Certification
Submitting High School diplomas and transcripts, High School Equivalency (HSE), and GED/TASC Transcripts
**ATTENTION**
Effective June 1, 2025, high school diplomas and transcripts are no longer accepted from the applicant. These documents must be sent directly from the school.How to Submit Official Transcripts
High school diplomas, high school transcripts, and high school equivalency documents (HSE diploma, GED/TASC test score transcripts) can be sent in the following methods:
- The high school/organization can send transcripts in PDF format via email to transcriptsoti@nysed.gov, with "HS Diploma" in the subject line. Transcripts sent in by the applicant in this method will NOT be accepted.
- The high school or the applicant can request an electronic submission – through an approved electronic transcript company such as Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse. The high school or the applicant must select the New York State Office of Teaching Initiatives through the vendor’s transcript portal; or
- Mailed to our office via USPS in an envelope sealed by the high school/organization only. Addressed to:
New York State Education Department
Office of Teaching Initiatives
89 Washington Ave, 5N EB
Albany, NY 12234
- GED tests completed in NY can be submitted by the applicant, but they must include the GED ID number.
Home School & Online High School Diplomas
- Home Schooling in New York – with supporting documentation from the local superintendent. The local public-school superintendent must submit a Letter of Substantial Equivalency (LSE) confirming that the candidate completed the substantial equivalent of a four-year high school course in compliance with 8 CRR-NY 100.10. This document must be sent directly by the school district to: TCERT@nysed.gov with “High School Equivalency” in the subject line and the letter must contain the candidate’s full name (as it appears in TEACH) and either their date of birth or the last four digits of their SSN.
- Online High School Diploma. To be acceptable, the high school must appear in the Distance Education Accreditation Commission’s Directory of Accredited Institutions. Transcripts indicating the conferral of a high school diploma must be submitted to the Office of Teaching by the school. Transcripts submitted by the applicant will not be accepted.
GED Completed Outside NY
In order to request an out-of-state GED, you must contact the State Education Department where you received your GED. We will accept it in the following methods:
- Via email to transcriptsoti@nysed.gov, by the high school/organization only.
- Through a third-party transcript service.
- Mailed to our office via USPS in an envelope sealed by the high school/organization only. Send to the address listed above.
For high school diplomas completed outside the U.S., please see our foreign credentials webpage.
Note: The name on all documentation must match the name on your TEACH account, which must be your full legal name as presented on your government issued ID. If you have been known by any other names, you must request the change be made in your TEACH account or the documents will not be associated. To add or change your name, please use this link to begin the process: Name Change Requests |
|
**Supporting documents must be in .JPG or .PDF format. We cannot open compressed files (example: .HEIC, .ZIP), or cloud files (example: Dropbox, iCloud, Google Drive)** |