Getting Ready to Graduate

Submit Transcripts and Proof of Graduation

Are you a student-athlete getting ready to graduate? After an NCAA school that is recruiting you has placed you on their institutional request list, get your final transcript(s) and proof of graduation (with line-by-line English translations) submitted to your Eligibility Center account as soon as possible. When a final official transcript with proof of graduation (and line-by-line English translations) are submitted for a student-athlete’s Eligibility Center account, that account becomes “Ready to Process—Final.” This means the student’s account is ready to be reviewed by Eligibility Center staff for an attempt at a final certification decision (needed for a recruit to play once they reach their NCAA college campus).

Click here for additional information on approved processes for submitting international documents.
Click here for information about proof of graduation.

As part of COVID relief policies released in 2023, students are permitted to email their academic records/translations to ec-processing@ncaa.org via the email address associated with the student’s Eligibility Center account until April 30, 2024.

Please note: This policy is ending April 30, 2024, after which documents submitted to the Eligibility Center by students will not be accepted. Beginning May 1, 2024, please follow these procedures when submitting your documents.

Students being recruited by an NCAA Division I or II school must have an Academic and Amateurism Certification account, while an international student being recruited by a Division III school must have an Amateurism-Only Certification account. Click here for additional guidance on which account is right for you or your student-athlete.

Updated Men’s Basketball Recruiting Calendar

During its meeting at the NCAA Convention earlier this month, the Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee adopted a new recruiting calendar that is effective immediately. Changes were made in the international recruiting space. The new calendar and related release can be found here.

International Guide Updated for 2023-24

The 2023-24 Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility has been updated to include changes to these countries' information:

Australia (New South Wales)—New proof of graduation added.
Canada (Ontario)—Approved course added.
International Baccalaureate—New issuing body added.
Paraguay—Year nine location updated.

If you have an earlier version of the guide downloaded to your computer locally, please be sure to download and replace it with this updated version.

Sports Participation History

As part of completing the information in their Eligibility Center certification account, students are asked about their sports participation history. This account section is critical to ensure Eligibility Center staff can review a recruit's sports history and provide an amateurism decision. A student's amateurism certification cannot be finalized without a completed sports participation history section! Please be sure the sports participation information is updated yearly, or any time participation in a new sport, club or event occurs.

Remember: Beginning April 1 (and prior to enrolling at an NCAA school in fall 2024), student-athletes must request final amateurism certification for each sport listed in their EC account.

To update sports participation information, log in at eligibilitycenter.org. Click the icon in the upper-right corner, then select Sports Questions.

To change a sport, click the sport currently listed, change to a different sport, then answer the questions for that sport and save.
To add an additional sport, look for Add a Sport in the column on the left. Choose the new sport from the drop-down list, complete the questions for that sport and save.

Click here for a digital version of these quick and easy steps.

Resources for International Student-Athletes

Do you have the latest information provided by the Eligibility Center for student-athletes and those who support them? Be sure you have reviewed these valuable resources and are sharing them with student-athletes and their families.

International Initial-Eligibility Flyer

Our initial-eligibility flyer for international student-athletes provides answers to the most common questions related to international student-athletes and requirements.

Initial-Eligibility Steps for International Students

This website provides an easy-to-understand overview of three key steps international students must take in order to be ready to practice, compete and receive athletics aid (a sports scholarship) once on their NCAA campus.

Country-Specific Information

A companion site to the NCAA International Guide, these webpages provide information specifically for each country and/or educational system in an easy-to-access format.

Have Additional Questions?

The Eligibility Center's FAQ provides immediate answers to hundreds of questions student-athletes and those who support them may have.
International student-athletes and their families who still have questions should use the Eligibility Center's international contact form for the quickest response to any outstanding question.

Eligibility Center Webinar for International Student-Athletes

Recording Available

Another terrific resource is the Eligibility Center's webinars. Experienced staff and others who know and understand the initial-eligibility process and unique challenges for international students provide information and guidance during these events.

If you missed our webinars in 2023 for international student-athletes, their families, and others who support them, recordings are available. These one-hour presentations are great resources to help understand the initial-eligibility process and requirements for international student-athletes.

November 2023 webinar.
July 2023 webinar.

The Eligibility Center will be hosting our next international webinar in June. Watch for registration in the April issue of this newsletter and make plans to attend the event live.

Please Share This Newsletter!

Do you know an international student-athlete or someone who supports student-athletes that could benefit from the information provided in this newsletter?

If so, please encourage them to subscribe and receive quarterly communication direct from the NCAA Eligibility Center. Share the QR code shown in your correspondence or share this link to subscribe.

Thank you for helping to ensure international student-athletes and those who support them have the information they need to assist with the dream of NCAA collegiate athletics.

International Contact Form

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