High School Certificate of Competence Program

An instructional program that defines the content requirements for meeting specified performance standards in various secondary school studies that does not represent completion of and graduation from secondary school, as prescribed by a U.S. state or other jurisdiction. Includes such requirements as passing a state- or province-mandated academic achievement test and completing other specified requirements for subject-matter competence. These awards may be given for partial completion of secondary school or for achieving a specified high level of concentration and/or performance in certain subjects, and may be awarded independently or in conjunction with a high school/secondary diploma.