Key takeaways
The Irish Leaving Certificate and a WASC-accredited American diploma are built around completely different goals. One feeds directly into the CAO points system for Irish universities. The other opens a pathway to American and international universities, with AP exams adding college-level credit. Neither replaces the other. But knowing what each actually measures matters before a family chooses a path.
- The Leaving Certificate is a two-year senior cycle program culminating in high-stakes written exams – points determine Irish university admission through the Central Applications Office (CAO).
- A WASC-accredited US diploma is a credit-based four-year credential recognized by colleges and employers globally, with no single final exam determining outcomes.
- Advanced Placement (AP) courses within a US diploma program provide internationally recognized college-level credits accepted by over 500 universities worldwide.
- The two credentials serve different university systems and are not interchangeable – families targeting both Irish and American universities need to plan carefully.
Contents
We are a US-accredited international online school that coexists with local schooling. Families are responsible for ensuring compliance with any local education requirements applicable to their situation.
What is the Leaving Certificate and How It Works
The Leaving Certificate (LC) program is Ireland’s senior cycle exit qualification. Students typically enter fifth year at around fifteen or sixteen – after completing junior cycle, and sometimes a transition year – and spend two years preparing for the Leaving Certificate examination, sat at the end of sixth year.
The Core Subjects
Most students study six to eight subjects. Irish and mathematics are core – though students with a documented exemption may be excused from Irish. Mathematics can be studied at foundation level, ordinary level, or higher level. Higher level mathematics earns maths bonus points under the CAO system: an additional 25 points on top of the standard grade-based allocation.
New subjects have been added to the senior cycle subjects list in recent years, including Politics and Society and Physical Education as examinable options from September 2025. The range of subjects available is now broader than the traditional leaving cert of twenty years ago. How those subjects are scored – that’s where the CAO system comes in.
The Leaving Certificate and CAO Points System
The LC grading scale runs from H1 (or O1 at ordinary level) down to H8. Points are awarded based on grade and level – higher level grades attract more CAO points than the equivalent ordinary level result. Students aim to maximize their points across their six best-performing subjects.
The Exam Itself
The State Examinations Commission sets and marks exam papers. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) designs the curriculum. The central applications office processes university applications based on points totals.
There’s no continuous assessment component in the Established Leaving Certificate, aside from practical work in certain subjects like music, home economics, or agricultural science. For most pupils, the written exam is the only thing that counts. Two-year program. One set of exam papers. That’s the leaving cert.
The Leaving Certificate Vocational Program (LCVP) adds link modules connecting academic subjects to enterprise and vocational skills. A separate Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) program exists for students who need a different structure – but this does not generate CAO points for university entry.
The 2026 examinations will begin on 3 June.
“During the final 2 years of Senior Cycle, students take one of 3 programs, each leading to a State examination.”
— Citizens Information, citizensinformation.ie
How a WASC-Accredited US Diploma Works
A US diploma from a WASC-accredited institution is a credit-based four-year qualification. No single exam determines graduation. Credits accumulate across subjects – English, mathematics, sciences, social studies, electives – with a set number of credits required for the standard diploma track.
At Legacy, students can pursue three diploma tracks: Standard (24 credits), Accelerated (18 credits), or Honors (24 credits with additional requirements). The curriculum runs through FlexPoint Education Cloud, developed by Florida Virtual School. Qualified teachers deliver live instruction or asynchronous support depending on the learning plan.
The real differentiator is Advanced Placement (AP). Legacy offers 19 AP courses – from AP Calculus to AP English Literature. AP exam scores of 3, 4, or 5 are accepted for college credit at over 3,900 universities. This creates a college credit pathway that the Irish LC does not offer.
Legacy holds WASC accreditation – verified through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges – and College Board Level I status, school code 000114. The diploma is recognized globally – by universities, employers, and military institutions.
Matriculation: Two Different Systems
The LC produces a points total for matriculation into Irish third-level institutions. It’s a domestic qualification optimized for the Irish university system.
A WASC-accredited diploma produces a transcript, a credential, and – with AP courses – college-level credits applicable to American and many international universities. It is not optimized for CAO matriculation.
For a student in Ireland aiming at Irish universities: the LC is essential. A Legacy diploma doesn’t generate CAO points.
For a student in Ireland targeting US or international universities, or wanting AP credits alongside Irish secondary education: Legacy offers what the Irish school system doesn’t.
Some families do both – like the Murphys from Cork, whose son completed his LC in sixth year while sitting two AP exams with Legacy, then enrolled at Arizona State University on the strength of both credentials. Attending an Irish secondary school for the LC while completing AP courses with Legacy in parallel is more demanding. It’s also the one that opens the most doors.
“Most colleges and universities in the U.S. and hundreds around the world use AP as a factor in evaluating candidates for admission.”
— College Board, international.collegeboard.org
Interested in adding AP courses to an Irish secondary education? See our AP courses or book a free trial class.
Top Tips from Our Expert
Maya Robinson, College Prep Advisor at Legacy Online School
- If your child is in fifth year in an Irish secondary school and considering US university applications, start AP preparation now. Waiting until sixth year – when LC pressure peaks – makes it very difficult to do both.
- The CAO points system rewards breadth and performance across six subjects. The US university admissions system rewards depth, AP scores, extracurriculars, and essays. Plan your strategy based on where you’re actually applying.
- Higher level mathematics in the LC earns a 25-point bonus – and AP Calculus at Legacy can complement that preparation significantly. The overlap in content is real.
- Check Legacy’s College Guidance program early. Applying simultaneously to Irish and American universities involves different deadlines, different document sets, and very different evaluation criteria.
We are a US-accredited international online school that coexists with local schooling. Families are responsible for ensuring compliance with any local education requirements applicable to their situation.
