Eligibility
for GED testing is established by the Texas Education Code, Section
7.111, which states that a resident of the state who has not
graduated from high school is eligible to take the high school
equivalency test in accordance with rules promulgated by the state
Board of Education. Also, available is the eligibility requirements
from the Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 2, Chapter
89, Subchapter C, Rule
§89.43.
In
order to take the GED tests, an applicant must:
-
Have a government issued photo ID;
- Be 18 years
of age;
- Be a resident
of the state;
- Not be
enrolled in school; and
- Not be
a high school graduate.
GOVERNMENT
ISSUED?
Government
Issued IDs include:
- State
Driver License
- Military
ID
- Passport
They
do NOT include:
- School
IDs
- Credit/Debit
Cards
STATE
RESIDENT?
For
proof of residency a TX driver's license or bill with a Texas
address, needs to be shown to your testing center.
Not
18?*
You
can test at 17, if:
- You
are a resident of Texas (look at the above requirements);
- You
are not enrolled in school (you are excepted if you are enrolled
in an approved in-school GED preparation program);
- You
are not a high school graduate; and
- You
must have parental/guardian permission.
You
can test at 16, if:
- The
applicant is a resident of the state (see above requirements);
- In the
care of a state agency or under a court order**
or in a Job Corps training program;
- Is not
enrolled in school; and
- Is not
a high school graduate.
*
If you are under the age of 18, you are required to attend school.
(Click here) to read the Texas Education Code, Compulsory School
Attendance statute.
There are exemptions from attending..
(Click here) to read exemptions from the Texas Education Code.
** IMPORTANT:
The court order must meet the finding as required by Section 45.054
of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The court has to assume jurisdiction
of a student under the truancy laws, find a violation and then
order him to take the GED test. If there is no finding as required
by Section 45.054 of the Code of Criminal Procedure or jurisdiction
under the truancy laws the student will not be allowed to test.
(Click here) for an example of the court order form.
