{{Short description|Alternative to high school diploma and GED}} The '''High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED)'''<ref>{{citation|url=http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/HSED|publisher=Farlex|title=HSED|journal=The Free Dictionary|accessdate=2009-06-24}}</ref> or '''High School Equivalency Program (HEP)'''<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.ed.gov/programs/hep/index.html|accessdate=2009-06-24|publisher=U.S. Department of Education|title=Migrant Education--High School Equivalency Program |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630021931/http://www2.ed.gov/programs/hep/index.html |archive-date=June 30, 2010}}</ref> is an alternative education program to earning a high school diploma or passing the GED. Sometimes it can be synonymous.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.education.alberta.ca/students/grad/hsed.aspx|publisher=Government of Alberta|accessdate=2009-06-24|page=About High School Equivalency Diploma}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> When spelled ''HSed'', it can mean ''home schooled''.

In some places, such as Wisconsin, the ''HSED'' is equivalent to a high school diploma because the Department of Public Instruction awards the credential. It is different from the GED, which only certifies the individual has the equivalent of a traditional high school education. Similar programs can be found in other states such as California.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.chspe.net/about/|publisher=Sacramento County Office of Education |title=California High School Proficiency Examination|accessdate=2009-06-24|page=About the Test}}</ref> There are five ways to achieve the HSED according to the Wisconsin State Law establishing the HSED:<ref name="Wisconsin Public Education">{{citation |title=Opening Doors:High School Equivalency Program or GEDCertificate |publisher=Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction |url=http://dpi.wi.gov/ged_hsed/pdf/gedhsed.pdf |accessdate=2009-06-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802053106/http://www.dpi.wi.gov/ged_hsed/pdf/gedhsed.pdf |archivedate=2009-08-02}}</ref>

:*PI 5.05 - Take the GED tests and pass three other skill required courses plus a career counseling section. :*PI 5.06 - Complete unfinished high school credits at a local high school or college. :*PI 5.07 - Attain 24 semester or 32 quarter credits at a university or technical college; electives are allowed. :*PI 5.08 - Have a foreign degree or diploma. :*PI 5.09 - Go through an approved special high school completion program offered by a technical college or other group.

There are currently no venues for achieving a valid GED or HSED credential online. A number of diploma mills<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.acenet.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/ged/test/Intro_TestTaker.htm|accessdate=2011-10-25|title=Introduction for GED Test-Takers|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111024202639/http://www.acenet.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/ged/test/Intro_TestTaker.htm|archivedate=2011-10-24}}</ref> claim to offer such a service, but they are unofficial and invalid.

==See also== *Distance education

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hsed}} Category:Education in the United States Category:School qualifications

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