You can order an official copy of a GED diploma from the program that holds your scores. For most people who passed the GED test on or after January 1, 2014, that order starts inside a GED.com account. The diploma and the transcript are separate documents, and your state decides which ones you can buy.
There are two ways to get a GED document back in hand. For a job, college, or the military, you need the official copy, which comes from GED.com or your state education office. If you want a certificate to display or keep as a memento, Same Day Diplomas offers replica fake GED certificates for display and entertainment only. A replica is not an official GED diploma or transcript and cannot be used as proof of your credential. The steps below cover the official path.
If you are deciding which document a form wants, read diploma vs. transcript first.
How Do I Get a Copy of My GED Diploma?
Sign in to the account tied to your test, choose the document your state offers, and send it to yourself or to the school or employer that asked for it.
Step 1: Determine where you earned your GED
The path depends on the test and the year.
- GED test on or after January 1, 2014: Use GED.com. Orders go through Parchment from My Scores, then Order Duplicates.
- GED test before January 1, 2014: The state education agency that ran the program often still holds the record. Start with that state’s high school equivalency office, not a new test registration.
- HiSET or TASC: Those are different high school equivalency tests. Order from the program and state that issued them. A GED.com login will not have those scores.
Step 2: Locate your GED records
Gather the name you used on test day, your date of birth, the state, and the approximate year. The email on the old account matters if you still have it. If you cannot sign in, use account recovery on GED.com before you create a second account.
Step 3: Submit your request
After you sign in:
- Open My Scores.
- Select Order Duplicates.
- Choose diploma, certificate, or transcript. You only see the types your jurisdiction sells.
- Choose the recipient. Search for a college or employer, enter one that is not listed, or send it to yourself.
- Review the order and pay. You get a confirmation email and an order number.
GED Testing Service says that if the system finds your record, the document is sent within 24 hours. If it finds no record, or more than one, a person searches and may email you for more detail. You can add another document type before you submit, but each type is its own item.
Step 4: Verify your identity
Ordering your own document is tied to your GED account. Use the legal name on the test record. Do not share your password so someone else can place the order. If a college, employer, or agency needs to request the credential, they use the third-party order option on GED.com, not your login.
Step 5: Receive your official diploma or transcript
Electronic delivery is the fastest option when the recipient can accept it. If a school is in the Parchment network, electronic may be the only choice. Paper is slower. GED.com says most printed diploma or transcript orders take about 1 to 2 days to process and mail, and the full wait can run up to two weeks once shipping is included. Save any electronic file as soon as it arrives.
What Information Will You Need?
Have this ready before you start the order. It keeps the request from being held for a manual search.
Personal information
- Full name used when you tested, including a prior name if it has changed
- Date of birth
- A phone number and an email you can open
GED testing information
- State where you tested
- Approximate year, and the testing center if you know it
- Whether the credential was GED, HiSET, or TASC
Identification requirements
Your account is the usual check when you order your own copy. If the record cannot be matched, the support team asks for more information by email. Have a photo ID available in case they request it. Third-party orders follow the separate form on GED.com.
How Long Does It Take to Get a GED Diploma Copy?
Standard processing times
When the account finds your record, GED Testing Service says the document goes out within 24 hours. Printed copies then wait on mail. Plan on up to two weeks if someone needs the paper in hand. Electronic files should be downloaded and stored, because that message is your official copy.
Faster options
Choose electronic delivery when the college or employer will accept it. That skips print and shipping. There is no separate rush path that replaces the issuer. A decorative print from a shop does not speed up an official order, and it is not a substitute while you wait.
What If You Can't Find Your GED Records?
Contact your state GED office
Search for your state’s high school equivalency or GED transcript office. That is the right office for tests taken before 2014, and for states that keep their own rules about which paper documents they issue. Ask which years they hold and which name the record is under.
Use your GED account or the testing provider
For 2014 and later, stay with GED.com and the order status in your account. If the search fails, reply to the email from the credential team with the year, state, and any prior name. If you took HiSET, start at the HiSET site or your state office instead.
While you sort out the official file, keep using the wording on forms exactly. Do not send a novelty print and describe it as a GED diploma or score report.
Frequently Asked Questions About GED Diploma Copies
Can I order multiple copies?
Yes. You can order a diploma and a transcript, and you can send a document to more than one place. Each document is typically its own fee. The price on the payment screen is the one that applies to your state.
Can someone else request my GED diploma?
A college, employer, or other third party can use the third-party order page on GED.com. They should not use your username and password. If you want the copy yourself, order it from your own account and choose Send to Yourself.
How much does a GED diploma copy cost?
There is no single national price. States set the fee, and a printed copy can add shipping. Some states sell a transcript and not a paper diploma. The order screen shows the choices and the cost before you pay.
Is my GED diploma different from my GED transcript?
Yes. The diploma or certificate shows that you earned high school equivalency. The transcript lists the subject tests and scores. Colleges that ask for scores need the transcript.
How to Get Your GED Records
Get the copy from the program that tested you. For a GED passed in 2014 or later, that is GED.com: My Scores, then Order Duplicates. For an older test, call the state office that held the record. Save the electronic file, and order the transcript as well if a school or employer asked for scores. If you want a certificate for display rather than an official record, browse our replica GED certificates at Same Day Diplomas. They are novelty pieces, not official GED documents. For more information, visit our GED FAQs for answers to other common questions, or see whether a GED is the same as a high school diploma.
