California Proficiency Program Information

What is the California Proficiency Program?
The California Proficiency Program (CPP, formerly CHSPE) is a program available to high schoolers to exit school early with the legal equivalent of a high school diploma. (Upon receving certification?), with parents permission, you may exit high school to pursue higher education or a career.

Who Can Take The Test?
Students must meet BOTH of the following criteria:

1) 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.

2) 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.

What does this mean?
The student must meet one qualification in both section 1 and section 2.

What is on the test?
There are three subtests. Mathematics, reading and writing.

How to take the test?
Application requirements are detailed on HiSET’s website here. For additional help, please see our video walkthrough explaining the application process (available here).

Can I receive ADA accommodation?
Yes! HiSET’s accommodations policy and processes are available here. Not all accommodations require prior approval. Accommodations requiring prior approval take approximately six weeks once documentation is received. Another six weeks could be added if additional documentation is needed, from when they receive the additional documentation.

(Test Cost? Should Include?)
+homeless waivers?

Is this an option I should consider?
We encourage you to read our insights page, along with our testimonials page to decide if it’s right for you.

What do I do once I’ve passed?
It can take up to 14 weeks for the physical California Certificate of Proficiency and Official Transcript to arrive. HiSET will produce a passing verification letter via email, sent out weekly.

If you have more questions about what direction you might want to take once you’ve passed, please take a look at our (untitled after high school page).