GED Testing, Transcripts, and Scores

To ask questions about the GED or to get the results of your GED test or copy of your GED, contact the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges at (360) 704-4410.

Frequently Asked Questions about the GED:

Question: May a student, who has obtained a General Education Development Certificate (GED), but is not yet 21 years of age, return to public school to work toward a high school diploma?

Answer: Yes. A GED is not the equivalent of a high school diploma, but is similar to it. Thus, if a student is not yet 21, and if he/she has not met a district's high school graduation requirements, then they have a right to enroll to earn a diploma.

WAC 131-48-140 states: "The award by the state board for community and technical colleges and superintendent of public instruction of a certificate of educational competence shall not preclude such persons from returning to high school to obtain a regular high school diploma if changes in the person's situation allow completion of a regular high school education program..."

Question: Can the GED be used to gain high school credits?

Answer: No. The GED certificate and/or test scores may not be used as a means of awarding academic credit (e.g. Carnegie units) or as part or all of the requirement for completing the regular high school diploma.

Note: The GED test was created by the American Council on Education and measures academic skills expected of high school graduates. The test measures five areas: writing skills, social studies, science, literature and the arts, and mathematics.

The test is for adults and should not be seen as a high school exit test.

WAC 180-96-010 states: "Persons who are 16 years of age and under 19 years of age must have a substantial and warranted reason for leaving the regular high school program, or have completed a program of home-based instruction, as a condition to taking the general educational development test and receiving a certificate of educational competence.."

Washington State
Board of Education
PO Box 47206
600 Washington St. SE
Olympia, WA 98504-7206
360-725-6025