee can be waived if you have qualified for a fee waiver for the SAT or ACT.

6)       As a high school prospective student-athlete what portions do I need to complete on the NCAA Clearinghouse?

·         As a prospective student-athlete in high school you must complete both the academic and amateurism portion of the NCAA Clearinghouse.

7)       As a junior college or Division III transfer do I need to register with the Clearinghouse?

·         Yes.  Any student athlete that will be entering a Division I or II institution for the first time must also register with the NCAA Clearinghouse.  However, these transfer student athletes will only have to complete the amateurism portion of the NCAA Clearinghouse.  While junior college transfers do not have to complete the academic portion of the Clearinghouse, receiving an academic certification from the Clearinghouse could mean the difference between being eligible to play as soon as you come on campus or having to do a year in residence before you can compete.

Recruiting

1)       What is a prospective student-athlete?

·         A prospective student-athlete is a student who has started classes for the ninth grade.

2)       What is the difference between an official visit and an unofficial visit?

·         An official visit is when a prospective student-athlete visits an institution at the expense of that institution.  An unofficial visit is when a prospective student-athlete visits an institution at their own expense.

3)       Are there limits on the amount of official and unofficial visits that a prospective student-athlete can take?

·         A prospective student athlete cannot take an official (paid) visit to an institution until the fist day of his or her senior year in high school.  A prospective student-athlete is limited to a total of five official visits to Division I or II institutions.

·         A prospective student-athlete is allowed to take as many unofficial visits as he or she would like to take.  Additionally a prospective student-athlete can take an unofficial visit whenever he or she would like to take that visit. 

4)       Are there any requirements I must meet in order to take an official visit?

·         Yes, you must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse before you can take an official visit.  Additionally you must provide the institution to which you are visiting with a copy of your PSAT, SAT or ACT scores.  These scores must be provided through the testing agency or on a high school (or college) transcript (official or unofficial).    

5)       When can a coach start to call me on the phone?

·         A coach cannot contact you over the phone until June 15 before your senior year in high school.  In general, after June 15 a coach from a particular institution cannot call you more than once a week. 

6)       Can I contact a coach over the phone?

·         Yes, you can call a coach at any time.  There are no restrictions regarding dates or number of phone calls per week.

7)       What is a contact?

·         A contact is a face to face encounter between a prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete’s relatives or legal guardian(s) and a staff member from an institution in which any dialogue occurs in excess of a greeting.

8)       When is a contact permissible?

·         A coach cannot make an in-person, off campus contact with a prospective student-athlete until June 15 before that prospective student-athlete’s senior year.  A coach is limited to three in person, off-campus contacts per prospective student-athlete.