HiSET Requirements 2026: Age, Residency and Fees by State

HiSET fees by state

The fee for one subtest, as each state’s HiSET page shows it. You pay per subtest, so multiply by five for the whole test.

State	Test center	At home
American Samoa	$18	$41
California	$34	$43
Colorado	Paper $35.50, computer $32.50	$48.50
Georgia	$34, computer only	$49
Guam	Not listed	Not listed
Hawaii	Paper $28, computer $18	$41, may not be offered
Illinois	$26	$41
Indiana	Set by the center	Suspended
Iowa	$18	$41
Louisiana	$24	$41
Maine	Free for residents; $60 otherwise	Not offered
Marshall Islands	$20	Not listed
Massachusetts	Free for 3 tries	Not offered
Michigan	$26	$41
Minnesota	$28	$41
Mississippi	Paid by the state	Paid by the state
Missouri	$22	$32.50
Montana	Up to $28	Ended 2025
Nevada	$23	$41
New Hampshire	$28	$51
New Mexico	Paper $18, computer $26	$41
North Carolina	$18	$41
Northern Mariana Islands	$20	Not listed
Ohio	$26	$41
Oklahoma	$33	$48.50
Palau	$18	$41
Pennsylvania	$26	$41
Tennessee	$23	$41
Wyoming	$18	$41

California adds a one-time $20 state fee to your first booking, and some California adult schools set their own fees. Louisiana adds $10 once each calendar year, and Michigan and Missouri also charge extra on the first subtest you book.

Minnesota residents paying for themselves get $8 off each first attempt with the code MNHISET8, while the money lasts. Massachusetts covers the first test and two retakes in each subtest; Tennessee’s voucher program covers the cost for residents who qualify.

Mississippi’s state payment works through promo codes: enter the code for each subtest, listed on HiSET’s Mississippi page, at checkout. Ohio offers $80 voucher codes through its Career-Technical Planning District offices, and New Mexico residents can ask the state office or an adult education provider for voucher codes.

HiSET in Tennessee →HiSET in Louisiana →HiSET in Iowa →

What are the HiSET age and residency requirements?

HiSET says that in most cases you must not be enrolled in high school. Below the standard age, every state asks for something extra, such as a withdrawal form, a parent’s consent or an age waiver. The last column is how many times a calendar year you can take each subtest.

State	Age	Younger	Must live there?	Tries a year
American Samoa	18	17, ask your test center	Yes	6
California	18	17 in some cases	Yes	3 per 6 months
Colorado	17	16, with a waiver	No	6
Georgia	18	16, through adult education	No	6
Guam	18	16, with a parent’s consent	Yes, 12 months	3
Hawaii	18	16, with Form 4140	No	6
Illinois	18	17 with withdrawal proof; 16 in two programs	Yes, 30 days	6
Indiana	18	16, with an exit form	Yes, 30 days	6
Iowa	18	16, in limited cases	No	3
Louisiana	19	16, through WorkReady U	No	6
Maine	17	Not listed	No	6
Marshall Islands	18	16, with withdrawal and consent	Yes	6
Massachusetts	18	16, with a withdrawal letter	Yes	3
Michigan	18	16, with a waiver	No	3 per 6 months
Minnesota	19	17, with a waiver	No	6
Mississippi	18	16, with a withdrawal form	Yes	3 per 6 months
Missouri	17	Younger, with a waiver	Yes	6
Montana	19	16, with extra steps	Yes	6
Nevada	18	16, with school and parent permission	Yes	6
New Hampshire	18	Exceptions set by the state	Yes	6
New Mexico	18	16, with an underage form	No	3 per 6 months
North Carolina	18	16, with special approval	No	3
Northern Mariana Islands	18	16, with withdrawal papers	Yes	3
Ohio	19	16 to 18 if withdrawn; consent under 18	Yes	6
Oklahoma	18	16, with a release form	No	6
Palau	18, a year out of school	Not listed	Yes, 1 year	6
Pennsylvania	18	16, with a waiver	Yes	6
Tennessee	18	17, with a waiver	No	3 per 6 months
Wyoming	18	16, through adult education	No	6

HiSET’s FAQ lists Mississippi among states with no residency rule, but Mississippi’s own HiSET page says you must live at a Mississippi address. Go by the state page.

States that require classes or a practice test

Iowa: enroll in adult education at one of Iowa’s 15 community colleges and take the official half-length practice test
Guam: take the CASAS Appraisal before you schedule
Palau: at least 60 hours of instruction, with a test before and after
Maine: pass the official practice test, or show a Maine test center other proof you’re ready
Marshall Islands and Northern Mariana Islands: preparation and the half-length practice test
Louisiana, Georgia and Wyoming: only for test takers under 18 or 19

Official HiSET practice tests →HiSET classes →

Does Texas use the HiSET?

No. Texas isn’t on HiSET’s state list, and the Texas Education Agency contracts with GED Testing Service for the Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency. New Jersey stopped offering HiSET on June 1, 2023, and West Virginia on August 1, 2024. In both, people who started HiSET can finish their remaining subjects with the GED.

If you don’t live in a HiSET state, you may still be able to test in one with no residency rule. You then earn the credential of the state where you take your last subtest, and must meet its rules.

HiSET vs GED →GED testing centers by state →

Sources: HiSET · Texas Education Agency and 32 more. Checked October 2026.