The HiSET exam was introduced by ETS as an alternative to the GED, which is administered by a different organization (Pearson/GED Testing Service). When some states sought an alternative to the GED after the GED's major revision in 2014, several adopted the HiSET as their primary or sole high school equivalency assessment. Other states offer multiple assessments and allow test-takers to choose which one to take.

Still others have since returned to offering the GED exclusively or alongside the HiSET. The landscape of which states accept which assessments has shifted over the years, making it important to verify current requirements directly with your state's education department rather than relying on information that may have been accurate in a prior year.

Missouri is one of the states most commonly associated with the HiSET because it is one of the larger states that uses the HiSET as its primary high school equivalency assessment. Missouri's HiSET program is administered through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in partnership with ETS.

Missouri residents seeking a high school equivalency credential must take the HiSET — the GED is not accepted for Missouri's state-issued credential, though some colleges and employers may accept GED scores independently. The Missouri HiSET program has specific eligibility requirements, test site locations, and fee structures that applicants must understand before registering.

Earning a high school equivalency credential through the HiSET opens the same opportunities that a traditional high school diploma does for most purposes — including college admissions (for schools that accept equivalency credentials), employment applications that require a high school diploma or equivalent, military enlistment (with branch-specific policies), and vocational licensing programs that require a high school credential.

The HiSET credential issued by your state carries the same legal status as a high school diploma for state purposes. Federal programs, military branches, and specific employers have their own policies about whether high school equivalency credentials are accepted for their specific purposes.

The HiSET and GED are the two most widely used high school equivalency assessments in the United States, but they are different tests with different formats, administered by different organizations. Test-takers in states that offer both options should understand what factors distinguish them before choosing which to take.

The HiSET is generally considered more accessible for test-takers who have been out of school for many years, partly because its scoring system reports subtests separately and allows test-takers to address specific areas of weakness without retaking the entire exam. The decision about which test to take depends primarily on which tests your state accepts and, if both are available, which format better matches your preparation and testing preferences.

Understanding HiSET state requirements also means knowing how scores are reported and how long scores remain valid. ETS maintains official score records for HiSET test-takers, and test-takers can request score reports to be sent to colleges, employers, or other institutions directly through the ETS HiSET website.

Score reports typically show results for each subtest taken, pass or fail status, and total score. HiSET scores do not expire at the ETS level, but states may have their own policies about how long scores can be used to apply for a credential -- test-takers who passed some subtests years ago should verify whether those scores are still valid for credential issuance in their state.

The HiSET is available in a number of US states and territories, with Missouri being one of the largest. Other states and jurisdictions that have used the HiSET as a primary or accepted high school equivalency assessment include Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Wyoming, and several US territories including American Samoa, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, and the Marshall Islands. The list of participating states has changed over time as states make policy decisions about which assessments to accept.

Some states offer both the HiSET and the GED, giving test-takers a choice of which assessment to take. In these states, the credential issued by the state may reference the specific test taken, or may simply identify it as a high school equivalency credential regardless of which assessment was used. Test-takers in choice states should confirm that both options are equally accepted for their specific purposes -- some employers, colleges, or military branches may have preferences about which assessment they accept even when both are technically acceptable under state law.

States that have previously offered the HiSET but switched to the GED or other assessments may no longer accept new HiSET test scores for credential issuance, even though scores from those states' HiSET administrations remain part of official testing records.

Test-takers who took the HiSET in a state that no longer uses it should contact their state's education department to understand whether their existing scores can still be used to apply for a credential. In most cases, credential applications are processed under the rules in effect when the credential is applied for, not necessarily the rules in effect when the test was taken.

Correctional education programs in many states offer the HiSET to incarcerated individuals seeking high school equivalency credentials as part of reentry preparation. States that operate HiSET programs typically extend access to state correctional facilities where adult education programming is available. Individuals in correctional settings should work with their facility's education coordinator to understand what testing options are available, what registration procedures apply in that context, and what score documentation will be issued upon successful completion. The credential earned through a correctional HiSET program is typically the same state-issued high school equivalency credential as those earned through civilian test centers.

Missouri is one of the most widely searched HiSET states because it is the primary high school equivalency assessment for Missouri residents. The Missouri HiSET program is administered through Missouri's Adult Education and Literacy programs in partnership with ETS. To take the HiSET in Missouri, applicants must be Missouri residents, must be at least 17 years old, and must meet specific criteria related to their prior high school enrollment status -- typically, applicants must have been out of high school for at least one year or must have officially withdrawn from high school before taking the HiSET.

Missouri HiSET test sites are located throughout the state at adult education centers, community colleges, and other approved testing locations. Test-takers register for specific test sites and schedule their subtests through the Missouri adult education portal or through the ETS HiSET online registration system. Missouri allows test-takers to take subtests individually on different days rather than requiring all five subtests to be completed in a single session, which gives test-takers flexibility to prepare thoroughly for each subtest before scheduling it.

Missouri's HiSET credential is issued by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education upon successful completion of all five subtests with the required scores. The Missouri High School Equivalency Certificate is the official credential, and it carries the same legal status as a Missouri high school diploma for state purposes. Missouri colleges and universities that accept equivalency credentials treat the Missouri HiSET certificate comparably to a high school diploma for admissions purposes, though specific admissions requirements vary by institution.

Missouri's adult education system, which administers the HiSET program, also provides free or subsidized HiSET preparation resources through Missouri adult education centers. Residents who need preparation before they are ready to test can enroll in adult education classes that specifically prepare students for the HiSET subtests.

These programs are funded through the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and are available at no cost to eligible Missouri residents. Test-takers who are not yet scoring at the passing threshold on practice assessments should consider connecting with a Missouri adult education program rather than repeatedly retaking the HiSET before achieving adequate preparation.

HiSET eligibility requirements are set by each state but follow a general framework set by ETS. Common requirements across most HiSET states include a minimum age (typically 17, with some states allowing 16-year-olds with parental consent or documentation of specific circumstances), residency in the state where the test is being taken, and not currently being enrolled in high school. The residency requirement means that test-takers must take the HiSET in the state where they live -- you cannot travel to a different state to take the HiSET under that state's program if you're a resident of a different state.

Age requirements for HiSET vary by state. Most states require test-takers to be at least 17 years old. Some states allow 16-year-olds to test with parental consent or a signed waiver. A few states set the minimum age at 18. Test-takers who are under the standard minimum age should contact their state's adult education office to understand whether any exceptions or alternative pathways are available. Military members, individuals in correctional facilities, and other special populations may have access to modified eligibility requirements in some states.

Required identification documents for HiSET registration typically include a government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of state residency (utility bill, bank statement, or other official document showing your name and current state address). Some states have additional documentation requirements, such as proof of high school withdrawal or an official transcript from your last high school. Confirming the specific ID requirements with your test site before your registration appointment prevents unnecessary delays.

Military enlistment policies regarding high school equivalency credentials vary by branch and specific program. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard each have policies about whether equivalency credentials are accepted in lieu of high school diplomas, and these policies affect enlistment tier and job qualification options. Test-takers who are seeking a HiSET credential specifically for military enlistment purposes should contact a recruiter to understand the specific branch policies before taking the test -- in some cases, additional testing (such as the ASVAB) is a prerequisite before equivalency status is evaluated for enlistment purposes.

Veterans and active-duty military personnel seeking a high school equivalency credential through the HiSET may have access to special testing arrangements or fee waivers depending on their state and branch of service. Several states have agreements with the Department of Defense to facilitate equivalency testing for service members. Test-takers with disabilities can request testing accommodations through ETS by submitting documentation of their disability and the accommodations needed before scheduling their test. Approved accommodations may include extended testing time, separate testing environments, or alternative presentation formats for test materials.

The HiSET uses a scaled scoring system for its five subtests. Each subtest is scored on a scale of 1 to 20, and the minimum passing score for each subtest is 8 out of 20 in most states. The Writing subtest has an additional essay component scored separately on a scale of 1 to 6, with a minimum passing score of 2 on the essay.

The total score across all five subtests is the sum of individual subtest scores, with a minimum total score requirement of 45 out of 100. Test-takers must meet both the individual subtest minimums and the total minimum to qualify for the credential.

Registering for the HiSET involves creating an account on the ETS HiSET website, selecting your state, reviewing your state's specific requirements, and paying the registration fee. Test fees vary by state -- ETS sets a base fee, and states may add administrative fees on top. Missouri's HiSET program has fees determined by the state's adult education system, and fee assistance may be available for test-takers who qualify based on income. Test-takers can register for individual subtests rather than all five at once, allowing them to schedule preparation and testing in stages based on their readiness for each content area.

Test-takers who do not pass a subtest on the first attempt can retake the failed subtest. Retake policies vary by state -- some states allow unlimited retakes after a waiting period; others limit the number of retakes or require additional documentation or counseling before a retake is permitted.

Passing scores from individual subtests are typically banked (saved) for a specified period, so test-takers who pass some subtests on their first attempt don't need to retake those subjects while working on subjects they didn't pass. Confirming your state's specific retake and score banking policies before beginning the testing process helps set appropriate expectations.

Financial assistance for HiSET test fees is available in many states for eligible test-takers. Fee waivers or reduced-fee programs are typically administered through state adult education programs and are targeted at individuals who demonstrate financial need.

The specific eligibility criteria for fee assistance vary by state, but many states offer some form of testing fee subsidy for HiSET test-takers who are enrolled in workforce development programs, receiving public assistance, or otherwise qualifying under state-defined criteria. Test-takers who face cost barriers to testing should inquire about fee assistance programs through their local adult education center before paying full registration fees out of pocket.

After passing all five HiSET subtests, the credential issuance process varies by state. In most states, ETS notifies the state education department of passing scores, and the state initiates the credential issuance process. Some states mail the credential directly to the test-taker; others require a separate application for the credential after scores are confirmed.

The time between passing all subtests and receiving the official credential can range from a few weeks to a couple of months depending on the state's administrative process. Test-takers who need documentation of their passing scores before the official credential arrives can typically request a score report directly from ETS.