GED Requirements by State (2026): Age, Residency, Extra Tests

Can you take the GED? If you left high school without a diploma, almost certainly yes.

The catch? Each state adds its own rules about age, where you live and sometimes an extra test. The answer for a friend in another state may not be yours.

If you’re worried a rule will stop you, you’re not alone. Most people find they qualify once they see their own state’s rules.

The two rules that apply everywhere

Every state’s page on GED.com comes back to the same two rules:

You’re not enrolled in high school. If you’re under 18, that usually means showing you’ve officially left.
You don’t already have a high school diploma. Texas puts it plainly: you must be “not a current high school student or a previous graduate”.

After that, three things change by state: the age rule, the residency rule and any extra steps. The table below has all three.

GED requirements by state

“Age” is the age you can test at with no extra paperwork. The note under each state shows how younger people can test and any extra steps.

Tap a state’s name to open its official page on GED.com.

GED requirements by state. Source: each state's GED.com policy page and GED.com's online testing table, checked October 13, 2026.
State	Age	Must live there?	Online
Alabama	18	Not at 18+	Yes, 16+
Younger: 16–17: school district and parent permission, and you must live in Alabama. Residency: Not needed at 18+ (16–17 and online testers must live in Alabama).
Alaska	18	No	Yes, 16+
Younger: 16–17: school withdrawal slip, emancipation papers, or parent permission.
American Samoa	18	Yes	Yes, 18+
Younger: 16–17 with extra documents (not listed). Also: Pass every subject in one language.
Arizona Our guide: how to get your GED in Arizona	18	No	Yes, 16+
Younger: 16–17: notarized parent form, school withdrawal form and US government ID, sent 30 days ahead. Also: Pass the Arizona Civics Test (70%) and take your last test in Arizona.
Arkansas	18	Yes	Yes, 16+
Younger: 16–17 under adult-ed rules; ages 16–18 pass a civics exam first. Also: Take GED Ready at an approved center before testing in person.
California Our guide: how to get your GED in California	18	Yes	Yes, 18+
Younger: Within 60 days of turning 18 or of when your class graduates, or 17 and out of school 60+ days with a request letter (the state also lists other cases). Residency: Required (or military on duty in California). Also: The certificate is issued at 18.
Colorado	17	No	Yes, 16+
Younger: 16 with an approved age waiver.
Connecticut	19	Yes	No
Younger: 17–18 with proof of withdrawal from a Connecticut school, or a home-school form. Also: Register in person at a local adult-ed provider, and pass GED Ready.
Delaware	18	Yes	Yes, 16+
Younger: 16–17: age-waiver application to the Delaware Department of Education. Residency: Live or work in Delaware, or be in a Delaware Department of Labor program.
District of Columbia	18	Yes	Yes, 18+
Younger: 16–17 with an approved age waiver. Residency: DC resident, in Job Corps, or court-ordered to test. Also: GED Ready score of Likely to Pass or Too Close to Call before you test (first-timers can use a prep program's endorsement letter instead).
Florida Our guide: how to get your GED in Florida	18	No	No
Younger: 16–17: a declaration of intent to leave school, a notarized parent form, and proof of withdrawal. Residency: Not required, but you need a Florida address and a government ID.
Georgia Our guide: how to get your GED in Georgia	18	No	Yes, 16+
Younger: 16–17: 40+ hours of state-approved adult ed, GED Ready, and state approval. Also: Take and pass your last test in Georgia.
Guam	18	Yes	Yes, 18+
Residency: Required, with an ID showing age and residency.
Hawaii	18	No	No
Younger: 16–17 with approval (Form 4140).
Idaho	18	No	Yes, 16+
Younger: 16–17 with the Youth Waiver Form.
Illinois Our guide: how to get your GED in Illinois	18	30+ days	Yes, 16+
Younger: 17 with a school withdrawal letter; 16 only in a Regional Safe Schools Program. Residency: 30+ days. Also: Complete the free Illinois Constitution module.
Indiana Our guide: how to get your GED in Indiana	18	30+ days	Limited, 16+
Younger: 16–17 with an exit form and a school recommendation. Residency: 30+ days. Online: Suspended since July 1, 2025, except some adult-ed students who need to test at home.
Iowa	No GED. Iowa uses a different test, the HiSET.
Kansas	18	No	Limited, 16+
Younger: 16–17 with a compulsory attendance disclaimer or exemption form. Online: Only for students enrolled in adult education.
Kentucky	19	Address	Yes, 17+
Younger: 18: out of school 90+ days, Job Corps, ChalleNGe and other listed cases; 17: state-agency child or district alternative program. Residency: Kentucky mailing address. Also: Pass GED Ready before you schedule.
Louisiana	19	No	Yes, 16+
Younger: 16–18 through an approved WorkReady U program.
Maine	No GED. Maine uses a different test, the HiSET.
Maryland	18	Yes	Yes, 18+
Younger: 16–17 with proof of withdrawal or home instruction. Residency: Required: ID plus proof of Maryland residency.
Massachusetts	18	Address	Limited, 16+
Younger: 16–17 with an approved letter of withdrawal. Residency: Massachusetts address. Online: Restrictions may apply, and no online price is listed.
Michigan Our guide: how to get your GED in Michigan	18	Not at 18+	Yes, 16+
Younger: 16–17 with a state age waiver; you must live in Michigan and have left school. Residency: Not required at 18+.
Minnesota	19	No	Yes, 17+
Younger: 17 and out of school, with an age waiver.
Mississippi	18	Yes	Yes, 18+
Younger: 16–17 at a test center, with a superintendent's release and parent consent.
Missouri	17	Address	Yes, 16+
Younger: Under 17 with an age waiver. Residency: Missouri mailing address.
Montana	19	Yes	Limited
Younger: 16–18 with an age waiver. Online: Needs an application to the state.
Nebraska	18	No	Yes, 16+
Younger: 16–17 with a state form and withdrawal papers; adult-ed classes first. Residency: None to test; live in Nebraska 30 days to get the diploma.
Nevada	18	Yes	Yes, 18+
Younger: 16–17 at a test center, with school board and parent permission.
New Hampshire	18	Yes	Yes, 18+
Younger: 16–17: age waiver, a green GED Ready score, and school and parent consent.
New Jersey Our guide: how to get your GED in New Jersey	18	Yes	Limited, 16+
Younger: 16–17: Certificate of Consent, with a parent or guardian. Residency: Required, with proof dated this month or last. Online: Not everyone can test online; restrictions apply.
New Mexico	18	No	Yes, 16+
Younger: 16–17 with school district and parent permission.
New York Our guide: how to get your GED in New York	19	30+ days	No
Younger: 16–18 with an approved Age Eligibility form. Residency: 30+ days. Also: Test at a New York test center.
North Carolina Our guide: how to get your GED in North Carolina	18	No	Yes, 16+
Younger: 16–17 with an approved exception, through a local adult-ed program. Residency: Not required, but pass your last test in North Carolina.
North Dakota	16	No	Yes, 16+
Younger: No exceptions under 16.
Northern Mariana Islands	19	Yes	Yes, 18+
Younger: 17 with an exception (not described).
Ohio Our guide: how to get your GED in Ohio	18	Yes	Yes, 16+
Younger: 16–17: school withdrawal form and notarized parent consent. Also: 18-year-olds also send a school withdrawal form.
Oklahoma	18	No	Yes, 18+
Younger: 16–17 with a release form and parent and school consent (in person only).
Oregon	18	No	Yes, 16+
Younger: 16–17 in an Option Program, with parent permission, emancipated or married.
Pennsylvania Our guide: how to get your GED in Pennsylvania	18	Yes	Limited, 18+
Younger: 16–17 with a state age waiver and a written request from an employer, college, recruiter or institution. Online: Restrictions may apply, and no first-attempt price is listed.
Rhode Island	18	Yes	Yes, 16+
Younger: 16–17 with an Alternative Learning Plan or in Job Corps.
South Carolina	19	Yes	Limited, 16+
Younger: 16–18 with a school withdrawal form (16 also needs a DJJ or court order). Also: Testing in Spanish gives a transcript but no South Carolina diploma. Online: Restrictions may apply.
South Dakota	18	No	Yes, 16+
Younger: 16–17 enrolled in a school district or with alternative instruction filed.
Tennessee	18	No	Yes, 17+
Younger: 17 with a superintendent's recommendation form and state approval.
Texas Our guide: how to get your GED in Texas	18	Yes	Yes, 16+
Younger: 17 with parent permission and other conditions; 16 only in state care, by court order, in Job Corps or in the Texas Challenge Academy.
Utah	18	No	Limited, 16+
Younger: 16–17 withdrawn from school, with the state eligibility form. Also: At 18, your high school class must have graduated. Online: Contact your local prep center first.
Vermont	18	Yes	Yes, 16+
Younger: 16–17 with written parent or guardian consent.
US Virgin Islands	18	Yes	Yes, 17+
Younger: 17 with extra documents. Also: Score 145 on GED Ready in each subject before testing.
Virginia Our guide: how to get your GED in Virginia	18	No	Yes, 16+
Younger: 16–17 in listed cases (homeschool, ISAEP, court order and others), with parent and school board approval.
Washington Our guide: how to get your GED in Washington	19	Yes	Yes, 16+
Younger: 16–18 with proof you're not enrolled in a high school program.
West Virginia	19	No	No
Younger: Under 19 with documents, through a local adult learning center or the Option Pathway. Also: Enroll in adult ed (or Option Pathway) and pass GED Ready at an approved program.
Wisconsin	18½	10+ days	Yes, 17+
Younger: 17 with a school contract, in a juvenile facility, or at Challenge Academy. Residency: 10+ days. Also: A counseling session, and the Wisconsin Civics test (65% to pass).
Wyoming	18	No	No
Younger: 16–17 with an age waiver (12 hours of adult ed and a TABE test).

The “Online” column shows whether you can test from home and the youngest age allowed, from GED.com’s online testing table. “Limited” means only some people can test online there.

Age rules, and how to test if you’re under 18

Most states use 18 as the age you can test with no extra steps. A handful differ:

19: Connecticut, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, New York, Northern Mariana Islands, South Carolina, Washington and West Virginia.
18½: Wisconsin.
17: Colorado and Missouri.
16: North Dakota, which allows no exceptions below 16.

Under the age rule? Most states still let you test, with paperwork. The usual pieces are proof that you’ve officially left school, a parent’s or guardian’s permission, and sometimes an age waiver form from the state.

Some states ask for more. Georgia wants 40 or more hours of state-approved adult education first, and Wyoming asks for 12 hours of adult education and a basic skills test (the TABE). The “Younger” note under each state in the table gives its route.

Testing online has its own age rule, and it can be higher. In California, for example, you need to be 18 to test online. Most states also want a parent or guardian at check-in for an online tester under 18.

Do you have to live in the state?

It depends on the state, and the rules fall into three groups:

You must live there. About half of the states, including Texas, Ohio and Washington. Illinois, Indiana and New York also want at least 30 days, and Wisconsin 10.
No residency rule. Georgia, Colorado and Virginia are examples. Some of these still want something else: Arizona, Georgia and North Carolina want your last test taken in the state, and Florida wants a Florida address and a government ID.
Only for some testers. In Alabama and Michigan, only people under 18 have to live there, and Alabama’s online testers do too.

Bottom line: if your state requires residency, have proof ready, like a state ID or a bill with your address. Your state’s GED.com page lists what it accepts.

Extra steps some states add

In most states, passing the four tests is all you need. These states add something:

American Samoa: Pass every subject in one language.
Arizona: Pass the Arizona Civics Test (70%) and take your last test in Arizona.
Arkansas: Take GED Ready at an approved center before testing in person.
California: The certificate is issued at 18.
Connecticut: Register in person at a local adult-ed provider, and pass GED Ready.
District of Columbia: GED Ready score of Likely to Pass or Too Close to Call before you test (first-timers can use a prep program's endorsement letter instead).
Georgia: Take and pass your last test in Georgia.
Illinois: Complete the free Illinois Constitution module.
Kentucky: Pass GED Ready before you schedule.
New York: Test at a New York test center.
Ohio: 18-year-olds also send a school withdrawal form.
South Carolina: Testing in Spanish gives a transcript but no South Carolina diploma.
Utah: At 18, your high school class must have graduated.
US Virgin Islands: Score 145 on GED Ready in each subject before testing.
West Virginia: Enroll in adult ed (or Option Pathway) and pass GED Ready at an approved program.
Wisconsin: A counseling session, and the Wisconsin Civics test (65% to pass).

GED Ready is the official practice test. Everyone who tests online needs a green score in each subject from the last 60 days. Arkansas, Connecticut, Kentucky, US Virgin Islands and West Virginia also require it before you test in person. So does DC, unless a prep program endorses you for your first test.

No class is required in most states. You can study on your own, for free, and book each test when you’re ready.

What to bring on test day

At a test center, you need a non-expired, government-issued photo ID. If you don’t bring proper ID, you’ll be turned away and lose what you paid for that test.

Some states want more. California, for example, checks that your ID shows your address, or asks for other proof that you live there. Online, your government-issued ID is checked when you check in.

Ready for the next step? See how to get your GED, from your free GED.com account to your diploma, and what the GED costs in your state.

Written by

Coach Crissy

Math instructor

Coach Crissy teaches the video lessons behind the BooknBoost GED math course, working through GED-style problems on camera: ratios and proportions, percent and interest, mean, median and mode, slope, and the geometry students meet on test day.

GED Requirements by State: Age, Residency and Every Extra Step