If you or your child is a homeschool student and you are going through the college recruiting process, your application and recruiting process will look different than other students. Here are some important tips and regulations you need to know as a homeschooled athlete.

1. Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center

The NCAA Eligibility Center will make sure that you are eligible to compete at the NCAA level. They will look at course records, GPA, and amateur status. This is super helpful for homeschooled students who are unsure if they are on the right track with their classes. The NCAA Eligibility Center has three different registration options. 

1. Free Profile Page Account

This account is totally free and is a great place to start for athletes who are unsure of what division they want to play in. You will receive an NCAA ID number which is something every NCAA athlete will eventually need. From this account, you can always upgrade to another option.

2. Academic and Ameturism Certification Account

This account is required for any athlete who will be playing Division I or Division II sports. With this account, you can go on official visits, sign a National Letter of Intent, and receive an athletic scholarship. The fee for this account is $100 for domestic students and $160 for international students*.

3. Amateurism-Only Certification Account

This account is only required for international students who are planning to compete at a Division III school. Some international students transferring from a 2-year school to a Division I or II school will also need this account. The fee for this account is $70*.

*Some students may qualify for a fee waiver.

2. What does the NCAA consider homeschooling?

There is a difference between homeschooling and schooling at home. Schooling at home includes when a student does online school at home. Homeschooling is generally a parent or guardian-directed schooling system that is set up by them. The NCAA has more in-depth information on their homeschooling definition. 

3. There are different academic requirements for the three divisions

• Division I: 
  • Complete 16 core courses in required subjects
    • You will need at least 4 years of English, 3 years of math, 2 years of science (including 1 lab), 1 extra year of English, math, or science, 2 years of social science, and 4 other courses.
    • Complete at least 10 core courses before your 7th semester
  • Earn a core course GPA greater than 2.3
  • Submit proof of graduation to the Eligibility Center
• Division II:
  • Complete 16 core courses in required subjects
    • You will need 3 years of English, 2 years of math, 2 years of science (including 1 lab), 1 extra year of English, math, or science, 2 years of social science, and 4 other courses.
  • Earn a core course GPA greater than 2.2
  • Submit proof of graduation to the Eligibility Center
• Division III
  • Each Division III school has its own eligibility requirements for academics, admission, and financial aid.

4. Homeschool Requirements

• Transcript

The homeschool transcript will include academic records and demographic information, and it must include a signature from the homeschool administrator. 

• Administrator and Accordance Statement

This statement must be completed by the homeschool administrator. It certifies that the courses that the student took are correct. This statement must be signed by a parent or guardian.

• Core Course Worksheets

A core course worksheet must be submitted for each core course where the administrator planned the course, graded the student's performance, and determined a final grade. These worksheets are sent to the Eligibility Center and are used to determine whether the courses fit the NCAA core course requirements.

• Nontraditional Core Course Worksheets

These worksheets must be completed when a nontraditional homeschool teacher teaches a core course.

• Dual-Enrollment

Dual-enrollment college courses can be used if they appear on the homeschool transcript and if the course meets the core course requirements. You do not need to fill out a core course worksheet.

5. Reminders:

1. Make sure all forms are from the NCAA Eligibility Center.
2. All forms must be signed by a parent or guardian.
3. Send all forms as an email attachment to [email protected].
   • Include the athlete's NCAA ID Number and all records to ensure a faster process.