How to Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center

1. Choose between a Certification Account or a Profile page.
2. Have a valid email address you will have access to after high school.
3. Provide basic contact information, including your education and sports participation history.
4. Have official copies of your high school transcripts sent to the NCAA.
5. Send official copies of your SAT and/or ACT test scores.
6. Complete the amateurism questionnaire.
7. Have a valid method of payment ($90 for athletes from the U.S. (including its territories) or Canada and $150 for international athletes). Valid forms of payment include debit, credit card or e-check.

Impact of COVID-19 on NCAA eligibility: The NCAA Eligibility Center extended its COVID-19 initial eligibility policies for student-athletes who initially enroll full-time during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years. Students who intend to play D1 or D2 sports won’t be required to take the ACT or SAT by the NCAA. Students are also allowed to use pass/fail grades for core courses through the 2021–22 academic year.

To keep track of updates that will impact eligibility for current and future recruiting classes, NCSA will continue to share information on our coronavirus resources page.  

What to expect when registering with the NCAA

The NCAA Eligibility Center process will take months or years to complete, depending on when you register. Initial NCAA registration will take 15-30 minutes, or up to 45 minutes for a Certification Account. Expect to spend around 30 hours throughout high school dedicated to the NCAA Eligibility Center process. Here is a rough breakdown of each part:

• 2-3 hours – creating your account and completing the amateurism questionnaire
• 5-10 hours – meeting and checking in with your high school counselor to make sure you are on track regarding the NCAA core course requirements
• 2-3 hours – coordinating with your high school counselor to make sure your official transcripts are sent to the NCAA
• 10-50+ hours – registering, preparing for and taking the SAT/ACT

Here is a printable checklist and timeline for the eligibility center process, including how to register with the NCAA.

How much does it cost to sign up for the NCAA Eligibility Center?

NCAA registration for certification accounts cost $90 for U.S. and U.S. territories. This includes American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. It is the same cost for Canadian athletes. It costs $150 for international athletes. If you qualify for the federal free lunch program, you can have the NCAA fees waived by completing the NCAA fee waiver.

Can I get a refund for my NCAA fee?

All payments to the NCAA are final. However, if you completed a duplicate registration and paid your registration fee twice, you may be eligible for a refund of the duplicate registration fee. Click here to complete and submit an NCAA refund form.

If you are unsure about registering with the NCAA, create a free Profile page and you can easily upgrade that account to a Certification Account when needed.