How to Obtain a Copy of Your High School Diploma

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It’s easy to lose or damage your high school diploma. If this has happened to you, you should be able to replace it easily enough. Sometimes you can get a new copy directly from your school, and other times you might have to contact a school district office or your state’s Department of Education. Once you’ve found the right agency, you’ll usually need to fill out a form and pay a fee. Then you’ll typically have your new diploma in 2-3 weeks!

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Contacting Your High School

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  1. Search the name of your school online, being as specific as possible. Some high school names are not unique, so adding information about the location of your school can help you find the right website. The website may have a page for information about requesting student records. [1]
  2. Your school’s website may not have a page for requesting records, but it will have details about contacting them. If your school has a registrar, contact them directly. [2] If not, get in touch with an administrative assistant and ask them to point you in the right direction.
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  3. Some schools issue copies of diplomas themselves, but others do not. In those cases, you will be directed to a different agency, most likely a school district office or a state’s Department of Education. If you can request a copy from the school, they will explain the process to you. [3]
  4. You may have to fill out an official request form, either in paper or online. Commonly, these ask for just some basic information, such as your name, address, date of graduation, and signature. If you now live in a different city or state, you can either print the forms from the Internet or request to have them mailed to you.
  5. Expect to pay a small fee to get your copy, usually somewhere between 5 and 15 dollars. If you’re mailing in the official request, expect to need either a money order or certified check, rather than a basic personal check. [4] Online systems usually accept credit or debit cards. [5]
  6. Diploma copies are almost always sent by mail. Do not expect to receive an electronic copy unless you’re told otherwise. Plan to wait between 2 and 3 weeks on average for your request to be processed and delivered. Your school should be able to tell you the average processing time.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Going Directly to a School District or State Office

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  1. 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. 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. 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.”
    • 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. 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. 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. [8]
  6. 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. [9]
  7. 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. [10]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can you get a high school diploma after dropping out?
    Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed.
    Educational Consultant
    Alexander Ruiz is an Educational Consultant and the Educational Director of Link Educational Institute, a tutoring business based in Claremont, California that provides customizable educational plans, subject and test prep tutoring, and college application consulting. With over a decade and a half of experience in the education industry, Alexander coaches students to increase their self-awareness and emotional intelligence while achieving skills and the goal of achieving skills and higher education. He holds a BA in Psychology from Florida International University and an MA in Education from Georgia Southern University.
    Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed.
    Educational Consultant
    Expert Answer
    The easiest way would be to get your GED, which is a different type of diploma for students who are nontraditional high school graduates. At the end of the day, you'd take different types of courses at your pace (or at the pace of a program) so you can get your diploma in a nontraditional way.
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    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2
  • Question
    How can I translate my diploma to English?
    Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed.
    Educational Consultant
    Alexander Ruiz is an Educational Consultant and the Educational Director of Link Educational Institute, a tutoring business based in Claremont, California that provides customizable educational plans, subject and test prep tutoring, and college application consulting. With over a decade and a half of experience in the education industry, Alexander coaches students to increase their self-awareness and emotional intelligence while achieving skills and the goal of achieving skills and higher education. He holds a BA in Psychology from Florida International University and an MA in Education from Georgia Southern University.
    Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed.
    Educational Consultant
    Expert Answer
    You don't typically have to translate your diploma—it's more of a document of proof that you've accomplished something. In most instances when you're trying to prove that you have a diploma, they're going to ask for a transcript from the schools you graduated from. With this in mind, it's better to either translate your transcripts or have your transcripts with you so you can share them with the right party.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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  • Question
    How can I get a copy of my high school diploma which I achieved in a different country?
    Spaceship
    Community Answer
    You will have to contact your former country’s department/ministry of education to ask for a copy of your high school diploma.
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      Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about getting a copy of a diploma, check out our in-depth interview with Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed. .

      References

      1. ↑ https://dcps.dc.gov/service/request-transcripts-and-diplomas
      2. ↑ https://dcps.dc.gov/service/request-transcripts-and-diplomas
      3. ↑ https://helpdesk.tea.texas.gov/GEDCertificateofHighSchoolEquivalencyTxCHSE/kbadetails/?id=3fcd691e-757f-45eb-9d2b-ac34c4226d08
      4. ↑ https://samedaydiplomas.com/blogs/news/how-to-get-a-copy-of-your-high-school-diploma-replaced-for-a-job
      5. ↑ https://samedaydiplomas.com/blogs/news/how-to-get-a-copy-of-your-high-school-diploma-replaced-for-a-job
      6. ↑ https://samedaydiplomas.com/blogs/news/how-to-get-a-copy-of-your-high-school-diploma-replaced-for-a-job
      7. ↑ https://samedaydiplomas.com/blogs/news/how-to-get-a-copy-of-your-high-school-diploma-replaced-for-a-job
      8. ↑ https://study.com/academy/popular/how-to-get-a-copy-of-your-high-school-diploma.html
      9. ↑ https://classroom.synonym.com/copy-high-school-diploma-online-8722400.html
      1. ↑ https://classroom.synonym.com/copy-high-school-diploma-online-8722400.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you’ve lost or damaged your high school diploma, you can easily obtain a new copy. If your high school has a website, look for an online record request. If you can’t find one, call or email your school to request a copy of your diploma. You may have to fill out an official form and you’ll usually have to pay a small processing fee. Alternatively, you can request a copy of your diploma directly from your school district or your state’s Department of Education websites. If you can’t find a records request page, call or email the district or Department of Education. Whichever method you use, you should receive your diploma by mail within a few weeks. For more tips, including how to locate the records request page on your state’s Department of Education website, read on.

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