School or College Transcript Authentication & Legalization

Purpose of Authentication

School and college transcripts often require authentication when submitted to foreign universities, employers, licensing bodies, or government authorities. Authentication confirms the transcript is genuine and issued by an accredited institution, ensuring acceptance outside the United States.

Required Processing Steps

Transcripts for international use generally follow these steps:

• Notarization, if required by the issuing institution or destination authority

• State-level authentication for the state where the school or college is located

• U.S. Department of State processing, when applicable

• Apostille or embassy legalization, depending on the destination country

The exact path depends on how the transcript was issued and where it will be used.

Important Notes & Requirements

• Official transcripts are usually required. Photocopies are commonly rejected.

• Some schools issue transcripts only in sealed envelopes. These must not be opened.

• Digital or emailed transcripts are often not accepted for authentication.

• Name mismatches, unofficial copies, or broken seals can cause delays.

Careful review before submission helps avoid reprocessing.

How DC Consular Helps

DC Consular manages the entire process for school transcripts and college transcripts. We review your documents, confirm eligibility, handle authentication and apostille or legalization, and coordinate directly with state and federal authorities to reduce delays and rejection risk.

Start Your Transcript Processing

Submit your transcripts to DC Consular to confirm requirements and begin processing. Our team will guide your documents through every step efficiently and compliantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a school transcript?
A school transcript is an official academic record issued by a high school that lists courses completed, grades earned, and graduation details.

How to get high school transcripts?
High school transcripts are typically requested directly from the school registrar or school district where the student attended.

Can I get my high school transcript online?
Some schools and districts offer online transcript requests, while others require written or in-person requests.

What does a high school transcript look like?
It usually includes student identification details, course names, grades, credits, and graduation status on official school letterhead.

What is a college transcript?
A college transcript is an official academic record issued by a college or university showing coursework, grades, credits, and degree information.

How to get college transcripts?
College transcripts are requested through the university registrar, often via an online portal or authorized transcript service.

What does a college transcript look like?
It typically contains institutional branding, student details, a list of courses and grades, credit totals, and degree conferral information.