Whether you earned your degree decades ago or just recently graduated, there are many legitimate reasons why you might need more than one copy of your diploma. From displaying your credentials in multiple locations to protecting your original document, duplicate diplomas serve practical purposes for professionals across all industries.
This guide explains everything you need to know about obtaining duplicate diplomas, including why people need them, your available options, and how to ensure you get accurate, high-quality replacements.
Why You Might Need a Duplicate Diploma
The need for duplicate diplomas is more common than many people realize. Here are some of the most frequent scenarios:
Professional Display Requirements
Many professionals maintain offices in multiple locations or work from both a corporate office and a home office. Displaying your educational credentials in both spaces demonstrates your qualifications to clients, colleagues, and business partners. A duplicate diploma allows you to present your achievements professionally in each location without moving your original document back and forth.
Medical professionals, attorneys, accountants, and consultants often face this situation. When clients visit either your professional office or meet with you at a home office, seeing your credentials displayed prominently helps establish trust and credibility.
Protecting Your Original Document
Original diplomas are irreplaceable historical documents. The signatures, seals, and paper used when you graduated cannot be perfectly recreated years later, even by your original institution. Many diploma holders choose to keep their original safely stored in a secure location, such as a safe deposit box or fireproof home safe, while displaying a duplicate diploma in their office.
This approach protects against damage from sunlight exposure, humidity, accidental spills, or other environmental factors that can degrade documents over time. If something happens to your displayed copy, your original remains safe and intact.
Relocation and Multiple Residences
Professionals who maintain multiple residences, travel frequently for work, or relocate internationally sometimes need diplomas available in different locations. Rather than transporting your original diploma repeatedly, which increases the risk of loss or damage, having duplicate copies provides convenience and security.
Corporate Requirements
Some employers require physical copies of diplomas for credential verification, HR files, or professional licensing boards. Rather than submitting your irreplaceable original to an employer or licensing body, a duplicate diploma can fulfill these administrative requirements while keeping your original secure.
Understanding Your Options for Duplicate Diplomas
When you need a duplicate diploma, you have several pathways to consider. Each option has different timelines, costs, and levels of authenticity.
Option 1: Contact Your Original Institution
Your first option is always to contact the registrar's office at your original educational institution. Most schools maintain permanent records and can issue official replacement diplomas to verified alumni.
Advantages:
- Considered the most official route
- Suitable for situations requiring verified credentials
- Maintains exact institutional details
Disadvantages:
- Can take 6-12 weeks or longer to process
- Schools may charge substantial fees ranging from $25 to $200 or more
- Some institutions, particularly older or closed schools, may no longer issue replacements
- May not match your original design if the school has changed diploma formats
Process:
Contact your school's registrar office, verify your identity and graduation date, submit required documentation and payment, then wait for processing and shipping. For those who need information about how to get a copy of your high school diploma through official channels, the process varies by state and school district.
Option 2: Professional Diploma Replacement Services
Professional diploma companies specialize in creating accurate reproductions of diplomas from any institution. These services can produce duplicate diplomas that match the exact design, layout, and details of your original document.
Advantages:
- Fast turnaround time, often within days
- Can replicate diplomas from any school, including closed institutions
- Match historical diploma designs that may no longer be issued
- Affordable pricing
- Ideal for personal display purposes
Disadvantages:
- Not suitable for official verification purposes
-
Clearly marked as reproductions
Professional services can create diplomas for display purposes while your original remains protected. These duplicates are particularly valuable when you need the exact historical design of your diploma, which your institution may no longer produce.
Option 3: Custom Diploma Creation
For unique situations, custom diploma services can create documents matching your specifications. This option works well when you need a duplicate that matches an older diploma format or when dealing with institutions that have closed or merged.
How to Order a Duplicate Diploma
The process for obtaining a duplicate diploma depends on your chosen method, but generally follows these steps:
Step 1: Gather Your Information
Before ordering a duplicate diploma, collect the following information:
- Your full name as it appeared on your original diploma
- Institution name (exactly as shown on your diploma)
- Degree type (Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, etc.)
- Major or field of study
- Graduation date (month and year)
- Any honors or distinctions (cum laude, magna cum laude, etc.)
Having your original diploma or a photo of it helps ensure accuracy in all details.
Step 2: Choose Your Format and Size
Diplomas come in various sizes depending on the institution and degree level. Common sizes include:
- 8.5" × 11" (standard high school and some colleges)
- 11" × 14" (common for bachelor's degrees)
- 11" × 17" (common for advanced degrees)
-
14" × 17" (used by some universities)
Measure your original diploma or check with your institution to determine the correct size for an accurate duplicate.
Step 3: Select Paper and Printing Options
Quality duplicate diplomas use specialty paper that resembles traditional diploma parchment. Options typically include:
- Parchment paper with textured finish
- Cream or ivory colored stock
- Heavyweight paper (typically 28-32 lb)
For the most authentic appearance, choose papers and printing methods that closely match your original document's characteristics.
Step 4: Review Before Final Production
Reputable diploma replacement services provide proofs or previews before final production. Carefully review all text, including:
- Spelling of your name
- Institution name and any Latin phrases
- Degree title and major
- Dates
- Formatting and layout
This review step prevents errors that would require reordering.
Displaying Your Duplicate Diplomas
Once you have your duplicate diplomas, proper display protects your investment and presents your credentials professionally.
Frame Selection
Choose frames that:
- Match or coordinate between your office and home locations
- Include UV-protective glass to prevent fading
- Properly fit your diploma size with appropriate matting
- Complement your office or home décor while maintaining professional appearance
Placement Considerations
For Professional Offices:
Position your diploma at eye level in a location visible to clients and visitors but not directly behind your desk where it might appear boastful. Common locations include the wall adjacent to your desk or in a reception area.
For Home Offices:
Display credentials in your primary meeting space where video calls take place or where clients might visit. Ensure adequate lighting that doesn't create glare on the frame glass.
Maintenance
Even duplicate diplomas require basic care:
- Dust frames regularly
- Keep away from direct sunlight
- Maintain moderate humidity levels
- Avoid hanging above heat sources
When you need to obtain college diplomas or other educational credentials for display, proper framing and placement ensure they remain presentable for years.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Understanding the proper use of duplicate diplomas is essential.
Appropriate Uses
Duplicate diplomas are entirely appropriate for:
- Personal display in offices and homes
- Showing credentials to clients and colleagues
- Protecting your original diploma from damage
- Maintaining professional appearance in multiple locations
Inappropriate Uses
Never use duplicate diplomas for:
- Fraudulent credential verification
- Official employment background checks requiring original documents
- Licensing applications demanding certified copies
- Any purpose involving misrepresentation of your educational background
Always be truthful about your educational history. Duplicate diplomas serve as display copies of credentials you legitimately earned, not as tools for deception.
Cost Considerations
The cost of duplicate diplomas varies significantly based on your chosen method:
Official Institution Replacements: $25-$200+, plus potential notarization or processing fees
Professional Replacement Services: Typically $50-$150, depending on size, customization, and turnaround time
Framing: $30-$300+, depending on frame quality and custom matting
When comparing costs, factor in not just the price but also timing, accuracy, and whether the diploma format matches your original.
Timeline Expectations
How quickly you can obtain a duplicate diploma depends on your chosen method:
Through Your Institution:
- Initial contact and verification: 1-2 weeks
- Processing time: 4-8 weeks
- Shipping: 1-2 weeks
- Total time: 6-12 weeks or more
Professional Replacement Services:
- Order placement and design: 1-2 days
- Production time: 3-7 days
- Shipping: 2-5 days
- Total time: 1-2 weeks
For time-sensitive needs, professional services offer significant advantages. If you need to order diploma online quickly, professional replacement services can often deliver within days rather than months.
Special Situations
Some circumstances require additional consideration when obtaining duplicate diplomas.
Closed or Merged Institutions
If your school has closed or merged with another institution, obtaining official replacements becomes more complicated. Records may have transferred to a state archive, another school, or a records management company. Professional diploma services can often replicate diplomas from closed schools more easily than navigating complex bureaucratic processes.
Name Changes
If your legal name has changed since graduation due to marriage, divorce, or other reasons, you have options:
- Request your diploma with your original name as it appears on records
- Have your institution update records and issue a diploma with your new name (may require legal documentation)
- Order a duplicate that matches your original for display purposes
International Degrees
For degrees earned internationally, translation and format differences may complicate replacement orders. Professional services experienced with international credentials can help recreate accurate duplicates of diplomas from foreign institutions.
Damaged Original Diplomas
If your original diploma is damaged but still readable, photograph it from multiple angles before seeking a replacement. These photos help ensure your duplicate matches the original exactly. For severely damaged diplomas, professional restoration might be possible before creating duplicates.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get a duplicate diploma?
The timeline varies by method. Official replacements from your institution typically take 6-12 weeks, while professional diploma replacement services can deliver within 1-2 weeks.
Can I get a duplicate diploma if my school closed?
Yes. Professional diploma services can create accurate duplicates even if your institution no longer exists. You'll need information from your original diploma or transcripts to ensure accuracy.
Is it legal to have duplicate diplomas made?
Yes, obtaining duplicate diplomas for personal display is completely legal. These are reproductions of credentials you legitimately earned. However, using any diploma fraudulently to misrepresent your educational background is illegal.
Will a duplicate diploma look exactly like my original?
Professional diploma services can match the design, layout, and details of your original diploma very closely. However, note that if you order from your original institution years after graduation, the current diploma format may differ from your historical original.
How much does a duplicate diploma cost?
Costs range from $50-$150 for professional replacement services, or $25-$200+ through your original institution. Framing adds additional cost.
Can I get duplicate diplomas for both my office and home?
Absolutely. Many professionals order multiple copies specifically for this purpose. Some services offer discounts for multiple copies of the same diploma.
Conclusion
Obtaining duplicate diplomas for your work office and home is a practical solution that allows you to display your educational achievements professionally in multiple locations while protecting your original documents. Whether you choose to work through your original institution or use a professional replacement service, having accurate duplicate diplomas ensures your credentials remain visible and presentable wherever you conduct business.
For more information about diploma replacement options, visit our comprehensive FAQ guide to find answers to additional questions about the process, pricing, and timelines.
