OHSD program in Texas allows adults (18 and over) a chance to earn a state-recognized high school diploma through self-paced courses while completing a career-ready certification, certificate, or associate degree. The diploma focuses on 5 key areas and provides flexibility in its completion.
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Program Information
OHSD at EPCC is designed to meet the needs of adult learners (24 and over) who left traditional high school without a diploma and are now seeking an opportunity for personal and professional advancement. This new program approaches real-world learning over traditional coursework, allowing students to demonstrate mastery in key areas essential to both academic and workplace success.
By bringing high school diploma attainment and career-ready education together, OHSD supports students with college-level study, industry certification, or immediate employment. The program aims to increase the community’s ability to earn college credit, and a major milestone. Situated within EPCC, OHSD reflects a commitment to expanding opportunity, strengthening the regional workforce, and empowering adult learners to achieve meaningful, long-term success.
Eligibility & Requirements
OHSD is designed for adult learners in Texas who meet the following criteria:
- Must be 18 years of age or older.
- Must not already hold a high school diploma.
- Must co-enroll in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program at EPCC.
- Must demonstrate competency in the program’s required areas through assessments approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Unlike the GED, applicants must be actively pursuing a technical program while completing their diploma, ensuring that both academic and workforce skills are developed together.
Support Services
Students will have the benefit of EPCC’s support services, including mentorship opportunities, tutoring, the Math Lab, the Writing Center, Veteran Affairs, academic advising, and counseling.
Resources & Services
Why OHSD Matters
OHSD matters in El Paso to expand access to stable employment and higher education. Local industries consistently report shortages of skilled workers, and OHSD directly addresses this gap by tying diploma attainment to technical training.
The program also responds to the unique realities of a borderland community, where many adult learners are balancing family and economic responsibilities. By embedding diploma completion within EPCC, OHSD strengthens the educational pipeline, opens new pathways for mobility, and supports the region’s long-term economic resilience.
CTE Pathways
EPCC students in the OHSD program can choose from a wide variety of career and technical education pathways, including Automotive, Business Management, Computer Science, Social Media and Graphic Marketing Specialists, Health Programs, and Hospitality Operations.
EPCC provides stackable awards with as few as 15 credit hours, industry-recognized certifications, certificates of completion, and associate degrees to meet your educational goals.
Courses are led by credentialed faculty with both academic expertise and professional experience in their fields and are typically delivered with hands-on experiential learning. Each program is also supported by industry advisory committees that ensure coursework, tools, and techniques align with real-world expectations.
This structure not only enhances program quality but also guarantees that EPCC graduates are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in today’s evolving job market.
Curriculum & Learning
OHSD focuses on 5 core subjects, including Civics, Communication, Quantitative Reasoning, Scientific Reasoning, and Workplace Success Skills.
These areas are taught in a competency-based modality, meaning that students can work self-paced through the objectives while completing college-level coursework using EPCC’s Tejano Flex Learning.
CTE programs are offered online, hybrid, nights, weekends, and in-person modalities to meet your needs.