request a transcript

Official transcripts. Embossed with a seal, official transcripts may be picked up or sent to you or to an institution directly. Transcripts cost $5 each with a rush option for an additional $10 per order (not per transcript), and we accept cash, check, or money order. Transcripts take up to two weeks to process, while rush service shortens the processing time to a day. Rush service is not available for students who attended before 1970 because the records are located off-site.

Download a Transcript Request Form.

School policy dictates that we suspend requests for transcripts, certificates, and diplomas if you have an outstanding obligation to a school office (Student Accounts, Library, Financial Aid, etc.). An outstanding obligation is posted as a 'hold' on your account and can be verified by our office. Please settle your accounts before requesting a transcript.

We use First-Class service by the United States Postal Service for mailing documents. You can provide your own stamped envelope for other methods of delivery such as FedEx, UPS, and DHL.

Unofficial transcripts. This is your academic record printed or copied to plain paper, without the school seal or a transcript legend. Unofficial transcripts can be photocopied for your own use.

Because they do not require payment, unofficial transcript may be requested by mail, fax (415.749.4579) in person, or via email using a scanned request with your signature. Request them as you would an official transcript. These are generally processed within 1-3 business days.

Diplomas

Diplomas are available six to eight weeks after your final term at SFAI. They will bear your name as indicated on your Petition to Graduate form.

A Replacement Diploma can be ordered for $65. Diplomas are sealed and signed by the current SFAI President, Dean, and Chair. To request one, follow the same procedure as for an official transcript and indicate your name as you want it written on the diploma. Because we order diplomas twice a year for our Fall and Spring graduates, it can take up to six months before your replacement diploma is available.

A Certificate of Graduation verifies your degree and is sealed and signed by the Registrar. To request a certificate at $5 per copy, follow the same procedure as for ordering a transcript. Certificates take up to two weeks to process.

Apostilles

An apostille is an international certificate honored by countries subscribed to the 1961 Hague Convention. The office can help facilitate your apostille request at $45 per document. An apostille can be affixed to a certified copy of a transcript, certificate of graduation, or diploma. You may send your original documents for our use, or you can order the documents and pay additionally for the corresponding charge--$5 for transcripts and certificates of graduation, and $65 for a replacement diploma.

To obtain the apostille, our office takes copies of the academic documents to a notary, who certifies the copies. We then mail the certified copies to the California Secretary of State Office in Sacramento, who mails the documents, with the apostille, directly to you. In our experience, it is best to have each type of document have its own apostille--e.g. an apostille for a copy of a transcript, and an apostille for a copy of a diploma.  

To request an apostille, please proceed as for a transcript order and follow these steps:

1.  Specify the documents (transcript, diploma, certificate of graduation) to be notarized. If you have these documents, you may enclose originals or copies.  If sending copies, we validate them with our records prior to taking them to the notary.

2. If you do not have these documents, order them from our office.

3. In your apostille request, please indicate the country that will receive the certified documents.

4.  You may provide your own shipping label that we will forward to the Secretary of State Office to use upon returning your documents. Note down the tracking number of the label before sending the request to our office.

For more details, or if you want to submit the request yourself, visit the Apostille section of the California Secretary of State website: http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/notary/authentication.htm