The Major Game-Changer: No More SAT/ACT Requirement
If you're an international athlete planning to compete at a Division I or II school, here's the most important update you need to know: standardized test scores are NOT required for NCAA eligibility starting with students who enrolled full-time on or after August 1, 2023. This change is permanent and applies to all international student-athletes entering college in 2025-26 and beyond.
In January 2023, NCAA Divisions I and II officially voted to remove the SAT and ACT requirements from initial-eligibility standards. This decision was based on recommendations from the NCAA Standardized Test Score Task Force, which was created as part of the NCAA's eight-point plan to advance racial equality in college athletics.
What This Means for You
Important clarification: While the NCAA no longer requires test scores for eligibility purposes, many individual colleges and universities still require SAT or ACT scores for general admissions or for academic scholarships. Always check with your prospective schools about their specific admission requirements.
Updated Registration Fees for 2025-26
The cost structure for international students registering with the NCAA Eligibility Center has been updated:
- Academic and Athletics Certification Account (Division I & II): $170 for international students (compared to $110 for domestic students)
- Athletics Certification Account (Division III): $75 for all students
This certification account is required before you can take official visits to Division I schools, sign athletics aid agreements for scholarships, or compete at Division I or II institutions.
Document Submission Requirements: What You Need to Know
The NCAA Eligibility Center has streamlined how international students submit their academic documents. Here's what's required and what's changed:
Required Documents
All international student-athletes must submit the following to be evaluated for NCAA eligibility:
- Transcripts for the ninth year of schooling and up (this is typically your first year of high school or secondary school)
- Acceptable proof of graduation as defined for your specific country in the NCAA's Guide to International Academic Standards
Additional Documents That May Be Requested
- Transcript for year eight (if applicable to your educational system)
- Graduation certificate or diploma
- Grading scale(s) with minimum passing grades from each school attended
- Course completion dates on any requested documents
Translation Requirements: Critical Details
If you attended school in a country where English is not the native language, pay close attention to these requirements:
- All official documents must be submitted in your native language
- A certified line-by-line English translation must accompany all native language documents
- Translations must be complete, literal word-for-word, line-by-line certified English translations in the same format as the original documents
Who Can Translate Your Documents?
The NCAA recommends that English translations be performed by:
- A college or university instructor of the language, OR
- A professionally certified English translator
Important restrictions:
- The translator cannot be related to or associated with you
- The translator cannot be associated with the athletics department at the NCAA school you plan to attend
- The translator must provide a letter (with appropriate stamps or seals) explaining their qualifications
- The translator must provide their full name, mailing address, telephone number, email address, or other means to verify authenticity
New Document Submission Methods
The NCAA Eligibility Center now offers three ways to submit your academic documents. Make sure your name and NCAA ID are clearly indicated on each submitted item.
Method 1: Direct Upload (Recommended)
Best practice: NCAA member schools can directly upload documents to your NCAA Eligibility Center account. Information is immediately attached to your account upon upload. If your school offers this option, use it—it's the fastest method.
Method 2: Email Submission
Email documents to: ec-processing@ncaa.org
Who can use this method:
- International high schools
- Ministry offices
- Issuing bodies
- Translation services (for translations only)
Critical requirements:
- Include your name and NCAA ID in the email subject line
- Certified documents must be emailed from a school or official email address
- Emails from general providers (Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc.) cannot be accepted
- Submit documents as PDF attachments (not password protected)
- Processing time: approximately 2 days from email receipt
Method 3: Mail
Send documents to:
NCAA Eligibility Center
P.O. Box 7110
Indianapolis, IN 46207-7110
Processing time: Up to 5 days from date of mail receipt
Note: The NCAA cannot return submitted documents, so keep copies for your records.
Understanding Core Course Requirements
Even without standardized test requirements, international students must still meet core course and GPA requirements:
- Division I: Minimum 2.3 GPA in 16 NCAA-approved core courses
- Division II: Minimum 2.2 GPA in 16 NCAA-approved core courses
Core Course Crediting for International Students
When specific core-course credits are not indicated on your transcript, the Eligibility Center will credit courses based on the Carnegie unit system (weeks of attendance multiplied by hours of study per week):
- One (1.0) credit per year: English, native language, and mathematics
- Half-credit (0.5) per year: Science, social science, and additional core courses
Important Updates to the International Guide
The NCAA publishes the Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility, which is updated twice yearly (typically in April and August). The most recent 2025-26 version includes:
August 2025 Updates
- Australia: Euka Assessed/University Pathway credential added as acceptable proof of graduation across all territories
- Belgium: Dutch added as a native language
- Canada: Updated lists of resources and approved core courses for various provinces
- India: Intermediate certificate for Telangana and other educational board-issued certificates added as acceptable graduation proof
- Japan: GED added as acceptable proof of graduation
- South Korea: GED added as acceptable proof of graduation
- Mexico: Numeric grading scale quality points updated
- South Sudan: New country listing added
Special Considerations for Your Educational System
If You're in a Vocational/Technical Track
Students enrolled in professional, technical, or vocational tracks may not be required by their home country to study certain subjects like social studies, sciences, or mathematics. However, this does not excuse you from meeting NCAA initial-eligibility requirements. You must still complete the 16 required core courses that meet NCAA definitions.
Understanding GED Equivalents
Some countries offer credentials equivalent to a U.S. GED (General Education Diploma). Per NCAA rules, a GED or international equivalent may satisfy proof of graduation requirements if:
- It's earned on or after your expected date of high school graduation
- The expected graduation date is determined by when you initially started year nine in your educational system
Important: GEDs or international equivalents only satisfy proof of graduation—they cannot be used to meet the 16 core course requirements.
American Schools Overseas Exception
If you attend a school abroad that operates under U.S. sponsorship and offers the standard U.S. curriculum (including Department of Defense Dependents Schools or American schools overseas), you'll be certified as a domestic student for NCAA academic initial-eligibility purposes. This applies even if you're not a U.S. citizen.
Division III Requirements
If you're planning to compete at a Division III school, the requirements are different:
- Division III schools set their own academic eligibility standards
- International student-athletes (including first-year enrollees and transfers) must register for an Athletics Certification account ($75)
- This certification is required to compete at Division III institutions
Contact the athletics office at your prospective Division III school directly for specific initial-eligibility standards.
Getting Help: Contact Resources
The NCAA Eligibility Center has specific resources for international students:
- International Contact Form: Available on the NCAA website for questions specific to international student-athletes (including Quebec)
- Phone: 877-262-1492 (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time) - Note: This is primarily for U.S. and Canadian students excluding Quebec
- Website: eligibilitycenter.org
Action Steps: What to Do Right Now
- Register Early: Create your NCAA Eligibility Center account at eligibilitycenter.org as early as your freshman or sophomore year of high school
- Review Your Country's Requirements: Check the Guide to International Academic Standards for Athletics Eligibility for your specific country's documentation requirements
- Gather Official Documents: Start collecting transcripts from year nine onward and your proof of graduation certificate
- Arrange Translations: If needed, find a qualified translator who meets NCAA requirements well in advance
- Verify Core Courses: Ensure your coursework meets the 16 core course requirement and minimum GPA standards
- Check Individual School Requirements: Contact admissions offices at your target colleges to determine if they require SAT/ACT scores for admission or scholarships
- Submit Documents Using Best Method: Work with your school to use direct upload if possible, or follow email submission guidelines carefully
- Stay Updated: Check for updates to the International Guide twice yearly (April and August)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting too long to register: Start the process in your freshman or sophomore year, not your senior year
- Submitting documents from personal email addresses: Translations and official documents must come from school or professional email addresses
- Forgetting to include NCAA ID: Always include your name and NCAA ID on all submissions
- Assuming test scores aren't needed: While not required for NCAA eligibility, individual colleges may still require them for admission
- Not checking country-specific requirements: Each country has different acceptable graduation credentials—verify yours in the International Guide
- Submitting password-protected PDFs: These cause processing delays or rejection
The Bottom Line
The elimination of standardized test requirements is the biggest change affecting international student-athletes in recent years, making NCAA eligibility more accessible. However, you still need to meet core course and GPA requirements, submit properly translated official documents, and register early with the Eligibility Center.
The key to success? Start early, stay organized, and follow the specific requirements for your country's educational system. With updated submission methods and clearer guidelines, the 2025-26 process is more streamlined than ever—but it still requires careful attention to detail.
Don't let the eligibility process become a barrier to your college athletic dreams. Take action now, reach out for help when you need it, and give yourself plenty of time to gather and submit all required documentation.