The most common alternative to a high school diploma is the General Educational Development (GED) certificate. GED testing includes math, language arts, reading, writing, science and social studies. Most states require GED test-takers to be at least 16. Test fees vary by state. Many high schools offer preparation classes. See References below for the American Council on Education website, where you can locate one of the thousands of GED testing centers.
An external high school diploma is similar to distance learning and is mostly for those who have already gained skills through personal or job experiences. To be eligible, you must be at least 18 and have some job-related skill. The external diploma program allows you to demonstrate high school-level skills by applying your writing, speaking, critical thinking, reading, computation, problem-solving and speaking abilities. You have to perform a real task--for example, apartment hunting--in which you demonstrate skills by reading the lease and calculating rent based on simulated salaries. These skills are then assessed to determine your comprehension and aptitude. There is no teaching involved and the work is done by the participant from home. On average, the course can take up to six months.
States such as California and Michigan offer proficiency exams in which you can achieve the equivalent of a high school diploma by passing English (language and reading) and math tests. Upon completion, you will receive a certificate of proficiency. To be eligible for the test, you must be at least 16 or have been enrolled in the 10th grade or higher. The certificate of proficiency is best suited for federal civilian employment. In California, the English test is mainly multiple choice with one writing task, and the math test is completely multiple choice. Testing takes about 3 1/2 hours.