California Eligibility Requirements
To take the HiSET exam in California, you must not have completed high school and you must be a California resident or a member of the armed forces assigned to duty in the state of California. Additionally, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
Access your myHiSET account below
Note:
Certain California school districts or adult schools have different requirements. If you’re taking the HiSET exam in any of the following, please verify their requirements with them directly:
- Chula Vista Adult School
- Long Beach School for Adults
- Los Angeles Unified School District
Following Requirements
- 18 years of age or older; OR
- Not currently enrolled in high school; OR
- 17 years of age and confined to a state or county hospital or institution; OR
- 17 years of age and enrolled in a dropout recovery program.
Complete eligibility requirement language can be found in California Education Code Section 51420.
Residency
Proof of California residency must be verified, both at the time of registration and before admittance to the testing room.
The California Department of Education has provided the following list of documents that may be used to prove California residency:
- Current rental or lease agreement
- Current deed or title to residential real estate property
- Current mortgage statement
- Current home utility bill
- Current cable or phone bill
- Current employment documents
- Current insurance documents
- Current Internal Revenue Service or California Franchise Tax Board tax return
- Current property tax bill or statement
- Court documents that list the applicant as a California resident
- Current California certificate of vehicle or vessel title or registration
- Completion of the California High School Equivalency Declaration of California Residence.
Test Preparation or Instruction
You are not required to take HiSET preparation courses before taking the test.
Practice Test
You are not required to take a practice test before taking the official exam.
Identification
Identity and age must be verified by current photo identification that includes your name, birth date, signature, photograph and address at time of scheduling and/or before admittance to the testing room. Acceptable identification includes:
- Photographic driver’s license, with a signature, issued by any U.S. state or foreign government
- Photographic identification card, with a signature, issued by any of the U.S. Armed Forces, any U.S. state, or any foreign government
- Photographic Tribal enrollment card with a signature
- Photographic identification card or badge, with a signature, issued by a California department or agency (e.g., California Conservation Corps)
- Photographic passport, with a signature, issued by the United States or a foreign government.
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:
General California Fees
Total expected fees to complete the HiSET (not including test center fees) assuming no retake attempts and completion in a single calendar year:
Total expected fees to complete the HiSET (not including test center fees) assuming no retake attempts and completion in a single calendar year:
Total expected fees to complete the HiSET assuming no retake attempts and completion in a single calendar year:
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.
Chula Vista Adult School
Total expected fees to complete the HiSET assuming no retake attempts and completion in a single calendar year:
Total expected fees to complete the HiSET assuming no retake attempts and completion in a single calendar year:
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.
Long Beach School for Adults
Contact LBSA for discount offers and additional information.
Total expected fees to complete the HiSET assuming no retake attempts and completion in a single calendar year:
Total expected fees to complete the HiSET assuming no retake attempts and completion in a single calendar year:
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.
Los Angeles Unified School District Test Center
Total expected fees to complete the HiSET assuming no retake attempts and completion in a single calendar year:
Total expected fees to complete the HiSET assuming no retake attempts and completion in a single calendar year:
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 6 months. The 6 month period is split into two 6 month periods each year.
First 6 month period: January 1 to June 30
Second 6 month period: July 1 to December 31st
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 July of the same year.
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].