GED and HiSET in California
In California the GED costs $164 in person or online and the HiSET costs $190, minimum age 18.
Check online testing and cost · Compare all states
How California compares
GED, all 4 subjects in person
At $164, California (GED, all 4 subjects in person) is cheaper than 7 states and more expensive than 34 states.
That is $20 above the national median. The national median is $144 (42 states with a confirmed price, range $0 to $200).
Compared with California, it is cheaper in Nevada ($124); more expensive in Oregon ($176).
GED, all 4 subjects online
At $164, California (GED, all 4 subjects online) is cheaper than 7 states and more expensive than 29 states.
That is $20 above the national median. The national median is $144 (37 states with a confirmed price, range $104 to $200).
Compared with California, it is cheaper in Nevada ($144); more expensive in Oregon ($176).
HiSET, all 5 subtests
At $190, California (HiSET, all 5 subtests) is more expensive than 20 states.
That is $60 above the national median. The national median is $130 (21 states with a confirmed price, range $0 to $190).
Compared with California, it is cheaper in Nevada ($115).
Rankings use only prices confirmed from an official source. Neighboring states come from the US Census county adjacency file.
Which test you can take
- Tests accepted
- GED and HiSETCalifornia is listed on the HiSET state page (also a separate 'California Proficiency' entry at https://hiset.org/california-proficiency/, not researched). GED confirmed at https://www.ged.com/policies/california.html. Source: hiset.org, checked 2026-10-10
- Credential awarded
- California High School Equivalency Certificatehiset.org/california/ describes the result only as a high school equivalency credential without naming it. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10
Cost
- GED, all 4 subjects in person
- $164Calculated: 4 x $41. The page gives a flat per-subject price and lists no other fees for first attempts; it does not state a total. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10
- GED, one subject in person
- $41Matches GED price JSON (dataipprice $41.00): https://www.ged.com/etc/clientlibs/websites/ged/assets/resources/dropdown-json/dropdown-price-and-rules.json Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10
- GED, all 4 subjects online
- $164Calculated: 4 x $41. The page does not state a total. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10
- GED, one subject online
- $41Matches GED price JSON (dataOnlineprice $41.00). Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10
- HiSET, all 5 subtests
- $190All 5 subtests, test center, no retakes, as stated by HiSET. Test @ Home total is $235; Long Beach/LAUSD $210. Source: hiset.org, checked 2026-10-10
- HiSET, one subtest
- $34Paper or computer at a test center, general California price (first subtest booked $54 because of a one-time $20 state admin fee). Test @ Home is $43 per subtest ($54.50 first). Long Beach School for Adults and LAUSD charge $38 ($58 first). Source: hiset.org, checked 2026-10-10
- Ways to pay less
- GED: in person only, one discounted retake per subject not passed within 365 days (GED Testing Service waives its $26 fee; $15 California test center fee); not available online. HiSET: fee waiver for students under 25 certified as homeless youth or foster youth (Education Code Section 48412), covering test administration fees but not accommodation documentation or prep.GED discounted-retake detail from https://www.ged.com/policies/california.html. No state-funded GED voucher found on the GED page. Source: hiset.org, checked 2026-10-10
Online testing
Age
- Minimum age
- 18HiSET also uses 18 or older, with exceptions listed in underage_exceptions. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10
- Under the minimum age
- GED: under-18s may test if within 60 days of their 18th birthday; or within 60 days of when they would have graduated and not enrolled in high school; or 17, out of school at least 60 consecutive days, with a request letter from the military, a postsecondary institution or a prospective employer. Online testing under 18 needs an approved California Department of Education waiver and a parent or guardian at check-in. HiSET: 18+, or not currently enrolled in high school, or 17 and confined to a state or county hospital or institution, or 17 and in a dropout recovery program; Chula Vista Adult School, Long Beach School for Adults and LAUSD may have different requirements.HiSET age rules from https://hiset.org/california/. Candidates must be 18 to receive the GED certificate. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10
Residency
- Residency rule
- Must be a California resident or a member of the armed forces assigned to duty in California. If the photo ID does not show a California address, bring one proof document (such as a lease, utility bill or tax return) or complete the California Declaration of Residency. Without proof you cannot test and forfeit the fee. Same residency rule applies to HiSET.HiSET residency from https://hiset.org/california/. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10
Retakes
- Retake policy
- GED test center: no wait for the first two retakes, then a 60-day wait after three attempts in a subject; one discounted retake per subject not passed within 365 days plus a $15 California test center fee. GED online: one retake before a 60-day wait; online retakes cost $41 with no discount. HiSET: each subtest may be taken a maximum of 3 times in 6 months (periods Jan 1-Jun 30 and Jul 1-Dec 31); retakes cost only the test center fee or the $23 at-home proctor fee, with the full test fee applying only to the first and fourth attempts.HiSET retake details from https://hiset.org/california/. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10