Help about foreign accreditation

Hello friends. I need you advice to overcome the following problem: I'm interested in getting recruited as law enforcement cadet at the State of California. All my academic credentials are foreign (high school diploma, bachelor etc.). According to California State Law a candidate must meet the following educational requirements:

"
1. Be a high school graduate of one of the following:

a. A U.S. public school, or

b. An accredited U.S. Department of Defense high school, or

c. An accredited or approved public or nonpublic high school.

2. Pass the General Education Development (GED) test indicating high school graduation level.

3. Pass the California High School Proficiency Examination, or

4. Have attained a two-year, four-year, or advanced degree from an accredited college or university.

Any accreditation or approval shall be from a state or local government educational agency using local or state government approved accreditation, licensing, registration, or other approval standards, a regional accrediting association, an accrediting association recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education, an accrediting association holding full membership in the National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA), an organization holding full membership in the Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation (CITA), an organization holding full membership in the Council for American Private Education (CAPE), or an accrediting association recognized by the National Federation of Nonpublic School State Accrediting Associations (NFNSSAA)."

They already told me that they DON'T accept NACES or similar type of private accreditation agencies. Based on the above statute which other options do you think I have to prove the equivalency of my academic credentials to the California Law standards WITHOUT giving GED or other similar type of exams (it doesn't sound fair or logic a university degree holder to study from the scratch and give high school exams like GED). Thank you!

 

Wow! :shock: Well, there's still AACRAO... American Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers. They do foreign evaluations, or so I'm told. AACRAO International Education Services: Welcome Maybe they can help. I hope so.

Johann

 

They don't accept any private accreditation agency (NACES, AACRAO or AICE), period! It's so stupid! These accreditations are accepted from nearly all LE in other States and federal agencies but not in California!!! Does someone have any suggestion based on the interpretation of the aforementioned statute? I'm at the point to hire an attorney and file a lawsuit for discrimination compared to other candidates who are US degrees holders!

 

A friend of my got a high school diploma from a religious school in CA.
HE transferred his 100% earned High school diploma from Moscow and was accepted to Sheriff department, went to the academy etc,
He is a policeman now. HE also earned a bachelors degree from respected state university in Russia.

You can try to transfer to Florida approved academy high school, their HS diploma is $300.
Maybe you will have to do some additional work and graduate in a month.

Since you earned 100% legit high-school diploma overseas you don't have to repeat.

 

Could you please pm the details of this school (or other schools that you might know that would accept a foreign high school diploma)? Thank you!

 

BTW,
This is not discrimination.

Police and other agencies see value in bringing on board a person who is familiar with the culture, if you grew up in NY and attended there a school you get exposure to the culture the people. good and the bad.
You know transportation and streets etc etc.

I will ask my friend for the name of the school.

Some schools allow transfer.

 

Lerner thank you for your answer! I called some high schools at the area where I'm at (OK) but they don't know anything about foreign high school transfer...I would appreciate if in your reply, along with the school/s in CA that your friend will tell you, let me know about other high schools in different States (you stated Florida) that might be able to do it. Send me a pm if you prefer. Look forward to hearing from you!

 

I'm not certain that I'm understanding you correctly but I don't think it's reasonable to expect some high school half way across the country, that doesn't know you, where you've never lived, to offer you an equivalency diploma. Why would they want to do that?

 

I suppose that the financial motive is always there but I don't know if there's anyone employed by an average high school who is qualified to determine equivalency in such situations.

 

I would like to hear Lerner suggestions before I jump to conclusions. He didn't say they they will give you a high school diploma the next day! I might have to attend some classes. Anyway, the foreign high school diploma is not the case...I have a Bachelor Degree that has been accredited by a NACES member agency! What other proof they might want? How would be possible to have a university degree without completing a high school first?

 

I'm not saying that you didn't graduate high school or even college. I'm just saying that I'd be suprised if a school that doesn't know you at all is willing to officially declare that you have the equivalence of a high school diploma. Now maybe they'd do it if you took some classes but wouldn't it be simpler and faster to take the GED exam? In any case, I hope it works out well for you. Good luck!

 

I've heard of correspondence / distance high schools - particularly in Florida - that are often used by college sports recruiters, anxious to make sure their prospective star players graduate from high school, despite a poor scholastic performance in regular day-school. They are (mostly) cheap, always quick - and yes, have maintained the requisite accreditation (somehow) but I think you would hate them. I know of no real schools at all that would just issue an equivalency - no coursework.

Kizmet is right. It's ridiculous that you have to do ANY of this, but GED or the California Proficiency Exam are your best bets. I doubt you'll need to study much for anything -- except possibly American Government and History. Make sure you know what you need to on those subjects. The rest should be ultra-easy.

Johann

 

Johann if only GED it was as easy as you describe...just read here: Changes in GED test make it harder for adults to get high school credential needed for jobs - The Washington Post . I wouldn't mind to try for CHSPE BUT I have to try fly all the way to the nearest CA testing center (min cost $500 or more!). If only I could find a high school at the state that I currently live that I could transfer my foreign high school...

 

You could do that. However, it might be faster (7 hours) and cheaper ($134) to take the GED exam, which is readily available in Oklahoma.

Even under the new format, most people who take the GED pass it. You can check out some official practice questions for free here, if you want to assess the level of difficulty.

 

CalDog when I stated the lawsuit it was mainly due to my anger for these irrational restrictions to foreign degrees. I wouldn't like to get blacklisted. Did you give the new GED exams by chance?

 

I read about the changes in the GED - but I'm sure you can pass it - you're a university grad! I don't think you should have to take it -- but I don't make the rules. I should add, we have many foreign-educated law enforcement people, here in Canada.

Johann

 

I have partially good news. If someone wants to give the GED exams overseas he can choose the 2002 version instead of the latest one! In two weeks I'll fly to Europe and I'm thinking to give the exams there. I would be grateful if anyone could send me a pm of a website/forum that has information about the subjects of this GED version. I have nearly 3 weeks to prepare myself! I hope that I won't have any surprises!

 

Dear Lerner independently of the possibility to give the GED exam, I definitely need your information about the schools!

 

Qualifications to apply to LAPD
JoinLAPD: Qualifications

Qualifications (image)
Age
You must be 21 years of age at entry into the academy. However, you may take the written test if you are 20 ½ on the written test date.

Education
Graduation from a U.S. high school, G.E.D. or equivalent from a U.S. institution, or a California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE) certificate is required.

A two-year or a four-year college degree from an accredited U.S. or foreign institution may be substituted for the high school requirement.