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Minnesota HiSET® Requirements

The following policies apply to anyone taking the HiSET® exam in Minnesota. When you schedule an appointment, you will need to confirm that you have read and understand these policies.

Minnesota Eligibility Requirements

To take the HiSET exam in Minnesota you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Age:
  •  If you are 19 years old, do not have a recognized and documented high school diploma, and are not currently enrolled in high school, you are eligible to take the HiSET® in Minnesota without an age waiver.
  • If you are 17 or 18 years old and are not currently enrolled in high school, you must apply for an age waiver before testing.
    • Getting an Age Waiver
      • School Enrollment Status: You must be at least 17 years old, NOT enrolled in K-12 public or private school.
      • The waiver form and instructions are available on the Minnesota Department of Education’s Adult Education (ABE). In addition to the form, you will need to bring a valid government-issued photo ID to the testing site. (See the acceptable identification section below).
  • Residency: You are not required to be a resident of the state of Minnesota in order to be eligible to take the HiSET®.
  • Test Preparation or Instruction:
  • Minnesota does not have any test preparation or instruction requirements to take the HiSET exam. However, instruction is encouraged before testing. Find an Adult Education Program near you on the Minnesota Adult Literacy Hotline.
  • Study guides can be found in adult education programs, libraries, bookstores and online. Some resources that are not vetted by educators may be good and some may not provide updated, accurate information. Be very careful of potentially fraudulent offers—especially online. 
  • Practice Test: The HiSET Official Practice test (OPT) is available to help prepare for the exam. Contact your local adult education program for more information: Minnesota Adult Literacy Hotline. 
  • Fees, Payment, Refunds and Financial Assistance
  • Individual subtest costs are as follows:
    • Tests cost between $23.75 (in-person computer testing at an official test center) to $31.25 (at-home computer testing).
    • Test costs vary by test location and test format:
      • Testing at a test center on computer:  $13.75 per subtest plus a $10 test center fee
      • Testing at home on computer (online proctored): $13.75 per subtest plus a test-at-home fee of $17.50
      • Test at a test center on paper: $18.00 per subtest plus a $10 test center fee
    • Retest fee:
      • You may retake each subtest two times over the next twelve months by paying only the test center fee, which is $10.00 for each in-person subtest or $17.50 for each at-home (online proctored) subtest. (Please note that you can only take each subtest a maximum of 3 times in a calendar year.)
        • Example:  If you take your first official HiSET subtest in the month of January and then take two retakes at a test center for $10 each 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 would then need to pay the full test price.
      • Test Discount in Minnesota: If you live in Minnesota, you can get the entire testing fee off each subject by entering the promo code MNHSEFREE when you schedule and pay for your HiSET subtests. NOTE: The discount is limited to not exceed $156.25 (a maximum of 5 subject test usages) per test. When scheduling, enter the promotional code, MNHSEFREE on the payment screen within the voucher field. Code not eligible for retakes.
      • The test discount is available to testers that are paying for their own testing, have a Minnesota address, and are testing at either an approved test center or at-home (online proctored).
      • This subsidy will be available as long as funds are available, and the funding is not guaranteed. There is no additional subsidy that is offered by the state; however, you can reach out to your local adult education programs or organization to see if there may be any additional assistance available.
    • You are encouraged to take a HiSET Practice Test before scheduling a test to make sure you are ready to test in each subject.
  • Minnesota does not have any test preparation or instruction requirements to take the HiSET exam. However, instruction is encouraged before testing. Find an Adult Education Program near you on the Minnesota Adult Literacy Hotline.
  • Study guides can be found in adult education programs, libraries, bookstores and online. Some resources that are not vetted by educators may be good and some may not provide updated, accurate information. Be very careful of potentially fraudulent offers—especially online. 
  • Practice Test: The HiSET Official Practice test (OPT) is available to help prepare for the exam. Contact your local adult education program for more information: Minnesota Adult Literacy Hotline. 
  • Identification:
  • You must present proper identification at the test center for each test session. Failure to provide documentation will prohibit you from taking the exam. The approved identification documents include, but is not limited to:
  • Expired or non-expired
    • valid passport
    • valid driver’s license from any state
    • state-issued ID card
    • national ID card
    • military ID card (not acceptable ID for on-line proctored examinations)
    • Tribal ID
    • Replacement/New ID application papers (with photo)/temporary or paper IDs
    • School ID w/photo and an original birth certificate (no photocopied birth certificates will be accepted)
    • any other form of government-issued photo ID with date-of-birth (national or foreign)
      • Judicial Institutions/Corrections ID
      • Medicaid ID
  • Unusual situations are handled on an individual basis and must be addressed in advance of the testing date.

Minnesota HiSET Testing Fees

Paper-based Test

Perfect for test takers who love the scratch of pencil on paper and the feeling they’re in high school all over again.

$ 18 .00

per subtest, plus test administration fee
(see below)*

  • *Test at a test center on paper: $18.00 per subtest plus a $10 test center fee

Computer-based Test

Ideal for test takers who are more comfortable clicking a mouse. Plus, it costs less.

$ 13 .75

per subtest, plus test administration fee
(see below)*

Test Administration Fees

Test Center Fee:

$ 10 .00

per subtest*

Test at Home Fee:

$ 17 .50

per subtest*

State Admin Fee:

$ 0 .00

*Tests cost between $23.75 (in-person computer testing at an official test center) to $31.25 (at-home computer testing).

*Testing at a test center on computer:  $13.75 per subtest plus a $10 test center fee.

*Testing at home on computer (online proctored): $13.75 per subtest plus a test-at-home fee of $17.50.

*Test at a test center on paper: $18.00 per subtest plus a $10 test center fee

* Test costs vary by test location and test format.

* You may retake each subtest two times over the next twelve months by paying only the test center fee, which is $10.00 for each in-person subtest or $17.50 for each at-home (online proctored) subtest