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North Carolina HiSET® Requirements

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About the North Carolina 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 North Carolina’s High School Equivalency page for more information.

Requesting your official transcript: Please visit DiplomaSender to order your official North Carolina High School Equivalency documents (diploma and transcript). You will be prompted to request your documents once you have created an account on the website.

 

North Carolina Eligibility Requirements

To take the HiSET exam in North Carolina, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

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Age

Anyone 18 years or older may choose to take the HiSET exam. If you are 16 or 17 years of age, you can take the exam, but you must obtain special approval. Contact your local North Carolina Basic Skills Education program for the appropriate form(s).

High School Equivalency Status

To take the HiSET exam, you must not currently be enrolled in high school, and you must not have a valid high school diploma or high school equivalency credential from the United States.

Residency

You do not have to be a resident of North Carolina to take the HiSET exam.

Test Preparation or Instruction

Test preparation or instruction is encouraged but not mandatory.

Practice Test

You are not required to take a practice test before taking the official exam.

Identification

You must present government-issued identification on test day at the HiSET test center. Outdated or expired identification will not be accepted

Acceptable forms of identification include:

  • Driver’s license (Note: If your license has expired, North Carolina does not accept it as a valid form of ID. However, a Temporary Driving Certificate that has been issued by the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles will be accepted as long as it is unexpired.)
  • Passport
  • Military ID
  • Other form of government-issued (national or foreign) ID that shows:
    • Name
    • Date of birth
    • Signature
    • Photograph

HiSET North Carolina Testing Options and Fees

Total fees per paper subtest
$15

Total expected fees to complete the HiSET assuming no retake attempts and completion in a single calendar year:

$75
Subtest fee breakdown:
Test Fee:
$15
Test Center Fee:
$0
State Admin Fee:
$0
Test Location:
Test Center
Total fees per computer subtest
$15

Total expected fees to complete the HiSET assuming no retake attempts and completion in a single calendar year:

$75
Subtest fee breakdown:
Test Fee:
$15
Test Center Fee:
$0
State Admin Fee:
$0
Test Location:
Test Center
Total fees per @Home subtest
$32.50

Total expected fees to complete the HiSET assuming no retake attempts and completion in a single calendar year:

$162.50
Subtest fee breakdown:
Test Fee:
$15
Remote Proctor Fee:
$17.50
State Admin Fee:
$0

Test Location: Offsite, remote proctored. System requirements and test environment guidelines must be met.

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).

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