Third Party Diploma and Transcript Request

Third Parties—order a diploma or transcript on behalf of someone else.

All third parties must have the following:

1. A Cook County HSE request form (click here to download) or school transcript request form with the student’s signature. If using the Cook County HSE request form the third-party information must be on the form’s Section 3: Diploma Recipient Address for diploma and/or Section 4: Transcript Recipient Address for transcript.
2. A money order, cashier’s check, or company check for the appropriate amount payable to ICCB.
3. Copy of the student’s government-issued photo id (i.e. Driver’s License, State ID). Current and valid government-issued photo ID is required. Requests will not be processed without a copy of photo ID.
4. Send the Request Form, copy of valid photo identification, and payment to the address below:

Illinois Community College Board
Attn: Cook County HSE Records Office
555 W Monroe St Fl 6 Ste 600-S
Chicago, Illinois 60661

Turnaround time is 2 to 3 weeks from the time we receive the request. If the Request Form is incomplete (i.e. missing candidate’s signature, etc.), wrong fee or incorrect forms of payment, all paperwork will be returned to the sender for revision and resubmission.

Diplomas or transcripts cannot be sent electronically. To get a verification of HSE Credentials sent email click here.

FAQs

Where can I find the student’s Diploma and Transcript?

Our office has the HSE testing records for the following:

• GED candidates who tested on paper-and-pencil in a Cook County GED testing center from 1942 to December 31, 2013.
• Cook County residents who tested for GED, HiSET, or TASC on computer after October 1, 2012
• Candidates tested through the Illinois Department of Corrections in 2014 or after.

Where can I find a Diploma and Transcript if the HSE Credential was earned outside Cook County?

For High School Equivalency records outside Cook County please click here for information on how to obtain an official transcript or Illinois High School Diploma.

What is the difference between the diploma and the transcript? What is each used for?

The diploma issued by the state of Illinois upon completion of one of the HSE test and other state requirements. A transcript is the official record of the HSE test subjects taken and scores. Many colleges and universities require a transcript. Employers normally require an educational verification or diploma.

I placed an order for a HSE credential (i.e. diploma, transcript), but I haven’t received it. What should I do?

Most physical diploma or transcript orders take approximately 1-2 days to process and mail out but may take up to 2-3 weeks for delivery. Please allow sufficient time for processing and shipping. Prior to placing an order, you should confirm that you have the correct HSE Records Office please click here for information.

For a GED, HiSET, or TASC Verification, contact the Cook County HSE Records office via email at ICCB.CookHSE@illinois.gov.

All verification requests must include:

• Name at the time of testing,
• Full date of birth,
• Identification Number (i.e. last four digits of Social Security Number),
• Name of test center where the exam was taken, and completion date (if available),
• Student’s Signed Authorization.

Third Parties requesting verifications must send a release form, signed by the candidate, authorizing the Cook County High School Equivalency (HSE) Records Office to release educational records to the third party.  Click here to download fillable form for Authorization for Disclosure of HSE Test Information.  The turnaround time is 24 to 72 hours. The signed release form must have the candidate’s current name, the name used at time of testing, identification number, and date of birth. We will only send a verification of completion; test scores will not be available.  Diplomas and transcripts must be requested through the mail.  Instructions for ordering through the mail are outlined above (click here to view).