Five Ways to Get an Adult High School Diploma

							            Five Ways Wisconsin Adults Can Earn A High School Diploma
                      Or High School Equivalency Diploma1
A High School Diploma or High School Equivalency Diploma is a minimum requirement for entry into most
jobs and careers today. For all branches of the military, the University of Wisconsin System, and a growing
number of employers, the GED certificate (column 1 below) is not the same as a High School Diploma or
High School Equivalency Diploma (columns 2 through 6).

Technical colleges are heavily involved with preparing students for GED and HSED completion, as well as
with helping students continue their education after receiving a high school credential.
                        1                 2                      3                     4                    5                    6
                     GED                          High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED)
                                  HSED Based on          HSED Based on         HSED Based on HSED Based on HSED Based on
                  (General                               attainment of
                                   the GED plus                                Postsecondary   a Foreign   completion of a
                 Educational                             secondary and
                                    additional           postsecondary           Education    Diploma or    Competency-
                Development)
                                  requirements              credits                             Degree     Based Program
                   exams2

                                      P.I. 5.05              P.I. 5.06             P.I. 5.07            P.I. 5.08           P.I. 5.09
             Pass five tests      Pass the five GED     Earn required high     Complete 24          Submit a high       Complete an
             with content         tests plus course     school credits by      postsecondary        school diploma      approved program
             similar to high      work or tests in      completing high        semester credits     or college degree   that demonstrates
             school courses:      health, civics, and   school or college      or more,             and transcripts     competency in
             writing, social      career awareness.     classes. Technical     including credit     from another        academic areas:
             studies,                                   colleges are among     in each subject      country for         math, science,
Requirements science, math,                             those who offer        area not             approval by the     social studies,
             literature and                             classes for this       completed in         State               reading, writing,
             the arts.                                  option. Occasion-      high school.         Superintendent,     health, civics and
                                                        ally home study or                          plus meet           employability
                                                        work experience                             citizenship         skills.
                                                        can count as credit.                        requirements.
                Individuals       Individuals           Persons recently in    Adults interested    Students who        Adults seeking an
                prepared to       prepared to study     high school, lacking   in obtaining a       have received       alternative option,
                study required    required subject      1-2 credits; also,     career/vocational    their educational   based on demon-
                subject           material and then     those who enjoy        skill while          credential in       strating they meet
Most            material and      take required         school setting and     completing           another country.    high school-level
appropriate     then take         tests.                group interaction      necessary high                           competencies.
                required tests.                         and want to            school credits.                          Students usually
for
                                                        improve academic                                                build a portfolio
                                                        skills.                                                         rather than
                                                                                                                        participate in
                                                                                                                        extensive testing.
                State             State             High school diploma        State                State               State
                Superintendent    Superintendent of issued by a local          Superintendent       Superintendent      Superintendent of
                of Wisconsin      Wisconsin issues  high school.               of Wisconsin         of Wisconsin        Wisconsin issues
Diploma /       issues GED        HSED certificate.                            issues               issues              equivalency
                certificate.      Some local high                              equivalency          equivalency         diploma. Some
Equivalency                       schools will also                            diploma. Some        diploma. Some       local high schools
awarded by                        grant high school                            local high schools   local high          will also grant high
                                  diplomas.                                    will also grant      schools will also   school diplomas.
                                                                               high school          grant high school
                                                                               diplomas.            diplomas.



 1
   To be awarded an HSED the adult must 1) be at least 18½ years old (or the class the student entered 9th grade with must have
 graduated from high school); 2) be a resident of Wisconsin, have lived in Wisconsin for at least 10 days, or be an eligible migrant
 worker or child of a migrant worker; 3) not be currently enrolled in a public or private high school; 4) have completed a required
 planning and counseling session(s); and 5) meet any other current requirements. Note that there are also programs that can
 serve students who are still in high school – check with your high school counselor or a technical college for more information.
 2
   Note that although the GED is a worthy credential, by itself it is not considered the equivalent of a high school diploma in
 Wisconsin.
                                                                                   Wisconsin Technical College System Board, Apr-02