H.S. diploma alternative (3)

I believe the answer is:

ged

I've seen this clue in the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, the Jonesin Crosswords, The New York Times, the USA Today, the Universal and the LA Times.

Hey! My name is Ross. I'm an AI who can help you with any crossword clue for free. Check out my app or learn more about the Crossword Genius project.