{"id":5940,"date":"2026-04-07T15:59:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T15:59:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prepsaret.com\/hiset\/?p=5940"},"modified":"2026-04-07T15:59:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T15:59:04","slug":"virginia-hiset-alternative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prepsaret.com\/hiset\/virginia-hiset-alternative","title":{"rendered":"Virginia HiSET Alternative: GED Options & Requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is the HiSET Available in Virginia? No. Virginia does not offer the HiSET exam. The GED is the only Virginia Board-approved high school equivalency (HSE) examination in Virginia. The VDOE has issued specific Superintendent’s Memos confirming this. The credential earned is the GED Certificate, administered by GED Testing Service.<\/span><\/p>\n

Virginia standardized exclusively on the GED for high school equivalency testing. Per VDOE, ‘Currently, the only Virginia board-approved HSE examination in Virginia is the GED test, which was developed to enable persons who have not graduated from high school to demonstrate the attainment of abilities normally associated with completion of a high school program of study.’<\/span><\/p>\n

The Code of Virginia (22.1-254.2), ‘Testing for high school equivalency; eligibility; guidelines,’ has been unchanged since July 1, 2006.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All references to ‘GED’ in the Code of Virginia have been changed to ‘a high school equivalency examination approved by the Virginia Board of Education’ (effective January 1, 2014), but the GED remains the only board-approved option.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Virginia borders Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
State<\/b><\/td>\nAvailable Exam(s) \u2014 2026<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Virginia<\/b><\/td>\nGED only \u2014 HiSET not available; NO residency requirement to test<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maryland (bordering)<\/span><\/td>\nGED only \u2014 HiSET not available<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
West Virginia (bordering)<\/span><\/td>\nGED only \u2014 HiSET not available<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kentucky (bordering)<\/span><\/td>\nGED only \u2014 HiSET not available<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tennessee (bordering)<\/span><\/td>\nGED only \u2014 HiSET not available<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
North Carolina (bordering)<\/span><\/td>\nGED only \u2014 HiSET not available<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pennsylvania<\/span><\/td>\nBoth GED and HiSET available<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oklahoma<\/span><\/td>\nBoth GED and HiSET available<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Massachusetts<\/span><\/td>\nHiSET primary; GED also available<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Since Virginia has no residency requirement, non-Virginia residents can also test at Virginia test centers. All surrounding states are GED-only states, so there is no nearby HiSET option regardless of residency.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) administers the state’s high school equivalency (HSE) testing program through its Office of Adult Education and Literacy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Virginia’s adult education and literacy programs are organized in a regional structure and funded through WIOA Title II (AEFLA). The Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center (VALRC) \u2014 a division of the Literacy Institute at VCU \u2014 manages the GED Virginia website (gedva.com) and the GED Helpline, providing resources and support to Virginia adult education teachers and students.<\/span><\/p>\n

VDOE offers a critical pathway to free testing: enroll in an adult education program, attend a minimum of 12 hours, and pass the GED Ready practice test in each subject area \u2014 then receive free GED testing vouchers. This program makes GED testing effectively free for enrolled program participants.<\/span><\/p>\n

Virginia 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\n\n
Fact<\/b><\/td>\nDetail<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Official credential name<\/b><\/td>\nGED Certificate (issued by VDOE)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Administered by<\/b><\/td>\nVirginia Department of Education (VDOE), Office of Adult Education and Literacy<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GED Administrator<\/b><\/td>\nDr. Beverly Godwin, Virginia State HSE Specialist | GEDinfo@doe.virginia.gov | (804) 786-7644 | 101 North 14th Street, James Monroe Building, 21st Floor, Richmond, VA 23219<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
GED Virginia Helpline<\/b><\/td>\n(877) 777-4858 | gedva.com \u2014 Free information and resources for Virginia GED programs, managed by VALRC<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Standard minimum age<\/b><\/td>\n18 years old; 16 with specific conditions (seven pathways \u2014 see Section 3)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number of subjects<\/b><\/td>\n4<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Passing score per subject<\/b><\/td>\n145 out of 200<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cost \u2014 In-Person<\/b><\/td>\n$36 per subject ($144 for all four); enrolled adult education program participants may qualify for free testing vouchers<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cost \u2014 Online<\/b><\/td>\n$36 per subject ($144 for all four) \u2014 SAME as in-person<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Free testing vouchers<\/b><\/td>\nYES \u2014 enroll in adult education program, attend 12+ hours, pass GED Ready in each subject \u2192 free GED test vouchers<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
In-person retake fee<\/b><\/td>\n$10 test center fee; one discounted retake per full-price purchase within 365 days<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
No-wait in-person retakes<\/b><\/td>\nTWO \u2014 no waiting period for first 2 retakes; 60-day wait after 3rd attempt; no annual limit<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Residency required?<\/b><\/td>\nNO \u2014 Virginia has no residency requirement to take the GED<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Languages<\/b><\/td>\nEnglish and Spanish; CAN combine to earn a credential in Virginia<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ISAEP program (16-18 year-olds)<\/b><\/td>\nIndividual Student Alternative Education Plan \u2014 fulfills compulsory attendance for at-risk 16-18 year-olds; requires GED Ready 145+ in all subjects before testing<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VDOE credential requests<\/b><\/td>\nAll-digital \u2014 VDOE no longer accepts paper, phone, fax, or email for GED credential requests; use the GED Credentialing website (gedva.com or ged.com)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Adult secondary credential options<\/b><\/td>\nAdult High School Diploma Program; National External Diploma Program (NEDP); General Achievement Adult High School Diploma (GAAHSD) \u2014 see Section 9<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Virginia GED Eligibility: The Seven Under-18 Pathways<\/b><\/h2>\n

Adults 18 and Older: Standard Requirements<\/b><\/h3>\n