HiSET-Proficiency has updated its systems to accommodate an increasing number of students who can take a California Proficiency Program (CPP) test. Please refer to the WHO CAN TAKE A PROFICIENCY TEST section below for more information.
PSI has reported longer-than-expected delays in completing eligibility verifications due to demand on the registration system.
Reviews and approvals of eligibility applications may take up to four weeks. Accurate test taker details and appropriate required documentation will expedite the review and approval process. If any student information or documentation is missing, approvals will be denied or delayed. The student’s eligibility approval letter may be emailed to the address provided on your application (see California Proficiency | The HiSET Exam for additional information).
About the Test
Registration is now open for the California Proficiency Program (CPP)! Please visit the HiSET-Proficiency registration page
for further instructions.
The CPP has replaced the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE) established by California Education Code Section 48412. The CPP utilizes the State Board of Education approved GED® or HiSET® subtests for language arts and mathematics to measure proficiency.
Students may take the CPP with paper-pencil or on a computer at a testing center, or at home, online, with live proctoring. (Note: paper-pencil tests are only available at testing centers). The CPP tests are offered in English and Spanish.
HiSET-Proficiency will be the first test in the new CPP. To prepare for the HiSET-Proficiency, please visit the HiSET Test Prep Resources
webpage to access prep materials to study for the mathematics and language arts subtests. Both vendors provide a list of testing accommodations, test specifications, and testing locations on their webpages.
After passing the language arts and mathematics subtests of the proficiency program, the student will earn a State Board of Education issued Certificate of Proficiency which is the legal equivalent to a high school diploma issued by the state of California. After passing the CPP, the student may choose to remain in high school or exit with a parent or guardian’s permission to begin attending higher education or their career.
For students who take computer-based tests, reading and mathematics scores are typically accessible within three business days and within five business days for the writing scores. For students who take paper-based tests, official scores are generally available within seven to ten business days after PSI receives a scoreable answer sheet. However, the writing scores are typically accessible between ten and fourteen business days after PSI receives a scoreable answer sheet.
Upon successfully completing all the subtests of the HiSET-Proficiency, students can access their eTranscripts within 48 hours through their myHiSET account. However, it may take up to 14 weeks for students to receive their California Certificate of Proficiency and Official Transcript and Score Report via mail. To ensure timely delivery of these documents, students are advised to verify and update their mailing address in their myHiSET account before taking their last subtest.
Once a student has taken the CPP, passed both language arts and mathematics subtests and exited high school, they may choose to take the remaining HiSET-Equivalency subtests in science and social studies to earn their California High School Equivalency Certificate, opening even more doors than the Certificate of Proficiency alone. Use the following link to learn more about the High School Equivalency Certificate.
Who Can Take A Proficiency Test?
Students must meet BOTH of the following criteria:
- Students must meet one of the following:
- 16 years of age or older, or
- Enrolled in grade 10 for one school year or longer, or
- Will complete one school year of enrollment in grade 10 at the end of the semester during which the next regular examination will be conducted.
- Students must also be currently subject to California’s compulsory education laws pursuant to EC Section 48200, which may be evidenced by one of the following:
- Current enrollment in a California K-12 public high school; or
- Current enrollment in a private school (Registered by filing a private school affidavit with the California Department of Education pursuant to EC Section 33190 and includes but is not limited to students at registered private schools operated by their parents to homeschool their children pursuant to EC Section 48222.); or
- Current work permit issued by the Department of Industrial Relations Division to a student currently working in California; provided that the student is either receiving tutoring pursuant to EC Section 48224 or enrolled in an independent study program under EC Section 51745, to accommodate the student’s work schedule.
Transcript Requests and Verifications
If you would like to request transcripts for the CHSPE, please complete and mail the CHSPE Transcript Request Form (PDF) to:
California Department of Education
Attn. CHSPE Office
1430 N Street Suite 4409
Sacramento, CA 95814
Stay Up-To-Date
If you would like to receive email updates about the CPP, send a blank email to join-cpp-updates@mlist.cde.ca.gov.
The Assessment Spotlight web page contains archives of all previous Assessment Spotlight emails. Send a blank email to subscribe-caaspp@mlist.cde.ca.gov to receive regular updates on the latest information about the statewide assessment system.