[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-264618-105":59,"doc-detail-264618-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":124,"head_meta":126,"extra_data":128,"updated_unix":130},105,"en","the-difference-between-a-high-school-diploma-and-a-high-school-certificate","The Difference Between a High School Diploma and a High School Certificate","","Explains how a high school diploma and a high school certificate differ, noting that rules vary by state. Summarizes what each credential means for graduation and eligibility, including typical graduation requirements, exam expectations, and flexibility around curriculum and IEP goals. Compares acceptance by the military and colleges, plus eligibility for federal student aid and general employer recognition. Highlights how modifications and accommodations can affect future options and recommends reviewing IEP goals and transition planning.",{"@graph":69,"@context":123},[70,84,106],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":20,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/the-difference-between-a-high-school-diploma-and-a-high-school-certificate/264618/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/the-difference-between-a-high-school-diploma-and-a-high-school-certificate/264618.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"WPS_1786070896","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-01","2026-09-14",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":105},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",11,{"@type":107,"mainEntity":108},"FAQPage",[109,115,119],{"name":110,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":112},"What does a high school diploma mean compared with a high school certificate?","Question",{"text":113,"@type":114},"A high school diploma means the student met all requirements for graduation. A high school certificate indicates completion of high school but not meeting all graduation requirements.","Answer",{"name":116,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":117},"What graduation requirements are typically needed for a high school diploma?",{"text":118,"@type":114},"A diploma usually requires passing grade-level English, math, social studies, science, and other classes. Some states also require a high school exit exam.",{"name":120,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":121},"Are high school certificates accepted by the military and federal student aid?",{"text":122,"@type":114},"The document states that the military accepts diplomas but not certificates, and that federal student aid for college is available for diplomas but not for certificates.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":125,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":127,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":129,"site_id":62},264618,1789384486,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":132},{"doc_id":129,"user_id":133,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":19,"category_name":20,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":105,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":14,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":130,"read_time":24},549768072016,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_155a257f0dc6eb9ab79c44ca47cae57d","The Difference Between a High School Diploma and a High School Certificate  \nAlthough laws vary by state, there are usually two ways someone can get credit for completing high school. One option is to receive a high school diploma. The other is to get a certificate.  \nCertificates can have different names depending on your state. Certificate of Completion and Certificate of Attendance are common ones. And some states offer more than one type of certificate.  \nYou may also hear about alternate diplomas, which states are allowed to offer under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) . But this diploma is intended for the 1 percent of children who have serious learning challenges.  \nIt’s important to know that certificates and high school diplomas are very different from eachother. Each can impact your child’s future in different ways. The table below compares them.  \n\n|  | High School Diploma | High School Certificate |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| What it means | A student has met all the requirements for graduation. | A student has completed high school, but didn’t meet all the requirements for graduation. |\n| What are the graduation requirements | To earn a diploma, a student typically must pass grade-level English, math, social studies, science and other classes. The number and type of class credits required vary by state.\u003Cbr>Some states also require a student to pass a high school exit exam to geta diploma. | It depends on the state and school. Unlike a diploma, the requirements are often flexible and can be tied to a student’s IEP goals. |\n| Accommodations allowed | Yes | Yes |\n| Curriculum modifications allowed | Maybe. By changing what she learns, modifications can hurt a student’s ability to earn a highschool diploma. | Yes |\n| Accepted by the military | Yes | No |\n| Accepted by colleges | Yes | Maybe. It depends on the college. |\n| Eligible for federal student aid for college | Yes | No |\n| Accepted by employers | Yes | Maybe. It depends on the employer and the job qualifications. |\n\n\n|  | High School Diploma | High School Certificate |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Similar high school credentials | 􀁸 GED certificate: This isn’t the same as a high school diploma. However, a GED is usually accepted by the military, colleges and employers, in place of a high school diploma.\u003Cbr>􀁸 Vocational diploma: A diploma for a student who achieved the required technical skills for a certain job.\u003Cbr>􀁸 Honors diploma: A special high school diploma for a student who achieved a high academic level. This usually means earning a high gradepoint average or passing advanced tests. | 􀁸 IEP or special education diploma: This kind of diploma is available for a student with an IEP (though many students with IEPs earn regular diplomas) . It has the same impact on a student’s future asa high school certificate.\u003Cbr>􀁸 Certificate of Attendance, Certificate of Completion or Certificate of Achievement: Different names for a certificate. |\n\nKnowing the difference between a high school diploma and a high school certificate of completion is important to your child’s future. If your child has an IEP, think carefully before you agree to modifications. They may impact her ability to get a diploma.  \nSee a chart that shows the difference between accommodations and modifications, and see common examples of each. Also, it may help to review your child’s IEP goals to keep her on track for graduation. Read about IEP transition planning, too.  \nBy Andrew M.I. Lee [Understood.org](Understood.org)","cbCaikNgF9EHwovn","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaikNgF9EHwovn","pdf",178790,"English","# High School Diploma vs. High School Certificate\n## What They Mean\n## Graduation Requirements\n## Acceptance and Eligibility\n## Similar Credentials and Related Options","[{\"question\":\"What does a high school diploma mean compared with a high school certificate?\",\"answer\":\"A high school diploma means the student met all requirements for graduation. A high school certificate indicates completion of high school but not meeting all graduation requirements.\"},{\"question\":\"What graduation requirements are typically needed for a high school diploma?\",\"answer\":\"A diploma usually requires passing grade-level English, math, social studies, science, and other classes. Some states also require a high school exit exam.\"},{\"question\":\"Are high school certificates accepted by the military and federal student aid?\",\"answer\":\"The document states that the military accepts diplomas but not certificates, and that federal student aid for college is available for diplomas but not for certificates.\"}]","The Difference Between a High School Diploma and a High School Certificate | PDF"]