California has a robust adult education system that supports thousands of residents each year in earning their GED or California high school equivalency diploma. This guide covers GED California requirements, how to access free preparation through California Adult Education Programs (CAEP), where to test, how much it costs, and how to get your official California GED diploma.
California offers both the GED and the HiSET as approved high school equivalency exams. Both are accepted for California employment, college admissions, and licensing purposes — you only need to pass one. The GED is the more widely recognized option nationally and internationally, while HiSET is used at some California adult schools as a lower-cost alternative.
This guide focuses on the GED. If you are enrolled in a California adult school or community college adult education program, ask which test your program prepares you for — some California programs specifically prepare students for HiSET rather than GED. Both credentials appear as 'California High School Equivalency' on official records. For free GED practice questions across all four subject areas, see our ged ready practice test.
California GED students have access to a wide range of study resources, including free state-funded programs and widely available online tools:
GED.com (Official): GED Testing Service's free study platform offers lessons, practice questions, and the GED Ready practice test for all four subjects. The GED Ready ($6/subject) predicts your likelihood of passing — aim for 'Likely to Pass' before scheduling. Create a free account at ged.com.
Khan Academy: Completely free math, science, reading, and social studies content that aligns with the GED curriculum. Widely used by California GED students and recommended by many CAEP programs.
California Adult Education Programs (CAEP): Many CAEP sites offer free GED preparation instruction, including both in-person classes and online learning options. Programs are funded through the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office and available throughout the state.
Our ged study guide provides a structured preparation roadmap, and our list of ged lessons online free covers the best free digital resources for each subject.
GED tests in California are administered at Pearson VUE authorized testing centers. California has one of the largest networks of test sites in the country — from Los Angeles and San Francisco to smaller cities throughout the Central Valley, Bay Area, and Southern California.
To schedule your California GED test:
California test centers are typically available Monday through Saturday. You can test one subject at a time — you do not need to schedule all four on the same day. After three unsuccessful attempts at a subject, a 60-day waiting period applies before the next attempt.