February 26, 2010
The NCAA Eligibility Center Registration Process
By Jake Chapman, Showcase U Co-founder
This post was submitted to ShowcaseU.com by Eric Schultz - Assistant Director of Compliance at the University of Northern Colorado.
The NCAA Eligibility Center Registration
Process
It’s that time a year again when
all High School juniors should start thinking about registering with
the NCAA Eligibility Center and taking a standardized test; either the
ACT or SAT.
Recruiting cycles are different for
every sport but the one common thread is coaches want to know that you
have registered with the NCAA and that you have taken the ACT or SAT.
If you haven’t done one of those two main components prior to prior to taking official visits during your senior year coaches become may become concerned. They want kids who have all their requirements met and who are top of
their game. By doing this, you'll make the recruiting process a little bit easier for both you and the institution or program you are pursuing.
The NCAA Eligibility Center website
has undergone huge changes within the past year and has made the process
in which you register much easier. Here are some easy steps to
follow to register with the NCAA.
- First go to www.eligibilitycenter.org. Here you will choose from either entering
college earlier than Fall 2010 or Fall 2010 and later.
- Once you click on the Fall
2010 or later, you will be redirected to a new screen with ample and relevant information.
- On the top right hand corner
of this new page, you will see a login box. This login box is
where you sign into your account to update your information. Also
this is where you will see the “New Account” tab.
- A “pop-up” screen will
appear requesting you to enter a valid email address. Once
you click submit you will receive an email with a Verification Code
that you must enter in the Email Address Verification Screen that
pops up after you click submit.
- After you input the verification
code, the “Create your Account” screen will appear. Here you
will create a password for your account. Also, complete the “Security Question”
and enter your First, Middle and Last Name followed by your Gender and
Date of Birth. After you have this screen completed click on “Continue”
in the bottom left hand corner.
- On this screen you will
read the “Terms and Conditions,” the “Ethical Conduct” piece
and sign the form stating you have read and understand both the “Terms
and Conditions,” and “Ethical Conduct.” You are required to have
your Parent/Guardian also read the “Terms and Conditions,” and the
“Ethical Conduct.” Once they have read and understood the “Terms
and Conditions,” and “Ethical Conduct,” they will need to sign
this as well. After this, you will click on “Create Account” on
the bottom left hand corner.
- Now you will start entering
all your information. The first screen will ask you when you will
graduate from High School and when you plan on entering college.
- The rest of the registration
is guided by an automatic program. If you forget a field, the
registration process will not allow you to continue until you furnish
the information it is looking for.
- At the end of the registration
process you will be asked to submit a valid payment (Credit Card or E-Check)
of $60 for US Students and $85 for International Students or if
you are eligible for a registration fee waiver.
- To be eligible for a Registration
Fee Waiver you must have already received a fee waiver for the ACT or
SAT (This is not the same as a U.S. state voucher). So check with your
U.S. high school guidance counselor to confirm that you are eligible-before
you submit the electronic Fee Waiver below. After you submit the electronic
Fee Waiver below, your payment status will remain incomplete until the
Fee Waiver documentation is received. Your guidance counselor must submit
that documentation on your behalf.
- Once you have paid your
registration fee, you will need to have your ACT or SAT test results
sent directly to the NCAA. At one time the NCAA would take the
test results off your High School Transcript. Those days are gone
but the NCAA has a code like any other college would. At the end
of the sign up process you are asked to list college codes and when
your results are ready the testing agency will send your scores to the
respective college. The NCAA’s code is 9999. Be sure to
include this code now; otherwise it will cost you extra money to have
your results sent at a later date.
- After you have completed
your Junior year in High School, have your Guidance Counselor or Registrar
send your Transcripts to the NCAA. When you ask them to send your
transcripts be sure to include your NCAA ID on the envelope or written
directly on the transcript. This will help the NCAA to match your
transcripts with your account.
To register for the ACT or SAT talk
to your High School guidance counselor as they will be able to help
you pick a date and also fill out all the paperwork needed to take the
test. Some High Schools even give High School Juniors the option
of taking a free state administered ACT/SAT during the Spring Semester
of your Junior Year.
The NCAA Eligibility Center registration
process is something that can be very tricky. Hopefully these
steps will help you along your way. This is the first step to
becoming eligible to compete at the NCAA Division I or Division II level.