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HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
DATE DETERMINATION
For Amateurism Certification
1. Why are academic documents needed for an amateurism certification?
Amateurism certification includes certification of the delayed-enrollment legislation, whic
h is
b
ased on a student’s expected date of high school graduation. Academic documents may be
needed to determine the applicable graduation date, as specified by the following legislation:
» NCAA Division I Bylaw 12.8.3.2.1 (sports other than men’s ice hockey, skiing and tennis).
» NCAA Division I Bylaw 12.8.3.2.2 (tennis).
» NCAA Division II Bylaw 14.2.4.2 (participation in organized competition before initial
collegiate enrollment).
» NCAA Division III Bylaw 14.2.4.4 (participation in organized competition before initial
collegiate enrollment).
2. Who needs a graduation date determination?
Prospective student-athletes most likely to need a graduation date determination for th
e
a
mateurism certification process (regardless of whether the student requires an academic
certification from the NCAA Eligibility Center, such as transfer students) are those who:
» Did not graduate high school with their initial ninth grade class.
» Did not enroll in college as a full-time student immediately following their expected date
of high school graduation.
» Students with international high school attendance and/or international sports
participation.
3. When is an official high school graduation date not needed?
A prospective student-athlete who did not participate in organized competition beyond their
expected date of high school graduation may not need a graduation date determination, as
the legislation provides for a limited grace period for competition between high school
graduation and initial college enrollment. Similarly, a prospective student-athlete who will be
participating in a sport for the first time will not need a graduation date determination sinc
e
n
o participation in that sport has occurred prior to initial full-time collegiate enrollment.
4. How do I know if a graduation date determination is needed?
If a graduation date determination is needed to complete a prospective student-at
hlete’s
amateurism certification, a task will be assigned to the prospective student-athlete’s Eligibility
Center account. (The task will appear as “Additional Academic Documents Needed for
Amateurism Certification.”) To complete this task, the prospective student-athlete will need
to submit the requested documents (e.g., official transcripts, proof of graduation and/or any
international educational records and translations).
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Note: Reviews are prioritized in the order tasks are completed, so students are encouraged to submit requested
documentation as early as possible.
5. What documentation is needed for the NCAA Eligibility Center to determine an official
graduation date?
For most accounts showing an open task titled “Additional Academic Documents Needed for
Amateurism Certification,” the following task language will appear:
» Domestic Education: ALL official transcripts for school years nine and up, including your
final high school transcript containing proof of graduation. If you have yet to graduate
from high school, this task will remain open. Your high school can either upload official
documents through the High School Portal or submit them as directed here.
» International Education: ALL official transcripts for school years nine and up, including
your final year, and acceptable proof of graduation. Please have the issuing body submit
official stamped copies of your school transcripts in the native language as directed here.
The transcripts must include the start and completion dates for each academic year. A
certified line-by-line English translation is also required if English is not the native
language. An evaluation report is not sufficient for a line-by-line English translation and
will be deemed unofficial as well.
For students completing secondary education in a country with multiple educational
timelines, the Eligibility Center may be able to extend the expected date of graduation based
on confirmation directly from the secondary school of the student’s anticipated credential(s).
In accounts where applicable, an open task titled “Additional Academic Documents Needed
for Amateurism Certification” will include a link to this graduation timeline form, which
allows a secondary school’s administrator to confirm the student’s expected credential(s).
This form can also be used by the student to confirm that no additional credentials are
forthcoming.
Reminder: This form is only available for amateurism certification purposes in a country with multiple
educational timelines. If your student requires an official academic certification separate from an amateurism
certification, then all official educational documentation will be required.
6. Why is the official graduation date different for Division I, II and III?
The delayed-enrollment legislation, specifically the application of the expected date of high
school graduation, is different for Division I, II and III
» Under Division I Legislation: The delayed-enrollment analysis is based on the actual
graduation or expected graduation date of a prospective student-athlete’s high school
class (as determined by the first year of high school enrollment or the international
equivalent as specified in the
NCAA Guide to International Academic Standards for
Athletics Eligibility and based on the prescribed educational path in the student-athlete's
country), whichever occurs earlier.
» Under Division II and III Legislation: The delayed-enrollment analysis may be affected by
early high school graduation, late high school graduation (e.g., a required repeat year) or
discontinued high school enrollment.
U
pdated February 2024
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7. How does the amateurism certification staff certify the delayed enrollment/organized
competition legislation?
The process for certifying delayed enrollment requires collaboration between the academic
certification staff, the member school and the Amateurism Certification staff:
8. Can an expected graduation date be appealed?
The expected date of high school graduation cannot be appealed; however, relief from the
application of the delayed-enrollment legislation can be considered through the legislative
relief waiver process. A member school can submit a legislative relief waiver for a prospective
student-athlete with a final amateurism certification through Requests and Self-Reports
Online. For an explanation of how an international graduation date was determined, a
member school can request an explanation from the international Customer Service staff.
Determination
of High School
Graduation
Date
Cor
e Processing
Staff
Determination of
Initial Full-Time
Collegiate
Enrollment
Mem
ber School
Calculation
of the Legislated
Grace Period
Cor
e Processing
Staff
Document
Participation
History during PSA’s
Delay Period
Cor
e Processing
Staff, Member
School and PSA
Apply Legislation
Cor
e Processing
Staff
