This is the first of a three-part series for student-athletes and parents/guardians unaware of the college entrance qualifications if they have hopes of a college athletic scholarships at the Division I and II levels. Next week, Bullard High School athletic director, Jim Taylor will go further into tests scoring and other qualifications.

No it is not the Clearinghouse Sweepstakes, but if you have an athlete with aspirations of playing a sport in college at the Division I or II level, you will not get anywhere without the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse.

Most parents and student-athletes in our area are well aware, but just in case you have not done so for your student, they will not go to a Division I or II program immediately after high school. Division III school already are restricted to academic scholarship athletes so there should be no pre-qualification. That leaves NAIA or junior colleges available at the next level, unsanctioned by NCAA requirements.

The NCAA Clearinghouse is the organization that reviews the student athlete's academic record, SAT or ACT scores, and amateur status to ensure conformity with NCAA rules.

School transcripts are also filed upon registration for each individual.

It's never too late to register if you are still a senior, but the NCAA recommends that student athletes register with the clearinghouse at the beginning of their junior year in high school. However, students must be cleared by the clearinghouse before they receive athletic scholarships or compete at a Division I or Division II institution.

Basically, one of the first questions a college recruiter will ask a coach is if the kid is qualified. Meaning, is he clearinghouse certified?

That is easily done by simply going on-line to the NCAA Clearinghouse website.

There, you will find that you enter personal information, answer questions about their athletic participation, and pay a registration fee. The website will then prompt them to have their high school transcript and ACT or SAT scores sent to the clearinghouse.

There are some special cases when students have received a waiver for the SAT or ACT tests, and are eligible for a waiver of the clearinghouse registration fee.

Each individual counselor at school must also confirmation of the student's test fee waiver.

Students should arrange to have you send their high school transcript to the clearinghouse as soon as they have completed at least six semesters of high school. The transcript must be mailed directly from their high school. They must also arrange to have their ACT or SAT test scores reported directly by the testing company to the clearinghouse. Students can arrange this when they register for the ACT or SAT.

You, the parent or guardian, are responsible for sending in students' final transcripts and proof of graduation at the end of their senior year.

This will get the ball rolling for some, and old news for others.

In our next edition , Bullard High School athletic director, Jim Taylor will help walk us through updating information, actual NCAA academic requirements, proper curriculum, amateurism, and a new test added into the mix.