Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
Section 4.72 - Credentials other than the high school diplomaThe requirements for a Commonwealth secondary school diploma are as follows:
(1) The Commonwealth secondary school diploma may be issued to an applicant who is a resident of this Commonwealth and does not possess a secondary school diploma upon presentation of evidence of full matriculation and the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 1 full year or 30 semester hours of study at an accredited institution of postsecondary education.(2) In addition to the provisions of paragraph (1), the Commonwealth secondary school diploma may be issued to an applicant who is a resident of this Commonwealth, does not possess a secondary school diploma and is not enrolled in a public, licensed private, registered accredited or licensed nonpublic secondary school upon earning a passing score as determined by the Department on the high school level tests of General Educational Development (GED). A person 18 years of age or older may qualify for GED testing upon request. A person between 16 and 18 years of age may qualify for GED testing upon the issuance of a court order or at the written request of one of the following:(i) An employer who requires a high school equivalency credential for job opportunities.(ii) An official of an accredited institution of postsecondary education which accepts applicants on the basis of GED test scores.(iii) A recruiting officer of a branch of the armed forces that requires a high school equivalency credential for entry of new recruits.(iv) The director of a State institution on behalf of residents, patients or inmates.(3) The Department will not ordinarily issue a diploma until after the high school class of which the applicant was a member has been graduated. This restriction may be waived by the Department upon the recommendation of the school district for persons between 16 and 18 years of age who meet the higher education or GED requirements for the secondary school diploma. This section cited in 22 Pa. Code § 4.74 (relating to students in special situations).