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2. Personal Education Number (PEN)

Last updated on February 12, 2025

2.1 Definition of PEN

Students entering B.C.’s education system are assigned a Personal Education Number (PEN):  a unique nine-digit number. 

If you attended a B.C. K-12 school since 1993, wrote a provincial exam since 1986 or attended a B.C. Public Post-Secondary Institution since 1998, then you MAY have a PEN.

You use this PEN when accessing provincial exam results or ordering secondary school transcripts.

2.2 Where to find your PEN

You can obtain your PEN using one of the following options:

  • Checking with your current, or recent secondary school.
  • The school where you wrote your most recent provincial exam.
  • The top right-hand corner of your official Ministry of Education and Child Care transcript.
  • If you attended a B.C. Public Post-Secondary Institution since 1998, you may have a PEN. To obtain your PEN contact that institution's records department.
  • Find other ways to get your PEN.

2.3 Steps to order your Transcript or Certificate online if you do not have a PEN

If you do not have a PEN, you can order a transcript online. You will need to complete an online form then submit it to the StudentTranscripts Service (STS).

Note: your order will be cancelled if it is discovered that you do have a PEN.  

The StudentTranscripts system will take you through a series of steps/questions to complete the form.

1. Enter your Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy)

  • Note: If your date of birth is greater than 1989, you have a PEN and you are required to create an account with the StudentTranscripts Service to order your transcript or certificate online.  
  • If your date of birth is less than 1989 the system will display the next question:

2. Did you attend or graduate from a school in B.C. or the Yukon between 1986 and today? 

  • If yes, then you have a PEN and you are required to create an account with the StudentTranscripts Service to order your transcript or certificate online.
  • If no, the system will display the next question:

3. Did you attend or graduate from a school in B.C. between 1974 and 1985? 

4. Did you attend in the University Entrance or Academic-Technical Program prior to 1974?  

  • If yes; click the continue button to order your transcript or certificate.
  • If no; then you must contact the district office School District Office to obtain your transcript or certificate.

5. To continue to the order form you must read and consent to the Privacy Notice.

6. Complete the ‘Student and School Information’ sections:

  • First Name: Enter your first name (the legal name you used on official secondary school documents).

Important Note: If you have one legal name, leave the First Name field blank and enter
your legal name in the Last Name field. Contact StudentTranscripts@gov.bc.ca if you need assistance.

  • Middle name(s): Enter your middle name(s) if you have one.
  • Last name: Enter your last name (the legal name you used on official secondary school documents).
  • Former Name: Enter your former name, if applicable.
  • Date of Birth: Enter your date of birth: dd/mm/yyyy.
  • Email Address: Enter an email address that you use; this is how the StudentTranscripts Team will contact you if required.
  • Name of Last Secondary School: The name of the last secondary school you attended.
  • Your Graduation Year or the Last Year Attended (e.g., 1973): Enter the last year you went to secondary school or the year you graduated.
  • Last Secondary School Grade Achieved (i.e. 10, 11, 12): Enter the last grade you completed.

7. Complete the ‘Documents to Send’ section and check the box next to:

  • Transcript and/ or,
  • Certificate.

​Note: You can send a transcript or a certificate or both a transcript and certificate. You can change the number of transcripts/certificates going to this address in your shopping cart, before paying for your order.

8. Complete ‘Who do you want to send to?' section:

  • Use the Canadian Address tab to send to a Canadian address. 
  • Use the U.S. Address tab to send to an American address.
  • Use the Other Address tab to send to another address.
  • Please check and confirm international mailing addresses for accuracy
  • Name (Post-Secondary Institution, Employer or Third Party): Enter the name of the school/person/business you are sending the transcript/certificate to.
  • Street Address (including the apartment or room number): Enter the address you are sending the transcript or certificate (i.e. 101-620 Superior Street). StudentTranscripts uses Canada Post’s Address complete for Canadian and American addresses. Start typing the address and the tool will display addresses that match what you are typing. Click on the address you want and the City, Province and Postal Code will automatically be entered in the form. 

Important note: If AddressComplete does not display the address you want or you have difficulty with the tool, use the ‘Other Address’ tab to manually enter the address. 

9. Multiple recipients? Click the ‘Send to an Additional Person’ link and complete the fields as above.

10. Fees: The system will display the total cost in Canadian dollars for the recipients - remember you can change the quantity in the Shopping Cart.

11. Click 'Continue' and the system will display an Order Summary which includes:

  • Request to be Sent To – Who your transcript or certificate is going to.
  • Address – The address of the recipient.
  • Order item – Transcript or Graduation Certificate.
  • Quantity – Number of transcripts/certificates ordered (this will include the ability to increase or decrease the quantity).
  • Cost – The total order cost.
  • Remove – Removes a single order from the list before submitting payment.

12. Confirm the order by clicking the checkbox ‘I have reviewed my order’ this enables the payment options or choose ‘Cancel’ to delete the order.

13. Choose your payment option:

  • Pay Online – enter credit/debit card information, payment is processed promptly or,
  • Pay by Cheque or Money Order – orders are processed when your cheque is received and clears the bank (approximately 10 days).
  • If you send a cheque, be sure to include your order reference number (found on the order summary) in the package or envelope with your cheque.

For more information on payment details, please visit Delivery and Fees.