Once you've graduated high school, eligibility rules are specific to your individual academic and athletic history, so get started as early as possible. The NAIA Eligibility Center will assess any athletic participation you did in college or outside the college setting, all of your college transcripts (including dual enrollment and part-time coursework) and will sometimes need your high school information.

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The NAIA follows an amateurism model, which means only amateur student-athletes are eligible to compete in a given sport. In the NAIA, an amateur participates for the educational experience, personal enjoyment, and love of the sport rather than for professional gain.

If a student becomes a professional in a sport recognized by the NAIA, that student loses eligibility in that sport only. Amateur standing is determined on a sport-by-sport basis.

A student-athlete may lose amateur standing in a sport by:

• Receiving expense reimbursement that exceeds the actual expenses of travel, meals, and lodging. Any such expenses must be itemized and properly documented.
• Signing a contract with any professional team.
• Participating in any athletics contest as a professional, or as a member of a team where the student receives remuneration that exceeds actual expenses of travel, meals, and lodging.
• Entering into an agreement of any kind to compete in professional athletics with a professional sports organization.