High School Equivalency Options Summary
The Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma (CSSD) is a high school equivalency credential available to Pennsylvania residents who do not possess a high school diploma and who have met criteria specified in the Pennsylvania Code (22 PA Code §4.72).
Eligibility Criteria
The Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma may be issued to an applicant who:
- Is a resident of Pennsylvania;
- Is at least 18 years of age;
- Does not possess a secondary school diploma from the United States;
- Is not enrolled in a public, licensed private, registered accredited, or licensed nonpublic secondary school; and
- Has completed 30 semester hours of study at a U.S. accredited institution of postsecondary education OR
- Has either scored a passing score on a high school equivalency test in either language. Individuals must pass:
- All four subtests of the GED® test OR
- All five subtests of the HiSET® exam OR
- A combination of subtests from the GED® test and HiSET® exam that covers all subject areas.
Equivalency Options
| HiSET® Exam | GED® Test | 30 College Credit Option | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Test in five subjects
| Test in four subjects
| Alternative for eligible applicants with at least 30 semester hours from an accredited postsecondary institution in the United States |
| Requirements | Passing score of 8 on each subtest, 2 on the essay and a minimum score of 45 on the complete battery. | Passing score of 145 on each subtest | Submit the following to PDE:
|
| Cost | Visit www.hiset.org | Visit www.ged.com | Cost of 30 college credits at the postsecondary institution |
| Test Format |
|
| N/A |
| Additional Information | www.hiset.org *Additional fees may apply | www.ged.com *Additional fees may apply | Go to www.education.pa.gov and search for “high school equivalency” |
| Diplomas/ Transcripts | www.diplomasender.com | www.diplomasender.com | www.diplomasender.com |
Eligibility Requirements
The Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma (CSSD) may be issued based on high school equivalency testing to an applicant who:
- Is a resident of Pennsylvania;
- Is at least 18 years of age;
- Does not possess a secondary school diploma from the United States;
- Is not enrolled in a public, licensed private, registered accredited, or licensed nonpublic secondary school; and
- Has earned a passing score on all subtests in either language of a high school equivalency test. Individuals must pass:
- All four subtests of the GED® test OR
- All five subtests of the HiSET® exam OR
- A combination of subtests from the GED® test and HiSET® exam that covers all subject areas.
Individuals who are 18 year of age or older and Pennsylvania residents are eligible for high school equivalency testing.
If you are 16 or 17 years of age you must meet all the above criteria, and provide the following to meet the requirements of Title 22 Pa Code §4.72:
- Completed Age Waiver form for the respective test (GED® or HiSET®) AND one of the following documents:
- A letter from an employer, on company letterhead, stating that you must pass the high school equivalency test (GED® or HiSET®) in order to gain or maintain employment; OR
- A letter from a college or postsecondary training institution stating that you must pass the high school equivalency test (GED® or HiSET®) for enrollment; OR
- A letter from a branch of the Armed Services stating that you must pass the high school equivalency test (GED® or HiSET®) for induction; OR
- A letter from the director of a state institution in which you are a resident, patient or inmate requesting the high school equivalency test (GED® or HiSET®)
Candidates who pass a high school equivalency test prior to turning 18 will be issued a transcript. The Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma will be issued on their 18th birthday.
No persons under the age of 16 are eligible to take a test of high school equivalency.