Career Online High School (COHS) is an online high school diploma and career certification program available through the Public Library. This program offers free enrollment to a limited number of qualified adult students.

Adult residents of Boston who are at least 19-years-old, have successfully completed 8^th grade and wish to earn their high school diploma. Minors should pursue their high school education through existing high school programs.

Program applicants must have a Boston Public Library card in good standing or be willing to apply for a library card.

Enrollment is limited and demand is expected to be high. Prospective students must successfully complete an online assessment. Once the self-assessment is completed, prospective students will be contacted by the Boston Public Library and if they are eligible will be given a link to a two-week prerequisite course. Those who pass the prerequisite course with a score of 70% or above within a two-week period will then be interviewed in person by staff at the Boston Public Library to determine if they will receive a scholarship. Successful completion of the prerequisite course does not guarantee a scholarship will be awarded.

Each participating library’s process for selecting students may be a little different. You should contact your library for specifics. Learn how the program works in detail.

We recommend that students dedicate 8-10 hours per week to their coursework. Students enrolled in COHS are assigned an academic coach who will keep them on track. You’ll also be provided with a pace guide that will help you move through the program, by completing one credit every two weeks.

Courses are self-paced and taught in an online learning environment, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Your academic coach will connect you with one of the COHS instructors, who will provide you with additional academic support, when needed. Your library may also offer support.

No. This is not a GED® program. Successful graduates will earn a high school diploma and a career certification through an accredited high school.

However, if you passed any of the four GED® subject areas at a Performance Level 2 or above (145+), you can request that your GED® transcripts be evaluated and applied toward your accredited high school diploma through Career Online High School.

To request your GED® transcripts, go to the GED website.

While both the GED and the high school diploma are important, there are several differences between them among the most significant is the fact that some colleges, institutions, and organizations require a high school diploma and may not accept the GED. In addition to providing a high school diploma, COHS gives students the benefit of earning a career certificate and completing additional job preparation documents and training.

Through COHS, students may earn a certificate in the following areas:

• Certified Protection Officer
• Child Care and Education
• Commercial Driving
• Food and Hospitality
• General Career Preparation
• Home Care Professional
• Homeland Security
• Hospitality and Leisure
• Office Management
• Retail Customer Service

While we provide you with all of the coursework you need to qualify for a child care certification, you will need to find a local agency in your community to fulfill the hands-on training hours required. Your library may be able to assist.

To arm you with the tools you need to find a job, we will teach you to create essential documents, such as your resume and a cover letter. All students must complete this.

You can use a desktop, laptop, tablet or iPad for all coursework. At this time, smart phones are not supported on the learning management system.

Yes. All coursework is available in English only.

Students will be given up to 18 months to complete the program, which will consist of 18 credits. Students accepted into the program may transfer up to 14 credits from their former accredited high school or from any successfully passed GED® subject area tests.

To receive credit from the GED®, you must have passed the GED® subject area at a Performance Level 2 or higher (145+).

Depending on how many credits the student can transfer, the program can be completed in as few as six months. The average time to complete is 12 months.

Career Online High School (COHS) launched in 2011 and was accredited in February 2012 as the world’s first private online school district by the AdvancED Accreditation Commission. Since February 2012, more than 14,500 students have enrolled in the program nationwide with a retention rate of approximately 65%.

Career Online High School is accredited by the AdvancED Accreditation Commission, the national commission that confers the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), and the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) accreditation seals.

This means that the Smart Horizons Career Online Education district and all of its schools are accredited, and that Smart Horizons Career Online Education is recognized across the nation as a quality school system, delivering an AdvancED/SACS/NCA/NWAC accredited online high school diploma.

AdvancED provides nationally recognized accreditation for school districts and individual schools and represents 34,000 public and private schools and districts across the United States and in 70 countries worldwide, educating 20 million students. Learn more about the District Accreditation Process at www.advanc-ed.org.

The prevalence of online “diploma mills” and counterfeit degrees has unfortunately created some skepticism around the legitimacy of diplomas from online institutions. Career Online High School is NOT a diploma mill. Career Online High School is accredited by the AdvancED Accreditation Commission, the national commission that confers the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), and the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) accreditation seals.

While Career Online High School itself is a new institution and may not immediately be familiar by name, it is easy to demonstrate that the school is recognized across the nation as a quality school system, delivering an AdvancedED​ accredited online high school diploma. It is important to understand that a high school diploma alone (from any type of accredited high school), is not enough to guarantee a student admission into a college or university, as each postsecondary institution has its own minimum standards including admissions exams, standardized test scores and other criteria.

Career Online High School is committed to the success of its graduates as they advance into the workplace or post-secondary education and training. Any alumni of the COHS program who has questions about their transcripts or meeting college admissions requirements may call 1-888-408-5783 or email [email protected] for support.

Yes, all COHS instructors are state certified. Most of the academic coaches and academic instructors are located in Florida. Office hours are 8 am to 5 pm Central Time; however, coaches have evening hours twice a week and the hours will likely be expanded. Staff is not exclusively assigned to a specific library. The COHS academic coach will welcome the student initially and then reach out to all students at least once every two weeks – and more often for students needing additional assistance.

The library is committed to helping people meet their education and job preparation needs. The library encourages you to visit your nearest branch and speak to the staff to help you find a local agency or resource that will best fit your needs.

Complete an online assessment. After you have successfully finished the self-assessment, you will be contacted by the library within 3 business days to discuss the prerequisite course. Upon successful completion of the course, you will be contacted by the library within 5 days to schedule an interview and discuss your application into the program.