NCAA Transfer Rules
For the most accurate information please go to the "Helpful Links' section of this website and click on the NCAA Transfer Guide for DI, DII and DIII
III. NAIA ELIGIBILITY REGULATIONS
For the most accurate information please go to the "Helpful Links" section of this website and click on The Official Website of the NAIA.
Or read below (this information may be outdated)...
The following basic regulations apply to all students representing an NAIA member institution in intercollegiate competition. However, you should be aware of some important aspects of determining your eligibility as a transfer student.
Hours applied to the 24-hour rule (see #3) are taken at face value, as reflected on the two-year institution's transcript, even if the NAIA institution will not accept all of those hours.
Determining your status for the progress rule and associated regulations (see #10-14) is somewhat different. For eligibility certification during the FIRST TERM ONLY at the NAIA institution, these regulations are met based on work completed at the previous institution(s). After the first term, you are no longer considered a transfer, and only those institutional credit hours included on the NAIA institution's transcript may be applied toward meeting NAIA eligibility regulations, except the 24-hour rule as noted in the previous paragraph. Therefore, when certifying eligibility for the second term, it is possible to "lose" hours which were used to certify during the first term. You are encouraged to contact the faculty athletic representative at an NAIA institution to clarify your actual eligibility status.
The GPA used to meet the appropriate regulations is determined in a like manner. The GPA you bring from the previous institution(s) is the one used for the initial term at the NAIA institution. Thereafter, the GPA recognized by the NAIA institution shall be used for athletics eligibility certification.
THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA MUST BE MET IN ORDER FOR YOU TO BE ELIGIBLE TO REPRESENT A MEMBER INSTITUTION IN ANY MANNER (SCRIMMAGES, INTERCOLLEGIATE COMPETITIONS).
- YOU MUST be making normal progress toward a recognized baccalaureate degree and maintain the grade points required to remain a student in good standing, as defined by the institution you are attending.
- YOU MUST be enrolled in 12 institutionally approved, or required, credit hours at the time of participation. Should participation take place between terms, you must have been identified the term immediately preceding the date of participation.
- YOU MUST have accumulated a minimum total of 24 institutional, or required, credit hours the two immediately previous terms of attendance. Up to 12 institutional credit hours earned during the summer and/or non-term may be applied to meet the 24-hour rule, provided such credit is earned AFTER one of the two immediately previous terms of attendance. However, if you have not been identified with an institution of higher learning for more than five semesters or seven quarters, have never been identified with a four-year institution, and have met graduation requirements for an associate degree from a junior college, you may be exempt from the 24-hour rule for the first term you are at an NAIA member institution. You must have passed all hours required for graduation in the term in which graduation occurred, and in the last two terms of attendance you must have needed fewer than 24 hours to complete graduation requirements.
- YOU MUST, if a second-term freshman, have accumulated nine degree or required credit hours BEFORE identification for the second term of attendance.
- YOU MAY NOT count repeat courses previously passed in ANY term toward the 24-hour rule.
- YOU MUST be eligible in your own conference.
- YOU MUST, if a transfer student from a four-year institution, have eligibility remaining at the institution from which you are transferring to be eligible for further intercollegiate competition.
- YOU MUST, if a transfer student having ever participated in intercollegiate athletics at a four-year institution, reside for 16 consecutive calendar weeks (112 calendar days), not including summer sessions, at the transferred institution before becoming eligible for intercollegiate competition in any sport in which you participated at the previous four-year institution. Exceptions to the 16 weeks' residency will be explained by the institution's faculty athletic representative.
- YOU MUST be within your first 10 semesters, 12 trimesters, or 15 quarters of attendance as a regularly enrolled student. A term of attendance is any semester, trimester or quarter in which you were enrolled for nine or more institutional credit hours and attended any class. (Summer sessions are not included, but night school, extension, or correspondence courses are applicable to this ruling.)
- YOU MUST, upon reaching junior academic standing as defined by the four-year institution, have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.000 on a 4.000 scale as certified by the institutional registrar.
- YOU MUST, to participate the second season in a sport, have accumulated at least 24 semester/36 quarter institutional credit hours (effective for all new students enrolling Fall 1989 or later).
- YOU MUST, to participate the third season in a sport, have accumulated at least 48 semester/72 quarter institutional credit hours (effective for all new students enrolling Fall 1989 or later).
- YOU MUST, to participate the fourth season in a sport, have accumulated at least 72 semester/108 quarter institutional credit hours. These hours must include at least 48 semester/72 quarter-hours in general education and/or your major field of study (effective for all new students enrolling Fall 1989 or later).
- YOU MUST, to participate the third and/or fourth season in a sport, have and maintain a total cumulative grade point average of at least 2.000 on a 4.000 scale (effective for all new students enrolling Fall 1989 or later).
- YOU MAY NOT participate for more than four seasons in any one sport. A season of competition is defined as participation in one or more intercollegiate contests, whether a freshman, junior varsity or varsity participant or in any other athletic competition in which the institution, as such, is represented during a sport season.
- Should you participate for two different institutions in the same sport, in the same academic year (example-basketball or fall baseball at a junior college and then transfer to an NAIA school and participate in basketball or spring baseball), you shall be charged with a second season of competition in that sport unless you earned an associate degree at a junior college the immediately previous term to transferring.
- YOU MUST be an amateur, as defined by the NAIA, in the sport(s) in which you participate. See your athletics director or faculty athletic representative for all amateur regulations as printed in the NAIA Bylaws.
HARDSHIPS deal only with seasons of competition. A hardship request is a request for an exception to the season of competition regulation (see item 15 above). The NAIA does not recognize a hardship granted by the NJCAA. If you were granted a hardship at a previous (non-NAIA) institution, the request must be resubmitted by an NAIA institution. Hardship requests will be considered only if the following criteria are met.
The injury or illness is beyond the control of the student-athlete and/or coach, and incapacitates the student-athlete from competing further during the season. Verification by an M.D. or D.O. is required.
Participation after being examined by a physician and before receiving written medical clearance shall nullify hardship consideration.
The athlete shall not have participated in over the Association's allowable number of contests in any sport recognized by the NAIA during the school year. Contact a member institution for the number per sport.
Remember, athletes, as well as member institutions, are responsible for knowing and abiding by NAIA rules and regulations as outlined in the NAIA HANDBOOK. Violations of any eligibility requirements by you, as an athlete, will make you ineligible, resulting in your immediate withdrawal from intercollegiate competition in that sport for that season; find you charged with a season of competition and a term of attendance for participating; cause an investigation by the NAIA National Eligibility Committee that could charge you with a second season of participation or the loss of all future eligibility for playing while ineligible; disallow any honors, or consideration of such honors, awarded by the NAIA; and cause your institution to forfeit all contests in which you participated.
Other NCAA Tidbits
NCAA Transfer Comparison Charts: (Effective for students entering full time on or after August 1, 2012)
1) 2-4 Year Transfer Requirements
2) 4-2-4 Transfer Requirements
** Effective, August 1, 2009 (Division I only, non-qualifier)
The student-athlete needs to take 6 semester units or 8 quarter hours of transferable English credit. For instance, enroll and complete English 101 or 105 and English 205.
In addition, 3 semester or 4 quarter hours of transferable math credit. For instance, enroll and complete a math course from Area B4 or 2A on the CSU or IGETC sheet.
** Effective, August 1, 2010 (Division I, Qualifier or non-qualifier)
A men's basketball transfer cannot count more than 2 credits of PE activity courses toward transfer requirements, unless the student is in a PE program or other degree program that requires activity courses. NOTE: The student-athlete may use all their PHYE units towards their Mesa AA but not towards transferable units to that particular transfer institution.
** Effective August 1, 2011 (Division II, partial and non-qualifiers)
NCAA Bylaw: 2011-19
The student-athlete needs to take 6 semester units or 8 quarter hours of transferable English credit. For instance, enroll in and complete English 101 or 105 and English 205 here at SDCCD.
In addition, 3 semester or 4 quarter hours of transferable math credit. For instance, enroll and complete a math course from Area B4 or 2A on the CSU or IGETC sheet.
Remedial English and math courses may not be used by a student-athlete to satisfy this provision of the two year college transfer rule.
Exception: If the student-athlete earns an associate's degree, they do NOT have to complete the 6 units of English and 3 units of math.
** Effective August 1, 2011 (For 4-2-4 Transfers, Division II, qualifiers, partial and non-qualifiers).
For 4-2-4 transfers to be able to eligible to practice and be able to receive athletic aid during his or her first year at the certifying institution, the transfer student-athlete must have attended the last two year college (i.e. Mesa College) as a full time student for only one semester and graduated from that two year college. Exception: If the student is returning back to their previous four year college.
