How to Authenticate School Documents

 To authenticate a transcript:

1. Obtain a copy of the student's transcript from the records or administrative office of the school.
2. The registrar's signature on the transcript must be an original.
3. The transcript must be properly notarized with an acknowledgement and have an original signature by a Minnesota Notary Public.
4. The document is then mailed or brought in to the Office of the Secretary of State.

To authenticate a diploma:

1. Obtain the diploma from the records or administrative office of the school.
2. The signatures on the diploma must be properly notarized with an acknowledgement and have an original signature by a Minnesota Notary Public.
3. The document is then mailed or brought in to the Office of the Secretary of State.

To authenticate a substitute document: 

If the student is a senior but will not receive a diploma they must have a substitute document validated and authenticated in addition to the transcript. A certificate of completion can be used in lieu of the diploma.

1. The substitute document is obtained from the records or administrative office of the school.
2. The signatures on the substitute document must be properly notarized with an acknowledgement and have an original signature by a Minnesota Notary Public.
3. The document is then mailed or brought in to the Office of the Secretary of state.