California HiSET® Requirements
About the California HiSET® Exam
Earn the credential your future needs with the HiSET® High School Equivalency Test.
If you want to find a better job or take the first step on a pathway to a career, then you need to earn a high school equivalency credential. It is required for college and more important than ever to employers. Taking the HiSET exam can help change your life and expand your opportunities like it’s done for other test takers.
See the California high school equivalency testing program for more information.
Access your myHiSET account on PSIExams.com
HiSET California Testing Options and Fees
Certain California school districts or adult schools have different testing and fee options. If you’re testing with one of the specified organizations below, click the name to expand testing fees, otherwise see General California Fees:
Total fees per paper subtest, not including test center fees
$17
First subtest booked: $37 (see details)
Total expected fees to complete the HiSET (not including test center fees) assuming no retake attempts and completion in a single calendar year:
$105
Subtest fee breakdown:
Test Fee: $17
Test Center Fee: Vary by test center. Contact your test center for details.
State Admin Fee: $20 one-time fee. See note below.
Test Location: Test Center
Total fees per computer subtest, not including test center fees
$17
First subtest booked: $37 (see details)
Total expected fees to complete the HiSET (not including test center fees) assuming no retake attempts and completion in a single calendar year:
$105
Subtest fee breakdown:
Test Fee: $17
Test Center Fee: Vary by test center. Contact your test center for details.
State Admin Fee: $20 one-time fee. See note below.
Test Location: Test Center
Total fees per Test @ Home subtest
$34.50
First subtest booked: $54.50 (see details)
Total expected fees to complete the HiSET assuming no retake attempts and completion in a single calendar year:
$192.50
Subtest fee breakdown:
Test Fee: $17
Remote Proctoring Fee: $17.50
State Admin Fee: $20 one-time fee. See note below.
Test Location: Offsite, remote proctored. System requirements and test environment guidelines must be met.
State Admin Fees: The State of California collects a one-time state fee of $20 at the time you book your first HiSET subtest.
Included with Your Fee: The California HiSET test fee includes one printed transcript and one printed certificate.
Retesting
What to know: HiSET test takers may take each subtest a maximum of three (3) times in a calendar year.
How it works: If you take your first official HiSET subtest in the month of January and then take two retakes at a test center in the months of February and March, you would not be permitted to take that subtest again until the next calendar year starting in January, and you would then need to pay the full test price.
What it costs: You may retake each subtest two times over the 12 months following your first attempt by paying only the test center fee (noted above for each in-person subtest) or the at-home online proctor fee ($17.50 for each at-home subtest).
Total fees per paper subtest
$29
First subtest booked: $49 (see details)
Total expected fees to complete the HiSET assuming no retake attempts and completion in a single calendar year:
$165
Subtest fee breakdown:
Test Fee: $15
Test Center Fee: $14
State Admin Fee: $20 one-time fee. See note below.
Test Location: Test Center
Total fees per computer subtest
$24.75
First subtest booked: $44.75 (see details)
Total expected fees to complete the HiSET assuming no retake attempts and completion in a single calendar year:
$143.75
Subtest fee breakdown:
Test Fee: $10.75
Test Center Fee: $14
State Admin Fee: $20 one-time fee. See note below.
Test Location: Test Center
State Admin Fees: The State of California collects a one-time state fee of $20 at the time you book your first HiSET subtest.
Included with Your Fee: The California HiSET test fee includes one printed transcript and one printed certificate.
Retesting
What to know: HiSET test takers may take each subtest a maximum of three (3) times in a calendar year.
How it works: If you take your first official HiSET subtest in the month of January and then take two retakes at a test center in the months of February and March, you would not be permitted to take that subtest again until the next calendar year starting in January, and you would then need to pay the full test price.
What it costs: You may retake each subtest two times over the 12 months following your first attempt by paying only the test center fee (noted above for each in-person subtest) or the at-home online proctor fee ($17.50 for each at-home subtest).
Contact LBSA for discount offers and additional information.
Total fees per paper subtest
$40
First subtest booked: $60 (see details)
Total expected fees to complete the HiSET assuming no retake attempts and completion in a single calendar year:
$220
Subtest fee breakdown:
Test Fee: $40
Test Center Fee: Included
State Admin Fee: $20 one-time fee. See note below.
Test Location: Test Center
Total fees per computer subtest
$42
First subtest booked: $62 (see details)
Total expected fees to complete the HiSET assuming no retake attempts and completion in a single calendar year:
$230
Subtest fee breakdown:
Test Fee: $42
Test Center Fee: Included
State Admin Fee: $20 one-time fee. See note below.
Test Location: Test Center
State Admin Fees: The State of California collects a one-time state fee of $20 at the time you book your first HiSET subtest.
Included with Your Fee: The California HiSET test fee includes one printed transcript and one printed certificate.
Retesting
What to know: HiSET test takers may take each subtest a maximum of three (3) times in a calendar year.
How it works: If you take your first official HiSET subtest in the month of January and then take two retakes at a test center in the months of February and March, you would not be permitted to take that subtest again until the next calendar year starting in January, and you would then need to pay the full test price.
What it costs: You may retake each subtest two times over the 12 months following your first attempt by paying only the test center fee (noted above for each in-person subtest).
Total fees per paper subtest
$35
First subtest booked: $55 (see details)
Total expected fees to complete the HiSET assuming no retake attempts and completion in a single calendar year:
$195
Subtest fee breakdown:
Test Fee: $35
Test Center Fee: Included
State Admin Fee: $20 one-time fee. See note below.
Test Location: Test Center
Total fees per computer subtest
$30
First subtest booked: $50 (see details)
Total expected fees to complete the HiSET assuming no retake attempts and completion in a single calendar year:
$170
Subtest fee breakdown:
Test Fee: $30
Test Center Fee: Included
State Admin Fee: $20 one-time fee. See note below.
Test Location: Test Center
State Admin Fees: The State of California collects a one-time state fee of $20 at the time you book your first HiSET subtest.
Included with Your Fee: The California HiSET test fee includes one printed transcript and one printed certificate.
Retesting
What to know: HiSET test takers may take each subtest a maximum of three (3) times in a calendar year.
How it works: If you take your first official HiSET subtest in the month of January and then take two retakes at a test center in the months of February and March, you would not be permitted to take that subtest again until the next calendar year starting in January, and you would then need to pay the full test price.
What it costs: You may retake each subtest two times over the 12 months following your first attempt by paying only the test center fee (noted above for each in-person subtest) or the at-home online proctor fee ($17.50 for each at-home subtest).
California Homeless and Foster Youths: Fee Waiver for High School Equivalency and Proficiency Tests
If you are under the age of 25 (and certified as a homeless youth by a homeless services provider) or a foster youth as defined in Education Code Section 48412, you qualify for a fee waiver for high school equivalency and proficiency tests.
What’s Covered:
The fee waiver covers fees for services related to test administration; it does not cover fees for services or documents required to verify the need for testing accommodations, test preparation,or other services not related to the administration of the tests.
What to Do:
To receive a fee waiver at the time of registration for a test administration, you must submit all standard required registration materials, including the documentation required for all testing accommodations that you may need, and certification of your foster or homeless youth status to the test contractor.
Return your completed certification form to [email protected].
Access your myHiSET account on PSIExams.com