Many employment positions with the City Houston require that an applicant has achieved a certain level of formal education. High school or college graduation are common requirements. Applicants may be required to submit documents to show that they have achieved either a high school diploma or a college degree.
DOCUMENTATION FOR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
Some jobs may require additional proof of education. Review the job announcement for specific requirements.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to prove that he/she meets the specific education requirements listed on the announcement for a specific examination.
Applicants may verify completion of high school or its equivalent by presenting one of the following:
- A High School diploma or a transcript showing high school graduation. In place of a diploma or transcript, a letter from a school official on school letterhead stationery indicating high school graduation and date is acceptable as proof of high school completion.
- GED (General Education Development) verification: To request a copy of your GED transcript or certificate visit CertificateSearch (state.tx.us).
- High School diplomas and GED must be from an institution recognized by a state accrediting agency from the issuing state, such as the Texas Education Agency (TEA), Texas Private School Accreditation Commission, or similar agencies.
- Certifications, diplomas, degrees, or other forms of education completion documents shall not be accepted from learning centers, schools, academies, or other entities deemed fraudulent or categorized as a diploma mill.
DOCUMENTATION FOR COLLEGE DEGREE
STATEMENT OF POLICY: ACCREDITATION OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
For the purpose of meeting application examination requirements, the City of Houston recognizes degrees from colleges and universities that are accredited by agencies recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE), and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
You may also wish to check the U.S. Department of Education’s database of accredited institutions and programs.
FOREIGN AND NON-ACCREDITED SCHOOLS
Applicants who possess a degree from a college or university that is not accredited as described may avail themselves of either of two options:
- Applicants may submit their education documents to any accredited United States graduate school which offers advanced training in the field of study required or implied by terms of the announcement of the examination.
From that accredited institution, applicants may obtain a written statement that their educational background qualifies them for entrance to a program of graduate studies or an official transcript from the US graduate school indicating accepted degree level.
Such statement or transcript should accompany the application for examination to the City of Houston to avoid delays.
- Alternatively, applicants may apply, for a fee, to an accredited evaluation agency for a statement of degree equivalency. The evaluation of foreign diplomas or degrees shall be at the expense of the candidate. The City of Houston does not endorse any particular service. The evaluation should accompany the application for examination to the City of Houston to avoid delays.
