Article V, Section C
Eligibility Requirements For Undergraduate Students
The following bylaws have been determined to be the most pertinent to highlight in our online handbook quick guide.
PlayNAIA
All first-time NAIA participants must register at www.play.mynaia.org and receive an eligible determination prior to participating in any contest (scrimmage, exhibition or regular season).
Components the Eligibility Center will review:
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Terms of Attendance of all past higher education institutions
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Seasons of Competition (both non-intercollegiate and intercollegiate)
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Academic Eligibility
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Graduation
Components the Eligibility Center will not review:
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Amateurism – interviews done on campus with FAR, AD and the student-athlete
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Transfer Releases – must be checked on campus.
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Residency requirements due to the student being dismissed or expelled from previous institution.
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Eligibility Certification – done on campus through ECP system.
Eligibility Center Decisions
If a student receives an ineligible decision from the Eligibility Center or has additional information to add to the Eligibility Center decision, review the following types of actions to take with the Eligibility Center.
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Reapplication –The process that institutions and students use to have the NAIA Eligibility Center provide an updated determination.
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Update – This can be requested by anyone, with no deadline.
IF – There are added courses from the different institution (summer courses) to the original institution transcript = Update
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Review – An internal review by Eligibility Center management. Must be requested by AD or FAR within 45 days of the decision.
Ex: Check the Seasons of Competition Charged!
IF – There was a letter grade change on the transcript = Review
IF – There are more credits added from school = Review
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Appeal – A review by the National Eligibility Committee (NEC). Must be requested by AD or FAR within 90 days of the decision.
Common Review and Update Examples
Review Example:
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A Student transferred from a previous non-NAIA institution, but the credits have not been accepted on the new transcript.
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A grade change or new credits added to a previously used transcript.
Update Example:
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A student was issued a ‘not eligible’ decision prior. Since then, the student took summer courses after that original decision, which could affect the original decision.
If a student does not "use" their Eligibility Center decision in competition during the term in which it was given and either does not identify during the term or transfers without using the Eligibility Center decision in competition, then a student is required to "reactivate" their decision.
When a student-athlete is required to reactivate his/her PlayNAIA account the following must occur:
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The student-athlete is required to update academic and athletic experience with any new information.
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Eligibility Center must issue a new determination before the student-athlete can be certified on campus.
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Reactivation does not incur additional registration fees.
Bookmark this for future decisions! https://play.mynaia.org/media/1104/naia_eligibilitycenter_situationanalysis.pdf
An entering freshman is defined as a student who, upon becoming identified with an NAIA institution, has not been previously identified with any institution(s) of higher learning for any two semesters or three quarters (or the equivalent).
Entering Freshman Requirements
An entering freshman student must be a graduate of an accredited high school or be accepted as a regular student in good standing as defined by the enrolling institution. An entering freshman may become eligible immediately upon earning a final high school GPA of at least a 2.30 CGPA or meet the "traditional" 2/3 options described below:
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Final HS GPA of a 2.0 CGPA
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Finish in top half of the student’s graduating class.
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Minimum standardized test scores of 18 on the ACT or 970 on the SAT.
Did You Know? International Student – Multiple Graduation Dates
Standardized Tests: ACT & SAT
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“Super Scores” not accepted.
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SAT: Critical Reading and Math section only; Writing section not applicable
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Must be taken prior to the start of academic term in which the student wishes to compete.
Vacated Scores:
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No longer count toward eligibility requirement
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If student has already participated, does not constitute ineligible participation
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Students can still meet the requirement by taking the ACT/SAT and receiving the passing score in the term (semester or quarter) before the term they wish to compete.
Multiple GPAs on the High School Transcript
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If multiple GPAs exist on the transcript, then use the GPA used to determine class rank.
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If multiple ranks exist, then use the rank for determining the valedictorian.
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If the selection for a valedictorian does not exist, then use weighted over unweighted rank.
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If the school does not rank their students but offer academic and overall GPA, then use the overall GPA.
Class Rank & Exceptions
The class rank that is accepted is the rank as it appears on the final high school transcript after the student’s date of graduation.
An exception to the class rank requirement may be granted if:
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Completion of nine institutional credit hours prior to identification at any institution of higher education can be used if NO class rank appears on the final official high school transcript.
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Note that if a student does have a class rank on their transcript, but not in the upper 50% of the graduating class, then they cannot use this exception.
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Credits must be earned prior to identification at the NAIA institution.
Credit must be accepted by the NAIA institution on their official transcript.
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All courses must be passed with a C or better.
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For CLEP or AP credit not applied to the transcript within a term, official documentation issued by the testing service, noting the date the exam was taken, will suffice.
12-Hour Enrollment Rule: Participation
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To compete in any term, a student must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 institutional credit hours.
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Or enrolled in 9 institutional credit hours at the NAIA institution and at least 3 credits taken elsewhere.
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All courses can be taken online. NAIA bylaws do not regulate the manner in which the courses are delivered.
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Courses can be taken at any point in the semester. Timing of the courses within the term will not dictate if a student is identified.
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Example: 1st 8 week or 2nd 8 week courses
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See also:
Credits Used for 12-Hour Enrollment Rule
First term freshman who met the initial eligibility requirements going into their first term are required to accumulate a minimum of nine institutional credit hours prior to identification for the second term of attendance.
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A student who enters college for the first time in the summer and then enrolls for the fall term, may not apply summer credit hours to meet the Nine-Hour Rule.
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Summer attendance does not identify a student with an institution. The hours earned in the summer cannot count toward the Nine-Hour Rule because they occur prior to the student’s initial identification.
An entering freshman who satisfies one of the initial eligibility requirements can gain eligibility in a subsequent term if the student passed 12 institutional credit hours with a grade of “C” or better during the first term of attendance at the certifying NAIA institution.
While the term for this bylaw is often referred to as "mid-year" eligibility, this eligibility component may be used at any point after the student has been charged their first term of attendance. The first term must be earned at the certifying NAIA institution in which the student wishes to compete.
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A grade of a “P” may be used in lieu of a C to gain mid-year eligibility if the official transcript or academic catalogue specifically states that a grade of a P equates to a grade of a C in the grading rubric.
For further information on this bylaw, see: Mid-Year Eligibility for Freshmen
FAQ’s for Establishing Eligibility Mid-Year
Q: Does the student have to meet the initial eligibility criteria (i.e. 1-of-3) prior to identification? What happens if a student takes the ACT/SAT during the fall term?
A: No, there is no requirement that the 1-of-3 criterion (found in Bylaws Article V, Section C, Item 2) be met prior to the student’s initial identification. A student could take the ACT or SAT test in the first term, and use this test score to satisfy the 1-of-3 piece of the proposal. In addition, the student would also have to earn 12 hours in that fall term.
Q: Does a student need a specific GPA to utilize the exception?
A: No. The requirement is that the student must earn 12 hours with a grade of “C” or better. There is no GPA requirement because a student’s performance in any additional hours the student decides to take should not impact his or her ability to satisfy the exception.
Q: What if a freshman student gets a C in three courses (nine institutional credit hours) at my NAIA school, and a C in one course (three institutional credit hours) at another institution during his first term of attendance. Can he use this exception?
A: Yes. Per NAIA rules, a student who takes nine institutional credit hours at an NAIA school and three institutional credit hours elsewhere in the same term will be considered a term of attendance at the NAIA institution. The legislation simply requires 12 hours need to be earned with a C, but does not require all 12 hours be earned from the NAIA institution.
Q: Does a student have to maintain continuous identification to use the exception?
A: No. However, a student does have to have earned all 12 institutional credit hours during their first term of attendance. Non-term hours cannot be included to satisfy the 12 hours needed.
Q: How does this work if a student initially identifies after the fall term (i.e., a student’s first term is the spring semester)? Can the student use this exception?
A: Yes. If a student’s first term of attendance is the spring semester, the student could gain eligibility to compete the subsequent fall semester by earning 12 institutional credit hours with a grade of C during the spring semester, and also satisfying one of the initial eligibility criteria.
Q: For quarter schools, if a student wishes to compete in a spring sport, do the 12 hours have to be earned in the fall quarter, or in the winter quarter, or a combination of the two?
A: The bylaw requires that the hours must be earned in the student’s first term of attendance. If the student identifies in the fall, that means the 12 hours must have been earned in the fall, regardless of whether the student will compete in the winter quarter or in the spring quarter. The rule turns on the student’s first term of attendance, not the term prior to competition.
Q: If I transfer after the fall term, can I use this exception at a different NAIA institution from where I went in the fall?
A: No. The bylaw requires that the hours must have been earned at the certifying NAIA institution.
Bylaw Intent & Application
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Intent: students must pass coursework and earn credits in a manner consistent with the expectations for a full time student.
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Bylaw focuses on terms of attendance and earning required credits over the previous 2 semester/3 quarters TOA. Cannot apply credits earned prior to the second most recent semester or third most recent quarter term of attendance.
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Example: A student passes four hours during the summer 2023 term, 12 hours during the following Fall 2023 term, and eight hours during the spring 2024 term. Does the student meet the requirements of the 24/36-Hour Rule going into Fall 2024 term?
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Answer: No. In this case, the summer credit was earned prior to one of the two terms of attendance. For summer credit to be applied, it must be earned after one or both of the two terms being applied.
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For certification purposes, the NAIA institution will calculate the 24/36-Hour Rule based on the total institutional credits listed in each applicable term at face value.
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To compete, a student must have earned:
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24 credits during the student’s previous two semester TOAs; or
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36 credits during the student’s previous three quarerssemestter TOAs.
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This calculation may include:
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“Non-term” hours earned between or after the student’s 2nd most recent TOA.
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No more than 12 non-term hours can apply to the calculation.
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Common FAQs
24/36-Hour Rule — Identified Student
A freshman at an NAIA institution is registered in 10 credits at their institution and two institutional credits at an ouside institution during the fall academic term. The student earns an A in the outside course; however, the student’s NAIA institution will not accept the credit as transfer credit on its institutional transcript. Can these credits be used to satisfy the 24/36-Hour Rule?
Answer: No. If the student is currently identified at an NAIA institution and the institution will not accept the transfer credits, these credits cannot be used towards the 24/36-Hour Rule.
24/36-Hour Rule — Transfer Credit
A student enrolls in a winter course outside of his NAIA institution in hopes of using the credit for eligibility purposes for the spring term. When the official transcript is released from this institution, the institution assigns the credit to the following spring term, not the winter term. The NAIA institution will allow for the credit to be transferred under its winter term, in accordance with its transfer credit policies. Can the student use these credits for eligibility for the spring term?
Answer: No. Regardless of how the NAIA institution will treat the credit, if the credit is posted on the official transcript from the original institution as completed in the spring term, the credit cannot be used to determine eligibility for the spring term.
24/36-Hour Rule: Transfers & Mixed Terms
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If a student has mixed terms (quarter and semester), the credits always taken at face value.
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Never convert the credits
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Always based on original transcript from the issuing institution
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If a student does not have three consecutive quarter TOAs, always use the two most recent TOAs.
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For the previous two terms (either semester + semester, semester + quarter, or quarter + quarter), = student will need 24 hours.
Timing of Credits
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Credits must be earned prior to the term in which the student wishes to compete
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Cannot use a mini-course within a TOA to earn eligibility.
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Cannot use summer credits if credits earned are prior to first of the two terms of attendance.
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If credits are transferred in, then those credits must be applied to the term of which the official transcript designates.
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Or may be used if the end date of the course (if not assigned to a term) shows the course is completed before the term in which the student is seeking eligibility.
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Summer Credits
Non-identified student and summer classes:
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A prospective student who has not identified with your institution prior may use all prior institutional credit taken at face value. Even if your institution does not accept the credit.
Identified student and summer classes:
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Continuously identified students who enroll in summer courses outside of their institution and earn institutional credit not accepted by your institution cannot use these credits toward the 24/36-Hour Rule.
24/36-Hour Rule: Most Common Exceptions
Exception 2 - AA Degree from a Junior College
Can be applied if:
• Passed all hours required for graduation in terms of graduation
• Less than 24 hours needed in the last 2 semesters/ Less than 36 hours needed in the last 3 quarters
Exception 3 - First-term student initially competes in any intercollegiate sport
- Provided the student has not previously participated in any intercollegiate sport at any institution (scrimmages will be considered intercollegiate competition).
- If a student is within the first 4 semesters/ 6 quarters TOAs: freshman eligibility requirements may be used instead; or
- If a student completes 4 semesters/ 6 quarters TOAs: a cumulative 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale may be used instead.
Did You Know? 24/36-Hour Rule Exception 3: Competition After Two Quarter Terms of Attendance
See also: Progress Rule vs. 24/36-Hour Rule
Bylaw focuses on seasons of competition and earning expected credits prior to the start of the next SOC.
An official transcript may show that, based on a term-by-term summation, the student has a more institutional credit hours than what the cumulative total shows at the conclusion of the transcript. However, if some of these credits are removed in the cumulative totals listed at the end of the transcript, for purposes of the Progress Rule the NAIA institution must rely on the total cumulative credits listed at the end of the transcript.
On average, a student must have accumulated 24 institutional credit hours for each season of competition charge.
Transfer Students – Progress Rule Credit Hour Application
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First Term Only:
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A transfer student may use all certified institutional credit hours from any previous institution(s) to meet the Progress Rule only during their first term of attendance at the new NAIA institution.
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After First Term:
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Only credit hours recognized by the current NAIA institution and appearing as cumulative earned hours on the NAIA transcript count toward the Progress Rule.
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Example Summary:
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Sally transferred with 24 credits, including a “D” grade not accepted by her new school.
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First Term: All 24 hours counted (Progress Rule met).
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After First Term: Only hours accepted by New Institution count (the “D” grade no longer counts).
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2.0 GPA Requirement
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Second Season of Competition
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Junior Academically and/or 3rd Season of Competition
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Senior Academically and/or 4th Season of Competition
Calculating GPA
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First TOA at your institution: cumulative GPA from all transcripts
Total Quality Points achieved / Total GPA Hrs attempted
- After initial TOA at your institution, use the institution's cumulative GPA policy for all students
Progress Rule Exceptions
Exception 1: A freshman who initially becomes identified after the first term in the fall shall meet this requirement (Progress Rule) by having passed 12 semester or 20 quarter institutional credit hours. This exception shall apply to the second season of competition only.
Exception 2: An entering freshman who has been charged one or more seasons of competition for non-intercollegiate participation will be exempt from meeting the Progress Rule for one year (two semesters/three quarters) at an NAIA institution. This exception applies only to a student’s first season of competition at the NAIA institution, after which the student will be required to have earned the requisite hours needed to satisfy the Progress Rule.
Exception 3: A student is exempt from this requirement during their second season of competition in a sport if the previous season of competition was charged for non-intercollegiate participation.
Did You Know? See these articles for further guidance.
Progress Rule Exception Mixed Terms
Progress Rule Calculation: Term Totals vs. Accumulated Totals
Repeat Course Rule – Key Points
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Definition:
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A repeat course is any course that a student previously passed with a D or better and then retakes.
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Letter Grade Clarification:
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The NAIA does not distinguish +/- grades.
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Example: B+, B, and B– are all treated as a B.
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24/36-Hour Rule
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If the original grade was a D:
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Retaken and earned C or better → Counts toward 24/36-Hour Rule.
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Retaken and earned another D → Does NOT count; only the first attempt counts.
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If the original grade was a C or better:
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Retake does NOT count toward the 24/36-Hour Rule.
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12-Hour Enrollment Rule (Term Enrollment Rule)
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A maximum of one repeat course per term (originally passed with D or equivalent) may count.
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If the original grade was a C or better:
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Retake cannot be used to meet the 12-Hour Rule.
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Exception – Major/Degree Requirement
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If a student’s declared major requires repeating a course to meet a graduation or gen ed requirement:
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One repeat course per term with a C or D may count toward:
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12-Hour Enrollment Rule, and
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24/36-Hour Rule.
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Important Note: Effective May 1, 2026 | Removal of Repeat Courses for Fall 2026 and Beyond
What’s Changing?
Previously, the NAIA defined what qualified as a “repeat course” and limited how such courses could count toward eligibility. Under this amendment:
- The NAIA will no longer define or regulate repeat courses.
- Each institution’s academic transcript and policy will be used to determine whether a repeated course counts toward eligibility.
- NAIA eligibility rules like the 12-Hour Enrollment Rule, 24/36-Hour Rule, and Progress Rule remain in place—but will be interpreted using the institution’s transcript.
This amendment does not eliminate the ability for students to retake courses. Rather, it eliminates the NAIA’s oversight of repeat course usage for eligibility.
Impact on Eligibility Rules
12-Hour Enrollment Rule
This requirement still applies. A student must be enrolled in at least 12 institutional credit hours, but now, any repeated courses that appear as enrolled institutional credit will count toward that total.
24/36-Hour Rule
Repeated courses will count only if they are listed as earning institutional credit and hours earned. If the course shows no earned credit, it does not count.
Progress Rule
Institutions will determine whether repeated courses count toward degree progress. The NAIA will accept whatever is reflected on the transcript as cumulative earned hours toward the student’s program.
Institutional Responsibilities
With the removal of NAIA oversight, schools will play a larger role in determining and communicating eligibility based on their transcript practices. Here’s what institutions should do:
- Review internal transcript policies—especially how repeated courses are shown (e.g., retained credit, excluded attempts, grade replacement).
- Collaborate with the registrar’s office to ensure alignment on transcript interpretation.
- Educate coaches and certifiers so they understand how repeated coursework is handled and how it impacts eligibility projections.
Why Does This Matter?
This bylaw is frequently cited when a student-athlete transfers during the winter term. In these cases, the timing of enrollment and certification is crucial—especially for sports that continue through the winter break, such as basketball or swimming.
If a student transfers during the winter break and is enrolled full time for the upcoming term (e.g., spring semester), they can be certified and begin competing during the winter break period, as long as they meet all other eligibility requirements. This includes, but is not limited to, receiving an eligible decision from PlayNAIA, meeting academic progress standards, residency rules, and any applicable transfer regulations.
A student who is eligible the last day of a term (as reported on the institution’s official academic calendar) may retain eligibility until midnight of the 30th calendar day following the close of a term to allow an institution time to recertify eligibility through the official Eligibility Certification Process. This regulation does not apply to students who have completed 10 semesters of attendance (or equivalent).
Further, students who are discovered to be ineligible by the institution through the official Eligibility Certification Process or by conference standards shall lose eligibility immediately upon such discovery.
Timing of Certification
Institutions which sponsor sports that carry over from one term to another (basketball, swimming and diving, wrestling, etc.) must certify that students participating in these sports are eligible for all terms in which the competition takes place.
For all other terms during the regular academic year, a student enrolled in the second (or subsequent) term may compete between terms (beginning on the day following the close of the concluding term), provided the student meets all eligibility requirements for the upcoming term.
Common FAQs
What does “close of term” mean? Per NAIA bylaws, the “End of Term” is defined as “Date listed in the institutional catalog as the last day of a term. If no such date is given, the end of the term shall be the last day of the final exam period for that term“. Certification for the following academic term is required within 30 days of the end of the previous term.
How is a student “discovered to be ineligible,” or what does “institution checks eligibility” actually mean? The official process to identify whether a student is eligible is by completing the eligibility certification process. A student is not considered officially (in)eligible until the process of certification and the evaluation of the previous term’s institutional credits/ grades are factored into ECP. A student may continue to compete after the fall term during the 30-day window until their official certification process is complete.
Students Establishing Eligibility Mid-Year
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Students who were ineligible in the previous term or transfer students not identified at the institution during the prior term can be certified to play the day after the fall term ends.
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These students do not need to wait for the 30-day recertification period or the start of classes in the following term to become eligible.
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If the rest of the team uses the 30-day recertification period, these mid-year eligible students must be certified for the upcoming term.
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Mid-year eligibility requires certification under the winter or spring certificate, effective the day after the official end of the fall term.
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Only one student-athlete may initially be certified under the new term's certificate (e.g., Spring 2024), while the rest of the team competes under the previous term's certificate.
See also: Mid-Year Certification
