Alternative Methods of Credentialing
Transcript-Based Alternative Method of Credentialing
Transcript-based Alternative Method of Credentialing provides an alternative route to high school equivalency for candidates who have already completed a significant amount of high school or post-secondary credits. Candidates who meet the eligibility requirements for a transcript-based Alternative Method of Credentialing for high school equivalency shall be granted a State of Illinois High School Diploma upon completion of the following minimum high school credit requirements from a state-recognized and accredited public or private high school, completion of an approved NRS reading exam at a ninth-grade equivalency, and completion of the Illinois Constitution requirement.
ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE
An individual is eligible to apply to complete their high school equivalency through this method given they meet all the following conditions:
- 18.5 years of age or older and their high school graduating class must be, at minimum, in the third quarter of their senior year*
- does not have a high school diploma or high school equivalency credential and is not currently enrolled in a secondary school
- is a resident of the State of Illinois for at least 30 days prior to the initial transcript evaluation and
- has completed at least 75 percent (13.5 credits) of the minimum graduation requirements as outlined below.
CREDIT REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must provide documentation demonstrating completion of at least 18 credits (equivalent to a year-long high school course) at a state-recognized and accredited public or private high school, a state-recognized and accredited postsecondary institution or adult education program, or a foreign institution of higher education, including:
- at least four (4) years of language arts;
- at least three (3) years of mathematics, which must include one (1) year of algebra and one year of geometry;
- at least three (3) years of social studies, which must include at least one (1) year on the history of the United States;
- at least two (2) years of science;
- at least one (1) year of elective coursework, chosen from art, music, foreign language, or vocational education;
- at least one (1) semester of health; and
- at least one course on consumer education.
All other credits required to meet the 18 credit minimum may be filled with elective coursework in any subject area.
ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS
Transcripts utilized for an Alternative Method of Credentialing must come from a state-recognized and accredited institution.
Home schooled programs are not eligible for transcript-based Alternative Method of Credentialing. Home schooled students who need to complete a State of Illinois High School Diploma are eligible to complete one of the approved high school equivalency exams (GED® or HiSET®).
The only online or correspondence high schools authorized for use in a transcript-based Alternative Method of Credentialing are the American School (Lansing, IL) (LINK) and the Illinois Virtual School (LINK).
Adult education coursework used for an Alternative Method of Credentialing must be completed through an Illinois Community College Board-funded adult education provider either in classroom or using i-Pathways curricula. The course title and description must be specific to the credit gap the candidate needs to fill. Candidates may find their nearest adult education provider using our locator tool: http://iccbdbsrv.iccb.org/adulted/index1.cfm
TRANSCRIPT EVALUATION
An eligible candidate who is interested in participating in a transcript-based Alternative Method of Credentialing must have their high school and/or post-secondary transcripts evaluated at the Regional Office of Education for their county of residence.
Candidates can find their Regional Office of Education, using the ROE Directory (LINK) or ROE Locator Tool.
Candidates must provide official sealed transcripts for evaluation. Candidates providing transcripts from a foreign institution which are not in English must provide a certified translation in addition to a sealed copy of the records. Candidates are responsible for purchasing the certified translation of transcripts.
Regional Office of Education staff will ensure the candidate meets all eligibility requirements, including age and residency. In addition, Regional Office of Education staff will ensure the candidate meets the minimum of 13.5 required courses completed prior to participation in the program. If the candidate does not meet the eligibility requirements, they will be directed to consider another high school equivalency option.
Regional Office of Education staff will evaluate the transcripts of eligible candidates to determine what requirements remain. Candidates with remaining requirements may complete their credit gaps using one or more of the methods outlined below.
FILLING CREDIT GAPS
Candidates who are lacking one or more of the 18 total credits, listed above, may fill their credit gaps in one of three ways:
- ICCB-funded Adult Education:
Candidates may complete coursework through an Illinois Community College Board-funded adult education provider. Coursework may be completed in class or using i-Pathways curricula. Candidates may find their nearest adult education provider using the locator tool at http://iccbdbsrv.iccb.org/adulted/index1.cfm.
The course title and description must be specific to the credit gap the candidate needs to fill.
An adult education course which grants three units of instruction shall be considered equivalent to one year of high school credit in a relevant subject area.
Online curriculum is also available through i-Pathways. (LINK) Candidates must coordinate with their Regional Office of Education or Adult Education program to have access to the instruction.
- Post-Secondary Credit:
Candidates may complete coursework through a recognized and accredited two- or four-year college or university.
The course title and description must be specific to the credit gap the candidate needs to fill.
A post-secondary course which grants three semester credits shall be considered equivalent to one year of high school credit in a relevant subject area.
- High School Equivalency Exam Section:
Candidates may complete no more than two subject areas of the GED® or HiSET® exam.
A passing score on one subject area of a high school equivalency exam shall be considered equivalent to one year of high school credit in a relevant subject area. All high school equivalency scores must be accessed through, and verified by, Regional Offices of Education for the county in which the test was taken. Regional Offices of Education will not accept records of high school equivalency test scores brought in by candidates.
Candidates will be required to return to the Regional Office of Education for their county of residence with transcripts from any adult education or post-secondary courses taken to fill credit gaps. Transcripts must meet all qualifications listed above.
COST TO PARTICIPATE
The cost of the initial transcript review for an Alternative Method of Credentialing is $20. This fee must be paid to the Regional Office of Education at the time of the initial transcript review.
Additional fees apply for copies of the State of Illinois High School Diploma and official high school equivalency transcripts upon completion of this program. For more information on these fees, please view the following page: High School Equivalency Records
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
In addition to completion of the 18 required credits listed above, candidates completing a transcript-based Alternative Method of Credentialing must complete the Illinois Constitution requirement and pass a NRS approved reading assessment at a ninth grade level.