Certificate of High School Equivalency Information
NOTE: Educational Testing Service (ETS) has notified TEA and the state board of education that they will not administer the HiSET test in Texas after 8/31/2021. All current and prospective HiSET test-takers should plan to complete testing in Texas as soon as possible, but no later than 8/31/2021. The last day to take a HiSET test in Texas is 8/31/2021.
ANNOUNCEMENT* Find your local Adult Ed Grant Recipient at https://tcall.tamu.edu/search.aspx for access to:
- Free adult education and distance learning opportunities;
- Free test vouchers (for eligible test takers); and/or
- Free one-on-one math tutoring online.
* Programs provided by the Texas Workforce Commission.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Support and Guidance:
Testing at a Test Center: Many test centers in Texas are temporarily closed. To find the open test centers near you, log into your account and schedule an appointment:
Testing Online: Until test centers are fully operational, some high school equivalency tests are available online. Online tests must be scheduled directly through your GED or HiSET account. You must pass the GED Ready test to be eligible to schedule the online exam. The HiSET does not require a pretest. Please review the following information for other eligibility and policy differences:
Official Certificates, Transcripts, and Verifications
Visit the 
to obtain a free verification letter or to purchase a PDF containing the Certificate of High School Equivalency with test scores for $5. The PDF will include a diploma-style certificate suitable for framing and a transcript with test dates and scores. You can save the PDF to your computer or electronic device, email it to yourself or third parties, and/or print it. Purchases can be made by credit card or check (automated clearing house).
Colleges and employers should obtain verifications and certificates directly from the Texas Certificate/Transcript Search as TEA no longer sends certificates or verifications via mail, fax, or email.
Official Policy Letter (PDF)
If the search returns "No Records Found," please create a Help Desk ticket to request a record search.
Help Desk for Customer Service
TxCHSE officially moved to the Help Desk system for all customer service requests on December 11, 2017. This provides a secure method of communicating personal information and documentation to agency staff. The previously used email is no longer monitored.
Visit the 
Current High School Equivalency Exams
The State Board of Education (SBOE) currently contracts with two companies to provide the following high school equivalency assessments: the GED test and the HiSET exam. Upon the successful completion of a single provider's exams, the test taker will be issued a State of Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency.
The test taker chooses which test series to take, and the test language can be either English, Spanish, or a combination. Tests may only be administered by authorized testing centers. Following are the two assessments:
To view a side-by-side comparison, please visit Test Information - At a Glance and for more information: High School Equivalency Frequently Asked Questions.
Need help getting started? View the Steps to earn a Certificate of High School Equivalency.
Test-Taker Eligibility
To take the high school equivalency exams in Texas, an individual must:
- be a resident of Texas,
- have a government-issued photo ID, and
- be 18 years of age or older.
For more detailed information and exceptions, please visit our Eligibility Page.
Score Requirements
The minimum score requirements are determined by the test provider.
Scores are typically available within three days for computer-based testing. Paper-based test scores are typically available within 10 days. Certificates are issued approximately three business days after the final computer-based test and approximately 14 days after the final paper-based test. TEA will email the initial certificate in a PDF file to the email address used to register for the exams.
Individuals cannot combine scores from a previous test series or different test series. Incomplete scores from tests taken prior to January 1, 2014 are no longer valid.
For more information on current and previous test scores, visit Test Score Requirements.
Preparation Information
Study material is available at most libraries and book stores. Most preparation books have practice tests that will help you determine when you are ready to test. Helpful information is available from each test provider website:
To find a preparation program in your area, contact Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy & Learning (TCALL) at 800-441-READ (7323) or search online at https://tcall.tamu.edu/search.aspx.
Program Authorization:
Texas Education Code
High School Equivalency Examinations Chapter 7.111
Texas Administrative Code
TITLE 19 EDUCATION
PART 2 TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY
CHAPTER 89 ADAPTATIONS FOR SPECIAL POPULATIONS
SUBCHAPTER C TEXAS CERTIFICATE OF HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY
Rules
§89.41 Policy
§89.42 Official Testing Centers
§89.43 Eligibility for a Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency
§89.44 Identification
§89.45 Retesting
§89.46 Accommodations
§89.47 Issuance of the Certificate
Related Program Authorization:
Texas Education Code
Subsidy For High School Equivalency Examination for Certain Individuals Chapter 48.302
Content Updated 4/21/2021
Related Links
Texas Virtual School Network
UT Austin Online High School
Texas Tech University ISD Online High School
High School Equivalency Program
Job Corps
Texas Challenge Academy
Texas Private School Accreditation Commission
Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency
For customer service, visit the