A coach-friendly guide to help you confirm academic progress fast, avoid common traps, and know when exceptions apply.
Link to NAIA Bylaws
Bylaw Intent & Application
- Intent: students must pass coursework and earn credits in a manner consistent with the expectations for a full time student.
- 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.
- 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?
- 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.
- 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.
- To compete, a student must have earned:
- 24 credits during the student’s previous two semester TOAs; or
- 36 credits during the student’s previous three quarerssemestter TOAs.
- This calculation may include:
- “Non-term” hours earned between or after the student’s 2nd most recent TOA.
- No more than 12 non-term hours can apply to the calculation.
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
- If a student has mixed terms (quarter and semester), the credits always taken at face value.
- Never convert the credits
- Always based on original transcript from the issuing institution
- If a student does not have three consecutive quarter TOAs, always use the two most recent TOAs.
- For the previous two terms (either semester + semester, semester + quarter, or quarter + quarter), = student will need 24 hours.
Timing of Credits
- Credits must be earned prior to the term in which the student wishes to compete
- Cannot use a mini-course within a TOA to earn eligibility.
- Cannot use summer credits if credits earned are prior to first of the two terms of attendance.
- If credits are transferred in, then those credits must be applied to the term of which the official transcript designates.
- 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.
Summer Credits
Non-identified student and summer classes:
- 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:
- 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
