Vocational Education
• Work Permit
• Work Experience Education (WEE)
• Regional Occupation Program (ROP)
• Career Information Websites
• GED/CHSPE
GED/CHSPE
Students wishing to have an equivalent to a high school diploma have two options available to them: the General Education Development exam and the California High School Proficiency exam.
GED
The GED offers a diploma alternative for students. There are, of course, pros and cons.
The eligibility requirements are as follows:
- The individual is 18 years of age or older, or within 60 days of his or her 18th birthday (regardless of school enrollment status).
- The individual must be within 60 days of when he or she would have graduated from high school had he or she remained in school and followed the usual course of study (please note that examinees testing under this criteria may not be enrolled in school).
- The individual is 17 years of age, has been out of school for at least 60 consecutive school days, and provides a letter of request for the test from the military, a post-secondary educational institution or a prospective employer.
- The individual is 17 years of age and is incarcerated in a California state or county correctional facility; persons testing under these conditions must meet all of the following criteria:
- The examinee does not have a realistic chance of completing the requirements for a high school diploma.
- The examinee has adequate academic skills to successfully complete the GED test battery.
- The examinee understands the options available regarding acquisition of a high school diploma, the high school equivalency certificate or the high school proficiency certificate, and the requirements, expectations, benefits and limitations of each option.
- The examinee has sufficient commitment time left to complete the entire GED test battery; however, if released before the test is completed, the examinee may complete testing at an authorized testing center.
Persons who pass the GED test at age 17 will not receive the equivalency certificate until their 18th birthday; a letter of intent is issued which states that the certificate is being held pending the examinee's 18th birthday.
For more information, testing centers and a list of who has taken the GED, please visit their official website.
CHSPE
The California High School Proficiency Examination is the equivalent to a high school diploma. The exam is open to anyone 16 or older, whether enrolled in school or not. Those under 16 may take the CHSPE if they have completed the tenth grade or are enrolled in the second semester of tenth grade. Some students who pass the CHSPE continue to attend high school. Anyone under 18 who passes the exam must have parental permission in order to leave school before regular graduation. For more information, visit the California High School Proficiency Examination site (CHSPE.net) or call (916) 657-5216.
