How to Obtain a Copy of Your High School Diploma

Going Directly to a School District or State Office

1. Find how to request a copy on your school district's website. If your school has closed down since you graduated or they could not help you, get in touch with the office of the school district. Their website should be easy to find through an Internet search.^[6]

2. Find your state's Department of Education website if you can't reach the district. Even if you can reach your school district, there's a chance they'll refer you to the Department of Education, if they handle diplomas in your state. If you'd like, you can try contacting your Department of Education before contacting your school district. The agency that handles these requests varies from place to place.^[7] Departments of education usually have websites that are easy both to find and to navigate.

3. Find the records request page if there is one. You might find this page under an unexpected heading in the site directory. On the page for the New York Department of Education, for instance, the information about requesting diplomas is under a section titled 'High School equivalency.'^[8]

   1. If you can't find the information you need by navigating the website, try a Google search for something like 'Tennessee Department of Education copy of diploma.'

4. Call or email the Department of Education if you have questions. The school district or Department of Education website should have contact information if you need additional help. Most likely, the listed number will call an administrative assistant, who can redirect you to the person you need to speak with.

5. Fill out any required forms. Once you have learned about the specific process for your school district or state, simply follow the guidelines. As with requesting a copy from your high school, there will usually be both a form you need to fill out. In most cases, it will ask you for basic information, like your name, mailing address, year of graduation, and your signature.^[9]

6. Pay the processing fee. Most of the time, the Department of Education or the school district will charge you a processing fee. Typically, it is somewhere between 5 and 15 dollars. Be prepared to provide a money order or certified check if you're mailing the forms in. You often cannot use a personal check. If you're paying online, you should be able to use a credit card.^[10]

7. Wait 2-3 weeks to receive a copy of your diploma. Almost always, this will be mailed to you. Only expect an electronic copy if you are specifically promised one. It will take the Department of Education or the school district about 2-3 weeks on average to process your request and send your copy.^[11]