The main GED requirements in Texas are simple. You must live in Texas, you must not have graduated from an accredited high school, you must not currently be enrolled in one, and you must be 18 or qualify for an age exception. This guide also covers ID, costs, online testing and retakes.
Rules and prices can change, so check the Texas Education Agency and GED.com before you register.
Who Can Take the GED in Texas?
According to the Texas Education Agency (TEA), you are eligible if you:
- Live in Texas
- Have not graduated from an accredited high school
- Are not currently enrolled in an accredited high school
- Are 18 years old, or qualify for an age exception
Texas GED Age Exceptions
If You Are 17
You can test if you have all of the following:
- A valid government-issued photo ID and proof of Texas residency
- No current school enrollment, unless you are in an approved in-school High School Equivalency Program
- No accredited high school diploma
- Permission from a parent or guardian
If You Are 16
You must meet the same ID, residency, enrollment and diploma requirements. You must also be in one of these situations:
- In the care of a state agency
- Under a court order under Family Code 65.103(a)(3)
- Enrolled in a Job Corps training program
- Enrolled in the Texas Challenge Academy
TEA has the current age exception details and forms, so review them before you schedule your test.
What ID and Proof of Residency Do You Need?
TEA accepts valid, government-issued photo IDs. Examples include a driver license (including a learner permit), a DPS ID card, a military ID and a matrícula consular card. A passport or a permanent resident card can be accepted with an additional signed ID.
TEA does not accept student IDs, library cards, photocopies, digital photos or digital wallet IDs as your photo ID. A parent's or guardian's ID does not count either.
To prove that you live in Texas, you can use a Texas driver license or DPS ID. Documents like a utility or cell phone bill, bank statement, paycheck stub, tax return or government mail showing your Texas address may also work. Check the complete list with TEA first.
How Much Does the GED Cost in Texas?
GED.com lists these Texas prices:
- At a test center: $36.25 per subject
- Online: $42.25 per subject
There are four subjects, so the full test costs about $145 at a center or $169 online if you pass each on the first try. GED Ready practice tests cost extra.
Taking the GED Online in Texas
Texans can test at an official center or online. To test online, you need a Green score on GED Ready. You must schedule online exams one subject at a time. Test takers under 18 must have a parent or guardian present at check-in, and both people need ID. Read more in our guide to the GED test at home.
Texas GED Retake Rules
GED.com lists different rules for each testing method:
- At a test center: No waiting period for your first two retakes. After three attempts at a subject, you must wait 60 days. You get two discounted retakes per subject, usable within 365 days, and they cost $16.25 each.
- Online: You get one retake before a 60-day wait. There is no discount, so an online retake costs $42.25.
What You Need to Pass
You must score at least 145 out of 200 on each of the four subjects: Mathematical Reasoning, Reasoning Through Language Arts, Science and Social Studies. You can take them one at a time, in any order. After you pass all four, you can apply for your Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency.
How to Get Your GED in Texas, Step by Step
- Step 1: Confirm that you meet TEA's eligibility rules, including any age exception.
- Step 2: Create an account on GED.com.
- Step 3: Take a practice test to find your strongest and weakest subjects.
- Step 4: Study one subject at a time.
- Step 5: Schedule your test at a center or online.
- Step 6: Bring or show accepted ID, and repeat until you have passed all four subjects.
Prepare for the GED in Texas
We help students across Texas, all online, including in Houston and Dallas. Begin with our free GED math study guide and GED science practice questions. You can also see our Texas GED prep page or read about working with a private GED tutor.
You take the real test yourself, under GED Testing Service rules. When you are ready, order GED prep online or call or WhatsApp +1 (217) 426-5403.