Working as a professional in any industry will likely require you to provide proof of education. Whether that be a high school diploma, GED, college transcripts or college diploma, you will need to obtain these documents in order to be hired. Working as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) is no different. For this position, you will need to provide at least one form of proof of education to become a certified peer provider. Locating your diploma, transcripts or GED can often be a barrier to completing your certification, so we wanted to walk you through this process. In this post, we will outline several ways you can obtain your proof of education today to help streamline your employment process.
What is Proof of Education, and Why Does a CPRS Need It?
As a CPRS working in the recovery industry, proof of education can be any of the following:
- High school diploma
- GED
- Postsecondary (college) Degrees (associate, bachelor’s or graduate)
- College transcripts
- Postsecondary (college) diploma
For this position specifically, no officially requested transcript is required. For example, you could take a picture of a diploma and upload this as proof of education.
Why Does it Matter?
Proof of education tells employers that you are a responsible employee. It demonstrates that you are self-disciplined, capable of setting goals and achieving them, and can see a project through to completion.
How to Find Your Transcripts, Diploma or GED
First and foremost, decide which transcript you need. Do you have a high school diploma, or did you later go back for your GED? Is there a college diploma hanging around your home? If you have a physical copy of your diploma or transcripts – this is all you need. Take a picture that can be uploaded during your registration and you’re good to go!
If you don’t have a physical copy – don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few ways that you can find your transcripts:
Start by contacting your High School
Look up the name of your high school and call the number listed. Once you call, tell them you are trying to get a copy of your high school diploma and ask them if there is anyone you should speak with directly. They can assist you with getting in contact with the correct person to provide you with this information.
*Let them know that you need a copy as soon as possible – they will direct you further.
Contact the organization that issued your GED
If you received your GED in the state of Minnesota, the organization that issued your GED is the Minnesota Department of Education. To request an additional copy of your GED, fill out this form.
If you received your GED in a state other than Minnesota, look up, “(state name here) department of education” and once on the site type in, “request copy of GED”. This should lead you to the correct page to request a copy of your GED.
If the options above do not work, try out this website that locates your information for you
Once you visit this website, type the name of the school in the search bar. Once you click into the school, you will be brought to this page:
Click on the “New Learner Account” option:
Next, you will fill out the required information:
Once you create your account you will be sent a verification email, verify your account with the link provided. Once your account is verified you will be brought back to your Parchment account page where you will enter your school information.
After this, just follow the remaining instructions to obtain your transcripts.
If needed, you can ask your trainer on the first day of class for assistance with obtaining your proof of education.
Why Do I Need This Now?
This post is meant to give you a jump start on your certification process. We want to ensure that you are able to start working as soon as possible. Having your proof of education will streamline the certification process greatly. If you are able to locate your education records before the end of your training class, you’re able to schedule your certification immediately following your completion of the class. We’re looking forward to having you as part of our team!
Learn More About Working as a CPRS
If you’re looking for more information about working as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, look no further! We wrote an entire post on what a day-in-the-life of a CPRS looks like here.