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Adult Basic Education/High School Equivalency (GED/HiSET)

https://education.mn.gov/mde/fam/abe/ 

Adult Basic Education Services in Minnesota

Adult Basic Education (ABE) is available statewide at little to no cost to adult learners. It is administered through the Minnesota Department of Education. Each year, more than 300 delivery sites serve approximately 50,000 adult students. About one-half of these students are enrolled in English learner (EL) programs. Licensed teachers provide ABE instruction and are assisted by more than 1,400 trained volunteers.

The ABE services include Adult Diploma, High School Equivalency (General Educational Development (GED) and High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), English as a Second Language (ESL or EL), Career Pathways, Family Literacy, Basic Skills Enhancement, Workplace Literacy, and U.S. Citizenship/Civics. Programs are delivered primarily through public school districts, nonprofit organizations, some technical colleges, and state and local correctional institutions.

You must be at least 17 years old, not enrolled in K-12 public or private school, and lack basic academic skills in reading, writing, speaking and/or mathematics in order to be eligible for ABE services. Local contact information related to ABE services can be found on the Minnesota Adult Literacy Hotline website.

Requesting High School Equivalency (GED/HiSET) Records

If you just passed your GED or HiSET test, the Minnesota Department of Education will automatically send you a diploma and transcript using the mailing address you have in your GED or HiSET account. Please make sure your address is correct. It typically takes three weeks from the final test passing date for you to receive your High School Equivalency diploma and record via U.S. Mail.

People can request a High School Equivalency diploma or transcript by completing and submitting a High School Equivalency (GED/HiSET) Records Request Form (see below). The one-page request form lists three options for submitting the request. Please choose one:

  1. Email a completed form to MDE.ABE@state.mn.us.
  2. Fax the completed form to 651-582-8458.
  3. Mail the completed form to:
    High School Equivalency (HSE) Office
    400 NE Stinson Blvd.
    Minneapolis, MN 55413

High School Equivalency records will be sent out from our office via U.S. Mail, typically within three to five business days of receiving the request.

HSE Testing Subsidy Available for Minnesotans with code MNHSEFREE

HSE testers in Minnesota can now get one free test in each subject by entering the code MNHSEFREE when scheduling and paying for testing, while test approval and funding last. This promotional code must be entered when scheduling tests. This code applies to any eligible tester with a Minnesota address who marks that they intend to test in Minnesota and schedules testing via online proctored or at an approved Minnesota or border state's testing center. If a student does not pass or does not show up for testing, they will not receive the subsidy for the retake tests; they will have to pay the standard retake test price. Once the funding  runs out, the code will not work and testers will have to pay the full testing fee. We cannot predict how long funding will last.

Getting Started
Register online at the GED website, register online at the HiSET website, or contact your local Adult Basic Education (ABE) program to get started. Search for an ABE program near you by visiting the Minnesota Adult Literacy website. Staff at each ABE program will be able to walk you through the registration process and also provide resources and classes to prepare for taking the test.

The Test
In Minnesota, individuals who do not have a high school diploma may be able to earn a state of Minnesota High School Equivalency Diploma by passing the GED or HiSET tests. The four tests in the GED battery and the five tests in the HiSET battery measure academic competencies similar to many of those required of a Minnesota high school graduate.

Eligibility
If you are 19 years old, do not already have a recognized and documented high school diploma, and are not currently enrolled in high school, you are eligible to take a High School Equivalency test battery in Minnesota without an age waiver.

Getting 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. The waiver form and instructions are available below. In addition to the form, you will need to bring a valid, current government-issued photo ID to the testing site.

Once You Pass All the Tests
Once you pass all GED or HiSET tests, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) will receive your information (including name and address) automatically from your GED or HiSET testing account and print you an official diploma and transcript, typically within a week. Please make sure your mailing address is correct in your GED or HiSET account! The diploma and transcript will be mailed via U.S. Mail to your address that you have listed in your GED or HiSET account. You should receive your diploma in about 3 weeks after passing the final test.

Getting Additional Copies of GED or HiSET Records
If you need additional copies of your GED or HiSET records, please download and complete the High School Equivalency (GED/HiSET) Records Request form below. Please note that for official employment, college, other postsecondary or similar verification purposes, they typically need just the “Official Transcript.” Records are sent via U.S. Mail or via email.

Standard Adult Diploma

Minnesota adults who do not have a high school diploma, General Education Development (GED) Diploma, or High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) Diploma have following three options for obtaining a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma:

  • Standard Adult High School Diploma
    The 2014 Minnesota Legislature approved a third secondary credential option for adults: a state standard adult high school diploma. The standard adult high school diploma is competency-based and is completed through participation in an approved Minnesota Adult Basic Education program. Completion of the program is recognized by the state with a diploma awarded by the Minnesota Department of Education. For more information about this option, see the document titled "Minnesota Standard Adult High School Diploma Overview" below.
  • K-12 Credit Diploma Completion
    Also known as Credit Completion or Credit Recovery, Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs and/or local school districts may provide the opportunity for participants to complete the course requirements needed to obtain a high school diploma from a Minnesota school district. Not every Minnesota ABE program is able to offer this option due to the intensive time commitment for adult students and expensive resource commitment for programs and schools. The diploma is approved and issued by a local school district.
  • Test-Based High School Equivalency Diploma (GED and HiSET)
    The Minnesota Department of Education issues a high school equivalency diploma to Minnesotans who pass an approved high school equivalency assessment. The approved tests in Minnesota are the GED and HiSET. For additional information on current high school equivalency assessments in Minnesota, please visit the High School Equivalency Testing/GED page.

Minnesota Adult Literacy Hotline
To find an approved ABE program to help you earn your diploma as an adult, please visit the Minnesota Adult Literacy Hotline or call 1-800-222-1990.

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