{"id":5882,"date":"2026-03-30T22:15:29","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T22:15:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prepsaret.com\/hiset\/?p=5882"},"modified":"2026-03-30T22:26:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T22:26:38","slug":"kentucky-hiset-alternative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prepsaret.com\/hiset\/kentucky-hiset-alternative","title":{"rendered":"Kentucky HiSET Alternative: GED Changes, Costs & Options"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is the HiSET Available in Kentucky? No. Kentucky does not offer the HiSET exam. The GED is the only state-approved high school equivalency test in Kentucky. All employers, colleges, training programs, and the military in Kentucky recognize the GED as the official path to a high school equivalency diploma. The credential earned is the Commonwealth of Kentucky High School Equivalency Diploma.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kentucky is among the majority of U.S. states that have standardized exclusively on the GED. The HiSET \u2014 created by ETS (Educational Testing Services) and available in approximately 20 states \u2014 is not offered or accepted in Kentucky. There are no HiSET testing centers in Kentucky and no state agency issues or recognizes HiSET credentials for Kentucky high school equivalency purposes.<\/span><\/p>\n

The GED in Kentucky is administered by Kentucky Adult Education (KYAE), the state agency under the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet responsible for providing free adult education services in all 120 counties of the Commonwealth. The State GED Administrator is Benita Wilhoite, based at the Office of Adult Education in Frankfort.<\/span><\/p>\n

Which States Still Offer HiSET?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Understanding the broader landscape helps if you have family in neighboring states or are relocating. Note that neighboring Tennessee offers the HiSET \u2014 a common source of confusion for southern Kentucky residents:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
State<\/b><\/td>\nAvailable Exam(s)<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kentucky<\/b><\/td>\nGED only \u2014 HiSET not available<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tennessee (neighboring state)<\/span><\/td>\nHiSET is the primary exam in Tennessee \u2014 available at Workforce Essentials and other providers<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Missouri (neighboring state)<\/span><\/td>\nBoth GED and HiSET available<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ohio (neighboring state)<\/span><\/td>\nBoth GED and HiSET available<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
West Virginia (neighboring state)<\/span><\/td>\nGED only \u2014 HiSET not available<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Virginia (neighboring state)<\/span><\/td>\nGED only \u2014 HiSET not available<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Indiana (neighboring state)<\/span><\/td>\nGED only \u2014 HiSET not available<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Massachusetts<\/span><\/td>\nHiSET is the primary exam; GED not offered for state HSE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hawaii, California<\/span><\/td>\nBoth GED and HiSET available<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Important note: Kentucky has a residency requirement \u2014 you must have a Kentucky mailing address to take the GED in Kentucky. If you relocate to Tennessee or Ohio, you would need to start fresh with that state’s designated exam. Kentucky GED subjects already passed cannot be transferred or combined with another state’s exam scores.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is the Kentucky GED?<\/b><\/h2>\n

The GED (General Educational Development) test is a four-subject high school equivalency examination developed by GED Testing Service LLC, a joint venture of the American Council on Education and Pearson. In Kentucky, it is administered by the Office of Adult Education under the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet.<\/span><\/p>\n

The credential earned is officially called the Commonwealth of Kentucky High School Equivalency Diploma. Kentucky is one of the most proactive states in the country when it comes to GED access \u2014 the state pays for the first GED test in each subject plus limited retakes, while funding lasts, through a promo code system described in detail in Section 4.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kentucky GED At-a-Glance<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Fact<\/b><\/td>\nDetail<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Official credential name<\/b><\/td>\nCommonwealth of Kentucky High School Equivalency Diploma<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Administered by<\/b><\/td>\nKentucky Adult Education (KYAE), Office of Adult Education, Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
State GED Administrator<\/b><\/td>\nBenita Wilhoite | benita.wilhoite@ky.gov | 502-892-3067 | 500 Mero St, Frankfort, KY 40601-1987<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
KYAE Main Contact<\/b><\/td>\nkyaeinfo@ky.gov | 500 Mero Street, Frankfort, KY 40601 | 502-573-5114 (residency \/ state office)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
KYAE Executive Director<\/b><\/td>\nDr. John C. Gregory | john.gregory@ky.gov<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number of subjects<\/b><\/td>\n4<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total test time<\/b><\/td>\nApproximately 7.5 hours (can be split across sessions)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Passing score per subject<\/b><\/td>\n145 out of 200<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Score results<\/b><\/td>\nAvailable same day within 3 hours of completing a subject<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Available languages<\/b><\/td>\nEnglish or Spanish \u2014 you CANNOT combine languages to earn your credential in Kentucky<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cost per subject<\/b><\/td>\n$36 per subject ($144 for the full battery) \u2014 both in-person and online<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Free GED testing?<\/b><\/td>\nYES \u2014 Kentucky pays for the first test in each subject plus limited retakes via promo codes, while funding lasts (see Section 4)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GED Ready required?<\/b><\/td>\nYES \u2014 required for BOTH in-person and online testing in Kentucky (unique Kentucky rule)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Residency requirement?<\/b><\/td>\nYES \u2014 must have a Kentucky mailing address (unique to Kentucky)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Online testing available?<\/b><\/td>\nYES \u2014 GED Online Proctored exam is available in Kentucky<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Kentucky GED Eligibility Requirements<\/b><\/h2>\n

Kentucky has some of the most specific eligibility requirements of any state. Unlike many states where adults 18 and older simply register and test, Kentucky requires proof of residency, a mandatory GED Ready practice test, and specific age rules with the minimum no-conditions age set at 19. All requirements come from official KYAE and GED.com Kentucky policies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adults 19 and Older\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n