Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Smart Horizons Career Online High School is fully accredited by Cognia/SACS/NCA/NWAC. We are also approved as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). Click here to learn more about our accreditation.

A GED or General Equivalency Diploma requires you to pay for an exam. Preparing for the exam does not always provide you with the learning opportunities you could benefit from through completing coursework. Additionally, Smart Horizons Career Online High School gives you the benefit of also earning a career certificate, completing the coursework required in many of our career areas, and completing additional job preparation documents. We encourage you to make the decision that is right for you so research all of your options so that you can make an informed decision. Also, ask friends, family, and employers what their opinion is!

For tuition, payment plans, and other related info, please visit the “Paying for School” section of the High School Diploma page.

To arm you with the tools you need to find a job, we will teach you to create essential documents, such as your resume and a cover letter.

Your Academic Coach will connect you with one of our certified instructors to provide you with additional academic support, when needed. Learn more about student support at SHCOHS!

Courses are self-paced and taught in an online learning environment available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We recommend that you dedicate 8-10 hours per week to your coursework. Your Academic Coach will help keep you on track! We also provide you with a Pace Guide that helps you move through the program by completing one credit every two weeks.

Once you are ready to start the program, our Registrar will analyze your transcripts and apply credits for any course work you completed that fulfills our credit transfer requirements. Elective credits do not apply since the electives we offer are necessary in you earning your career certification. Download the transcript request form and send it to any schools you attended in the past to request transcripts.

Yes, if you successfully passed any of the GED content areas at a Performance Level 2 or higher (145+), you are eligible for transfer credit. Visit ged.com/life_after_ged to request your GED transcript.

You can also transfer credit for HiSET subtests completed with an 8 or higher (2+ on the essay). Visit hiset.ets.org/after/request-transcript/ to request your HiSET transcript.

We offer rolling admissions, which means you can start anytime of the year–whenever it is convenient for you. Within one day of completing the enrollment process, an Admissions Advisor will provide you with all of the information you need to get started.

Depending on how many credits you transfer in, you can be on your way to earning your high school diploma in a few months. You will be given up to 18 months to complete the program.

No. All of your course material is available online! This means you always have all of your materials available anywhere you are.

While we provide you with all of the coursework you need in order to qualify for a Childcare Certification, you will find a local agency in your community to fulfill the hands-on training hours required.

When a student meets the graduation requirements, we mail their high school diploma and career certificate to the shipping address provided. While we do not host a graduation ceremony, we recommend the student celebrate this huge accomplishment with family and friends.

Because the high school diploma is Cognia/SACS/NCA/NWAC accredited, it should be accepted by many colleges and universities. However, admissions requirements are always up to an individual college. Also, if you are interested in pursuing post-secondary education within your state you should check with your state to understand the requirements. States may impose requirements for receiving state financial aid. For example, an online high school diploma may not be recognized by some colleges and universities within your state to receive financial aid. We recommend you check with the institution for any specific restrictions—this is particularly important for residents of New York and New Jersey.