Eligibility Requirements for High School Equivalency Testing

A resident of the state who has not graduated from an accredited high school is eligible to take the high school equivalency test per Texas Education Code, Section 7.111 in accordance with rules promulgated by the State Board of Education. Eligibility requirements for high school equivalency testing are defined in the Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 2, Chapter 89, Subchapter C, Rule §89.43.

High School Equivalency Test Requirements:

In order to take the high school equivalency exams, the test-taker must:

•  have a valid government (national or foreign) issued photo ID, such as one of the following:
  • state driver license,
  • Department of Public Safety identification card,
  • military ID,
  • passport, 
  • U.S. passport card,
  • permanent resident card, or
  • matrícula consular;  
    (NOTE: School IDs and Library cards are not accepted)
     
• provide proof of residency in Texas, which could be a:  
  • Texas driver license or Texas ID,
  • utility bill showing a Texas address, or
  • bank statement showing a Texas address;
• be 18 years of age;
• not be enrolled in an accredited high school; and
• not be a high school graduate from an accredited high school. 

Age Exceptions

Individuals under the age of 18 are required to attend school (Texas Education Code Chapter 25, Section 25.085) unless they qualify for an exemption (Texas Education Code Chapter 25, Section 25.086).

17-Year-Old Test-Takers* 

To qualify for an age exception, a 17-year-old must:

• have a government (national or foreign) issued photo ID (see above for ID requirements);
• have proof of Texas residency (see above for residency requirements);
• verify you are not currently enrolled in school (unless enrolled in an approved in-school High School Equivalency Program);
• not have an accredited high school diploma; and
• have parent or guardian permission.

Alternatively, a 17-year-old may qualify under the 16-year-old rule below.

16-Year-Old Test-Takers*

To qualify for an age exception, a 16-year-old must:

• have a government (national or foreign) issued photo ID (see above for ID requirements);
• have proof of Texas residency (see above for residency requirements);
• not have an accredited high school diploma; and
• be one of the following:
  • in the care of a state agency;
  • under a court order issued under Family Code 65.103 (a) (3);
  • enrolled in a Job Corps training program, or
  • enrolled in the Texas Challenge Academy.

* Note:  For online proctored exams, a parent or guardian must be present at the pre-test check-in to give consent and authorize the underage testing. Both the test taker's and parent/guardian's IDs are required.
 

Updated 2/15/2023