USA Edition · Beta

Plan your path through high school, college and career.

How grades 9–12, tests, degrees and professional licenses fit together in the U.S., with pay and job outlook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and every figure linked to its source.

Explore career pathways How the U.S. system works
Official sources only BLS pay (May 2025) & outlook (2025–35) Free, no sign-up
How it works

The U.S. education ladder

There is no national exam at the end of grade 10 or grade 12. Students finish high school, then choose a college route that fits the career they want — and some careers add a professional school and a state license on top.

1

High school · grades 9–12

Ends with a high school diploma (or a state-recognized equivalent). Requirements are set by each state and often each district.

2

Associate degree

Normally requires at least 2 but less than 4 years of full-time-equivalent college work (IPEDS). Mostly at community and technical colleges; can lead to a job or a transfer.

3

Bachelor's degree

Normally requires at least 4 but not more than 5 years of full-time-equivalent college-level work, including 5-year co-op programs (IPEDS).

4

Master's degree

Graduate study after a bachelor's degree, for example M.S., M.A., M.B.A., M.S.N..

5

Doctorate & professional degrees

Research doctorates (Ph.D., Ed.D.) and professional-practice doctorates (M.D., D.O., J.D., D.D.S., D.M.D., Pharm.D., D.P.T.). Most of these programs admit students after (or deep into) a bachelor's degree — e.g. medical and law school — not straight from high school.

What colleges look at

GPA and grades in core subjects
Course rigor — honors, AP, IB, dual enrollment
Standardized tests where the college uses them
Essays / personal statement
Recommendations
Activities, work, service and internships

How much each factor counts is decided by each college. Each state, and often each district, sets its own graduation requirements. NCES's 2018 state table shows state-required course credits from 11 (Maine) to 24 (in a dozen-plus states and DC), with Colorado, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania leaving them to local districts; some states also use end-of-course or exit exams. NCES state requirements

Community college → transfer: Many students start at a community college, earn an associate degree or credits, and transfer to a four-year college to finish a bachelor's. Which credits transfer depends on the receiving college and any state transfer agreement; check before enrolling.
Degree definitions: National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
High school guide: GPA, AP, IB →College, costs & financial aid →
Testing

Tests you may take in high school

Each college sets its own testing policy: a test can be required, recommended, optional, test-optional or test-blind depending on the school. Always check the colleges on your list.

TestTypical gradeScore rangeWhat to know
PSAT 8/9
College Board		 8 and 9 240–1440
Reading and Writing 120–720; Math 120–720		 Uses a lower score range (240–1440) than the PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT (320–1520) and SAT (400–1600). Source
PSAT 10
College Board		 10 320–1520
Reading and Writing 160–760; Math 160–760		 Same test as the PSAT/NMSQT, but scores do not enter the National Merit Scholarship Program. Source
PSAT/NMSQT
College Board (with National Merit Scholarship Corporation)		 10 or 11 320–1520
Reading and Writing 160–760; Math 160–760		 Only 11th-grade (junior-year) scores count toward the National Merit Scholarship Program. Uses the same score scale as the SAT. Source
SAT
College Board		 Usually 11 and 12 400–1600
Reading and Writing 200–800; Math 200–800		 Total score is the sum of the two section scores. College Board college-readiness benchmarks: 480 Reading and Writing, 530 Math. Set by each college (required, recommended, optional, test-optional or test-blind). Source
ACT (enhanced)
ACT		 Usually 11 and 12 Composite 1–36
English, Math, Reading (each 1–36); Science optional; Writing optional		 Since the September 2025 national test, the Composite is the average of English, Math and Reading only; Science is optional. Students who take Science also get a STEM score; students who take Writing also get an ELA score. State and district (school-day) ACT tests moved to the enhanced format from spring 2026. Set by each college (required, recommended, optional, test-optional or test-blind). Source
AP Exams
College Board		 Usually 10–12, after an AP course 1–5 per exam 5 — extremely well qualified; 4 — very well qualified; 3 — qualified; 2 — possibly qualified; 1 — no recommendation. Each college decides which scores earn credit or placement; many give credit for 3 or higher. Source
IB Diploma Programme
International Baccalaureate		 Usually 11 and 12 Up to 45 points Six subjects graded 1–7, plus up to 3 points for Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay. Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) earns no points but must be completed. At least 24 points plus other conditions are needed for the diploma. Source

Admission tests for professional school

TestForWhat to know
MCAT
AAMC		 Medical school (M.D. and D.O.) Total 472–528. Four sections, each 118–132: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior; Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills. Source
DAT (Dental Admission Test)
American Dental Association		 Dental school (D.D.S./D.M.D.) Survey of the Natural Sciences (biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry), Perceptual Ability, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Reasoning. Source
LSAT or GRE
LSAC (LSAT) / ETS (GRE)		 Law school (J.D.) ABA Standard 503 still requires a valid and reliable admission test, but the ABA grants variances; 21 of 198 accredited schools held one as of August 2026. Source
PCAT (retired)
Pearson / AACP		 Pharmacy school Retired January 2024. No new test dates; do not list it as a pharmacy school requirement. Source
All tests and real college policies →
Career pathways

20 career pathways, with real labor-market data

A pathway is what you study; it can lead to several occupations. Each card shows BLS figures for one representative occupation: median annual pay (May 2025) and projected change in employment (2025–35). For comparison, BLS projects total U.S. employment to grow 3.5% over the same period.

Technology

Engineering

Healthcare

Law

Business & Finance

Psychology & Social Science

All career pathways →
Licensing

Licensed professions: who decides

Professional licenses in the U.S. are granted by each state or jurisdiction, not by the federal government. National bodies write the exams; state boards set the rest, so requirements differ from state to state.

LicenseGranted byNational exam(s)What varies
State medical license (physician) State medical boards USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, Step 3; COMLEX-USA Level 1, Level 2-CE, Level 3 Each state medical board sets its own licensure rules. Passing USMLE or COMLEX-USA alone does not grant a license.
Admission to the bar (lawyer) Each jurisdiction's highest court / bar admission authority Bar exam — legacy Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) or NextGen UBE, plus any state-specific components; MPRE (Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination) Bar admission is granted state by state. Which bar exam is given, passing scores and score transfer rules all vary by jurisdiction.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license State boards of accountancy Uniform CPA Examination Education, experience and ethics-exam rules differ by state. Since 2025 more states let a 120-hour bachelor's plus 2 years of experience qualify, but not all. Check your state board.
Professional Engineer (PE) license State engineering licensing boards FE (Fundamentals of Engineering); PE (Principles and Practice of Engineering) Each state board sets its own application rules, fees and approval steps; many states require continuing education to renew.
Registered Nurse (RN) license State boards of nursing NCLEX-RN (Next Generation NCLEX since April 2023) Each state board sets licensing rules, including background checks. Advanced practice (NP, nurse midwife, nurse anesthetist) has additional state requirements.
Pharmacist license State boards of pharmacy NAPLEX; MPJE or Uniform MPJE Each state board of pharmacy sets licensure and transfer rules; most states also require certification to give vaccinations (BLS).
Dentist license State dental boards INBDE (Integrated National Board Dental Examination); State or regional clinical exam All states license dentists, and requirements vary by state (BLS).
Physical therapist license State physical therapy licensing boards NPTE All 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands require a license; each sets its own eligibility rules.
Licensed psychologist State and provincial psychology boards EPPP (Part 1–Knowledge; some boards also require Part 2–Skills) Most states require a license to provide psychology services or use the title 'psychologist'; supervised-hour and exam rules vary.

Not every job in these fields needs a license. BLS notes that entry-level civil engineers do not need a PE license, and many accounting jobs do not require a CPA (though anyone filing reports with the SEC must be one).

Changes to watch

  • State medical license (physician): NBOME is changing how D.O. students show clinical skills for COMLEX Level 3 starting with the Class of 2029.
  • Admission to the bar (lawyer): Bar exam transition: legacy UBE ends February 2028; check your jurisdiction's NextGen UBE start date.
  • Admission to the bar (lawyer): Law school admission tests: ABA Standard 503 still requires a valid and reliable test, but the ABA grants variances; 21 of 198 ABA-accredited schools held one as of August 2026.
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license: State adoption of the 120-hour pathway is ongoing in 2026 (NASBA tracks enacted laws).
  • Pharmacist license: The PCAT admission test was retired in January 2024; pharmacy schools no longer require it.
  • Pharmacist license: Uniform MPJE rollout began in 2026 in adopting states.
  • Licensed psychologist: Integrated EPPP takes effect in Q4 2027.
Step-by-step licensing routes →
International students

Coming to the U.S. to study

What you study (your education pathway) and your permission to study and work (your immigration pathway) are separate. A degree does not guarantee OPT, STEM OPT or an H-1B.

F-1 student statusStatus for full-time academic students at SEVP-certified U.S. schools. USCIS
Optional Practical Training (OPT)Temporary employment directly related to an F-1 student's major. Up to 12 months per degree level. USCIS
STEM OPT extensionA 24-month extension of post-completion OPT. Degree (bachelor's, master's or doctoral) must be on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List and from an accredited, SEVP-certified school. USCIS
H-1B specialty occupationEmployer-sponsored work status for jobs that require at least a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a directly related field. Annual cap: 65,000, plus 20,000 for people with a U.S. master's degree or higher. USCIS

H-1B changes since 2025

  • 2025-09-21 — A Presidential Proclamation requires an additional $100,000 payment with certain new H-1B petitions for beneficiaries outside the U.S. without a valid H-1B visa. Source
  • 2026-02-27 — DHS final rule replaces the random lottery with a weighted selection based on the offered wage level (from the FY 2027 registration). Source
  • 2026-06-08 — The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts vacated agency guidance implementing the $100,000 payment; DHS asked the First Circuit for a stay pending appeal. Source
  • 2026-07-24 — The First Circuit denied DHS's motion for a stay. The appeal itself may still change the outcome — check USCIS before relying on this. Source
Immigration rules change. This is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm with USCIS, your school's Designated School Official (DSO) and, where needed, an immigration attorney. Checked 2026-10-07. Planning to study in the U.S. from India? See the India Edition's Study in the USA guide.
Full international student guide →
Good to know

Frequently asked questions

It depends on the college. Each school decides whether tests are required, recommended, optional, test-optional or test-blind, so check the admissions page of every college on your list.
No. States and local districts set the requirements for a high school diploma. Some states use end-of-course or exit exams, but there is no single national graduation exam.
Because a field of study is not a job. Computer science, for example, leads to software development, data science, security and research roles, and BLS reports pay and outlook for each occupation separately. We show the occupation-level figures rather than inventing one number for the whole field.
They come from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: median pay for May 2025 and projections for 2025–35, checked on 2026-10-07. Median pay means half of workers earned more and half earned less.
That guide is for students in India planning to study in the U.S. The USA Edition explains the U.S. system itself, from high school through college, licensing and careers.
Sources

Where these facts come from

Only official and primary sources are used. Each was last checked on the date shown; rules on testing, licensing and immigration change, so confirm with the source before you rely on a detail.