Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Get A Copy Of The Consent Form?
Where Do I Return My Consent Form?
How Do I Know If My Consent Form Has Been Received?
How Long Does It Take For Consent Forms To Be Processed?
Why Is A Signed Consent Form Necessary?
How Much Does It Cost To Order A Transcript?
I Only Placed One Transcript Order, Why Was My Credit Card Charged More Than Once?
What Do I Do If I Do Not Have A Credit Card?
What Is The Status of My Order? Has It Been Sent?
How Long Will It Take For My Transcript To Reach My Recipient?
Do I Have To Complete The “Attention” Field When I Enter The Recipient’s Address Information?
My Transcript Hasn't Been Received Yet, What Should I Do?
I Received My Transcript, But It Is Incomplete. What Should I Do?
Can I Change My Order?
How Can I Cancel My Order?
Who Fulfills And Sends My Order?
When I Placed My Order, I Had To Enter A User ID And Password. Where Do I Log In?
Do You Have A Refund Policy?
Why Am I Experiencing Trouble Using Your Web Site?
These FAQs Didn't Answer My Question, What Should I Do?

1. How Do I Get A Copy Of The Consent Form?
Select your school from the drop down menu on the Transcript Ordering Center page. In the "Track Your Order" box, enter the transcript order number and your email address, then click the arrow button. If the consent form for your order is still outstanding, you will see a link to print a copy of your form. The reminder emails that we send you also include a consent form that you can sign and return to us.

If you do not have a printer, you can fax us a single page letter authorizing the release of your transcript. Be sure to sign and date your letter and include the order number. You can fax your authorization letter to 1-703-742-4238 or mail it to: National Student Clearinghouse, 2300 Dulles Station Boulevard, Suite 300, Herndon, VA 20171.

2. Where Do I Return My Consent Form?

Fax it to 1-703-742-4238 (IMPORTANT, remember to dial 1-703 first),
Scan and email it to transcripts@studentclearinghouse.org (scan attachment must be a GIF, JPEG, BMP or TIFF), or
Mail it to: National Student Clearinghouse, 2300 Dulles Station Boulevard, Suite 300, Herndon, VA 20171

3. How Do I Know If My Consent Form Has Been Received?
Once we receive your consent form, we will notify you by email. You can also check the status of your order online, including consent order form receipt, on the Transcript Ordering Center page. Select your school from the drop down menu. In the "Track Your Order" box, enter the transcript order number and the email address you used to place your transcript order, then click the arrow button.

4. How Long Does It Take For Consent Forms To Be Processed?
When we receive your consent form, we will send you an email confirmation within one hour of receipt during normal business hours (M-F, 9-5 ET). Please do not call to ask if we have received your consent form. We will not confirm receipt of consent forms over the telephone.

5. Why Is A Signed Consent Form Necessary?
The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) requires that the owners of educational information give their consent before their information is released.

6. How Much Does It Cost To Order A Transcript?
The total cost of a transcript varies and is determined by several factors:

Fee the school charges for the transcript itself
Surcharge for expediting transcript delivery (e.g., overnight delivery, fax, etc.)
Quantity of transcripts ordered

In addition, there is small processing fee charged for each recipient in your order. To find out the cost to order a transcript from your school, please visit your school's Web site.

7. I Only Placed One Transcript Order, Why Was My Credit Card Charged More Than Once?
A hold for the amount of the order (also known as a preauthorization or pending charge) is placed against your card each time you submit a transcript request. Multiple holds on a credit card account can result from clicking the "Place Order" button more than once during a single transaction.

As long as a hold remains on your card, the funds are unavailable until the transaction is cleared or the hold "drops off." It can take seven to 30 days for the hold to "drop off," depending on the issuing bank. If a hold(s) causes you to exceed the credit limit of your card, you may be assessed overdraft fees. The National Student Clearinghouse is not responsible for any overdraft fees that result from multiple submissions placed for a single transaction. Regardless of the number of holds created for a single order, your credit card will only be charged once after your order has been completed.

8. What Do I Do If I Do Not Have A Credit Card?
If you do not have a credit card, you can use a prepaid Visa or MasterCard gift card to place your order. To ensure a successful transaction, make sure that you purchase the gift card for a value that is equal to or greater than the amount you estimate that your transcript order will cost.

IMPORTANT: The Clearinghouse does NOT accept checks or money orders for transcript requests. If you sent a check or money order, it will be returned to you and your transcript order will be delayed.

9. What Is The Status Of My Order? Has It Been Sent?
To check the status of your order, on the Transcript Ordering Center page, select your school from the drop down menu. In the "Track Your Order" box, enter the transcript order number and your email address, then click the arrow button. The transcript order number is displayed on your order confirmation page and all emails associated with your order. (You will receive email updates whenever the status of your order changes.)

10. How Long Will It Take For My Transcript To Reach My Recipient?
Delivery time is dependent on four factors:

How quickly you return the signed consent form for your order to the Clearinghouse. Your order CANNOT be processed until we receive your signed form. You will be provided with complete instructions during the ordering process.
When we receive your consent form. Typically, your order will be forwarded via the Internet to your school for processing within one hour after we receive your consent form, if we receive it during our business hours (Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm, EST). NOTE: The release of your order to your school may be delayed during periods of high volume.
How quickly your school fulfills your transcript order (see "What Is The Status Of My Order? Has It Been Sent?"). You can check the status of your order online by entering the transcript order number and your email address then clicking the arrow button. You automatically receive an email when your school has sent your transcript(s).
The type of delivery option you select (e.g., mail). Delivery options vary from school to school; not all schools offer all delivery methods. Please note the school cannot be responsible for US Postal Service standard delivery times.

11. Do I Have To Complete The "Attention" Field When I Enter The Recipient's Address Information?
If you are requesting that a transcript be sent to anyone other than yourself, we recommend that you complete the "Attention" field. The delivery of transcripts sent to a business, organization or corporation can be delayed if you do not provide the name of the specific recipient.

12. My Transcript Hasn't Been Received Yet, What Should I Do?

Check the status of your order to make sure your school sent it. (See "What Is The Status of My Order? Has It Been Sent?")
Allow enough time for the delivery option you selected. (See "How Long Will It Take For My Transcript To Reach My Recipient?")
If your order status is "sent" AND you have allowed enough time for delivery, contact your school. Do NOT contact the Clearinghouse. Your school is the repository of your academic records and, therefore, is the only entity that can fulfill and send your transcript order(s). The Clearinghouse serves as the web order management agent for your school, but does not process or send transcript orders.

13. I Received My Transcript, But It Is Incomplete. What Should I Do?
Your transcript is printed and shipped by your school. If the document is incomplete when it arrives, you should contact the Office of the Registrar at your school and explain the problem with the document to them so they can resolve the issue.

14. Can I Change My Order?
Yes, but only under the following conditions:

You can change your order during the same session if you have not yet submitted it.
You can cancel a submitted order if you have not returned your consent form (see "How Can I Cancel My Order?").

IMPORTANT: Do not write changes to your transcript request on the consent form. This will not prompt any changes to your order.

15. How Can I Cancel My Order?
If you have not returned your signed consent form, enter the transcript order number and your email address then click the arrow button. On the "Track Your Order" page, click the "cancel order" button next to your request. If you have already returned your consent form, contact your school's registrar office to request that the school cancel your order. The Clearinghouse CANNOT cancel your order.

16. Who Fulfills And Sends My Order?
Your school is the repository of your academic records and, therefore, is the only entity that can fulfill and send your transcript order(s). The Clearinghouse serves as the web order management agent for your school, but does not process or send transcript orders.

17. When I Placed My Order, I Had To Enter A User ID And Password. Where Do I Log In?
The Clearinghouse recently upgraded the Transcript Ordering site to simplify the transcript ordering process. You no longer need a user ID and password to order or track the status of your order.

18. Do You Have A Refund Policy?
Refunds are reviewed on a case by case basis. Please submit your request in writing to transcripts@studentclearinghouse.org.

19. Why Am I Experiencing Trouble Using Your Web Site?
Please see our "Problems Using This Web Site?" page.

20. These FAQs Didn't Answer My Question, What Should I Do?
If you have a question that is not answered by these FAQs, email us at transcripts@studentclearinghouse.org.

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