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After Passing Your GED

What Happens After Passing the GED?

After earning your GED, you’ll immediately receive an official digital transcript and diploma via email, which you can download and share with colleges or employers. You can also request a printed diploma, receive a free college class, attend a graduation ceremony, and explore next steps with a Navigator.

Getting Your Digital Transcript & Diploma

As soon as you pass your GED test, you will receive a secure, electronic PDF document delivered to your email that contains your official transcript and diploma. You will have 60 days to download and save the documents. During the 60 days, you may download them seven times for free. Make sure you keep both physical and digital copies in your personal files.

Additional OFFICIAL documents can be sent to colleges, training centers, employers, etc., through GED.com. Log on to your account to order these. The GED testing office does not hold transcript and certificate records.

Order a Free Printed Diploma

You should order your printed diploma using your GED.com account. The free diploma link in your account can only be used one time.

  • Go to GED.com and log in
  • Navigate to My Scores
  • Select the Order Duplicates link
  • Select Diploma option
  • Select the Printed Diploma – Free option
  • Fill in who and what address you want the diploma to be mailed to
  • Carefully follow the instructions presented during the ordering process

Purchase Additional Copies of Your Transcript & Diploma

  • Go to ged.com/life_after_ged
  • Carefully read and follow instructions.
  • There is a small fee you for the copies that you will have to pay with a credit card.

To place an order by phone, call Parchment Exchange Customer Support at 888-906-4031.

Receive FREE Tuition!

Once you have successfully completed your GED test, you earn a 4-credit-hour scholarship that you can use toward college classes at Calhoun or any Alabama state community college. To receive credit for the free class, take a copy of your transcript to the Business Office at either Calhoun location or other school business office:

In Decatur: Business Office, Math Science Admin Bldg. 3rd Floor, 256-306-2540

In Huntsville: Business Office, Sparkman Bldg., Room 105, 256-890-4727

Attend the GED Graduation Ceremony in May

Students passing the GED exam are eligible to participate in the GED cap-and-gown graduation ceremony held each year in May.  For more information, contact Adult Education ar 256-306-2536 or 256-890-4793

Get Counseling on Exploring Your Next Steps

After receiving your GED, you can speak to an Adult Education Navigator about college and career choices. They can help you consider what to do next. We have listed some of your options below.

Huntsville: Nickolas Kaparos, 256-713-4808, nickolas.kaparos@calhoun.edu

Decatur: Aprille Flemons, 256-306-2963, aprille.flemons@calhoun.edu

What Are My Options After I Pass the GED?

Having your GED can open many doors of opportunity for you. Consider the following:

College degrees

Consider Calhoun’s many options including business and IT, healthcare, humanities, technologies, arts, math and science.
Explore Academic Programs at Calhoun

Job Training

Calhoun’s Workforce Solutions offers non-credit training programs such as CDL Truck Driving, Industrial Training, or Healthcare Training.

Explore Career Training available at Calhoun

The Alabama Workforce Investment Act (WIOA)

WIOA is a grant program that may provide financial assistance for training programs through Calhoun Workforce Solutions. For more information, contact your local Alabama Career Center.
Find a Career Center

US Military

Contact your local recruiter for Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Navy service.