High School Diplomas
The General Educational Development (GED) program was developed to give U.S. and Canadian citizens who have not graduated from high school the opportunity to demonstrate the level of achievement normally acquired through the completion of a traditional U.S./Canadian high school course of study. The four GED comprehensive examinations cover Reasoning Through Language Arts, Mathematical Reasoning, Social Studies, and Science.
To locate a testing center, visit the American Council on Education (ACE) website. It provides a mechanism to search locations in foreign countries using an advanced search.
Civilians who want to take the test at a U.S. military base, or if there is not a center close by, contact:
Manager of International Testing or Director
Data and Scoring Services GED International Testing Service
1 Dupont Circle NW, Suite 10, Washington, DC 20036-1163
202-939-9490
College-Level Examination Program
The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) serves high school students, enrolled college students, international students, and adults returning to college. It is designed for students to receive college credit for knowledge learned outside the classroom. The heart of CLEP is a series of examinations rewarding students for what they know, whether they learned it in school, on the job, through reading, by observation, or in the course of life experiences.
- Visit the College Board website to:
- Learn practice tips .
- Find test centers and testing schedules .
- Search institution policies and lists of colleges that award CLEP credits.
Adult Education Opportunities Abroad
For information on courses offered by universities and colleges abroad or other education options available at post, contact the Community Liaison Office (CLO) Coordinator or the Human Resources Officer at the embassy or consulate.
- Professional Development Fellowship (PDF) Program – Open to spouses and partners of direct-hire U.S. government employees from all agencies serving overseas under Chief of Mission authority, the Professional Development Fellowship (PDF) program supports EFMs in their efforts to maintain, enhance, and/or develop their professional skills while overseas.
- FinAid.org – In-State Tuition and State Residency Requirements
Scholarships
- The Global Community Liaison Office’s (GCLO) Professional Development Fellowship (PDF) program supports spouses and partners in their efforts to develop, maintain, and/or refresh their professional skills while overseas. The program is open to spouses and partners of direct-hire U.S. government employees from all agencies serving overseas under Chief of Mission authority. Please see GCLO’s Professional Development Fellowship webpage for details or email GCLOAskPDF@state.gov.
- The DACOR Bacon House Foundation offers The Sherry Barndollar Rock Scholarship grant up to $4,000 for tuition annually to the spouses and partners of Foreign Service employees assigned abroad to pursue educational goals which may have been disrupted by the spouse’s Foreign Service career. For more information and to apply by the January 31, 2023 application deadline, visit dacorbacon.org/sherry_barndollar_rock_scholar.
Federal Employees and Family Members Education Discounts
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has entered into several agreements providing federal employees and their families with reduced tuition rates. Please note that eligibility requirements and rates vary by program; visit the university websites for details.
- American University
- Bellevue University
- Catholic University of America Metropolitan School of Professional Studies
- Central Michigan University World Campus
- Champlain College
- College for America at Southern New Hampshire University
- Colorado State University Global
- Columbia College
- Drexel University Online
- Excelsior College
- Florida Institute of Technology
- Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies
- Marist College
- Michigan State University
- Pace University (iPace Program)
- Park University
- Penn State University World Campus
- Purdue University and Purdue University Global
- Rosemont College
- Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
- University of Louisville
- University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
- University of Maryland (UMD) Robert H. Smith School of Business
- University of Maryland Global Campus
- Utica College
- Villanova University Colleges of Professional Studies and Liberal Arts and Sciences
More Information About State Colleges and Universities
- DC Higher Education Licensure Commission (HELC)
810 1st Street NE, Ninth Floor, Washington, DC 20002
202-727-6436 - State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
James Monroe Building
101 North 14th Street Richmond, VA 23219
804-225-2600 - Maryland Higher Education Commission
Jeffrey Building 16 Francis Street Annapolis, MD 21401-1781
410-260-4500
Disclaimer
Listings of private entities on this page are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department State or the U.S. government of the entity, its views or the products or services it provides. The order in which names appear has no significance, and the links may be removed at any time at the discretion of the Department.