Article V, Section F

When Does an NAIA Student-Athlete’s Eligibility End?

Understanding Termination of Eligibility

NAIA student-athletes have limits on how long they can compete. Once these limits are reached, the student is no longer eligible to participate in intercollegiate sports. Here’s what you need to know about those limits—and the exceptions.

1. Maximum Terms of Attendance

A student is no longer eligible once they complete:

• 10 semesters

• 12 trimesters

• 15 quarters

This applies to any term where the student is identified with an institution, not based on credit hours taken.

Explicit Exceptions written into the Bylaws

An NAIA institution may seek an exceptional ruling for an NAIA student-athlete for an extention to the terms of attendance (up to two semesters or three quarter terms of attendance) if the female student-athlete was pregnant or the student-athlete suffered a debilitating illness (e.g., cancer, chemical dependency, mental illness). In order for such a request to be granted, the request for an exception requires proper documentation from a licensed medical or mental health professional.

How to Convert Academic Terms

If a student has attended schools with different academic calendars, convert all terms to match the current school’s system:

Important Note: Only the term count is converted—credit hours are always evaluated at face value.

Playing with Partial Terms

• Students may compete in a term if they have at least two-thirds of a term remaining.

• If a student has less than half a term remaining at the start of the term, their eligibility has ended.

To help calculate:

2. 30-Day Window After a Term

If a student becomes ineligible for any reason other than hitting the term limit, they can remain eligible for up to 30 days after the term ends.

However:

• If the school certifies eligibility before those 30 days are up and finds the student is ineligible, the student becomes ineligible immediately.

 3. Maximum Seasons of Competition

No student may compete in a sport for more than 4 seasons.

4. Permanent Loss of Eligibility

A student cannot regain eligibility in a sport if any of these apply:

• They’ve already used all 4 seasons of competition.

• They’ve been permanently banned from the sport at any four-year school (NAIA or non-NAIA).

• They’ve been permanently banned by any athletic association (including junior college).

Exception: The NAIA does not follow the NCAA’s “five-year rule” or any age restrictions.

21-Day Withdrawal Rule

If a student withdraws within the first 21 days of a term and returns to the same institution (without attending elsewhere), then:

• They won’t be charged a term of attendance.

• They won’t be identified for eligibility purposes.

• W grades from that term will not hurt the 24/36-Hour Rule.

But: If the student competes in a contest before withdrawing, they will be charged a season of competition and must meet Progress Rule requirements in the future.

Summary for Staff and Registrars

✔ Track the number of terms a student has been identified.
✔ Use the term conversion chart when needed.
✔ Watch for eligibility cutoffs near the end of a student’s eligibility window.
✔ Know that a student withdrawing early and returning doesn’t necessarily lose a term of attendance.
✔ Always verify eligibility changes promptly—the 30-day grace period doesn’t delay ineligibility once discovered.