Adult Secondary Education
The Adult High School Program
- The Adult High School program is offered by 47 of the community colleges in our system in cooperation with local education agencies to offer adults an opportunity to earn an Adult High School (AHS) diploma.
- The curriculum of instruction aligns with adult education and literacy
activities and other core programs and one-stop partners and includes the development of career pathways, which provide access to employment and training services for students in the Adult High School program. - Course and graduation requirements are in alignment with the standards established by the State Board of Education, the local education agency, and the local community college. The AHS diploma is issued in cooperation between the local boards of education and community college trustees with appropriate signatures representing both educational systems. Adult High School records and transcripts are maintained and issued by the community college where the AHS diploma was awarded.
- Colleges must offer at least the minimum number of credits required for graduation by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
Adult High School Diploma
The Adult High School program is offered cooperatively with a local public school system to offer adults an opportunity to earn an Adult High School (AHS) diploma through a curriculum of instruction that aligns with adult education and literacy activities and other core programs and one-stop partners. The curriculum includes the development of career pathways which provide access to employment and training services for students in the Adult High School program. Course and graduation requirements are in alignment with the standards established by the State Board of Education, the local education agency, and the local community college.
The AHS diploma is issued in cooperation between the local boards of education and community college trustees with appropriate signatures representing both educational systems. Adult High School records and transcripts are maintained and issued by the community college where the AHS diploma was awarded.
Required Credits
Colleges must offer at least the minimum number of credits required for graduation by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
Important Resources
For additional information about graduation options for students at the Adult Secondary Education levels, visit:
Take a High School Equivalency Test – NCTitle2
High School Equivalency
North Carolina’s High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma program offers instruction to prepare learners to successfully pass a designated high school equivalency assessment. The two nationally-recognized assessments used to obtain a state-issued High School Equivalency diploma in North Carolina are GED® and HiSET®.
Please note that students 16-17 years of age must contact the HSE Chief Examiner at their local community college to request drop-release paperwork to be eligible to take high school equivalency assessments in North Carolina.
For information about GED and HiSET, click on the icons
below.
- TASC Test in NC has been discontinued as of August 31, 2020.
- ATTENTION: The NCCCS does not process any HSE Diploma or Transcript Requests or provide verification. Mail or phone request will delay the processing. Any Transcript or HSE request sent by mail will be returned to the sender. Effective 1/14/2019 all High School Equivalency (HSE) diplomas, transcripts, and verification requests for the GED® , HiSET, and TASC tests will be processed through DiplomaSender. Please contact Diploma Sender at DiplomaSender.com or at 855-313-5799 for your transcript requests or queries regarding your transcripts
or diploma.
Earn Your North Carolina High School Equivalency Diploma
The two nationally recognized assessments used to obtain a state-issued High School Equivalency credential in North Carolina are GED® and HiSET®. Both High School Equivalency assessments are recognized by the US Department of Education and cover the same content areas. Passing the complete battery of either one of the assessments will lead to the same High School Equivalency Diploma issued by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges.
HiSET® testing is the only high school equivalency assessment administered at the North Carolina Department Public Safety adult correctional facilities.
Please note that all high school equivalency testing options may not be available at all community colleges and that some restrictions apply.
