It looks like a diploma but works like a passport
A high school diploma or the equivalent can make an important difference in your income – and in your life. Learn about the General Educational Development (GED) Diploma and how you can pursue it.
Individuals who have not received a high school diploma or its equivalent have a low-cost opportunity to earn one. When you earn a diploma or GED, you have also earned the opportunity to find a stable job with a good income. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, a person with a high school diploma or GED will earn $7,658 more annually than a non-high school graduate.
If this interests you, please read the following. To qualify, you …
- Must be at least 16 years of age
- Cannot be currently enrolled in a high school/home school program
- Cannot have graduated from an accredited high school
- Cannot have received a high school diploma or its equivalent
The GED consists of five (5) separate tests in the following subject areas: Language Arts, Reading; Language Arts, Writing; Mathematics; Science; and Social Studies. Successfully passing these five tests demonstrates that the individual has acquired a level of learning that is comparable to that of traditional high school graduates.
The GED Testing Program in Georgia is jointly administered by the GED Testing Service of the American Council on Education (GEDTS) and by the Technical College System of Georgia’s Office of Adult Education GED Testing Service. The GED Tests are developed by GEDTS, and the same tests are given in all 50 states.
Quick Facts
- GED preparation classes are free. Contact your local Adult Education Center for days and times of classes.
- The GED diploma is recognized nationwide and is accepted by more than 95% of U.S. employers, colleges and universities.
- The GED diploma is a first step toward better jobs, further training and higher education.
- Two of every three people who take the GED Tests plan to obtain additional education.
- In college, GED graduates perform as well as traditional high school graduates.
- GED graduates are more likely to encourage their children to finish school.
- Many GED graduates say earning their diploma helped them to improve their self-esteem.
- The GED Tests measure many of the U.S. Department of Labor’s necessary workplace skills that are valued by employers.
- The GED Tests measure the skills and knowledge that traditional high school seniors should know and be able to do.
- GED graduates may be eligible to receive a $500 HOPE GED Voucher to use toward postsecondary education in Georgia. Contact the Georgia Student Finance Commission for more information and to see if you would qualify.
- From 1990 to 2007, Georgia’s GED Testing Service awarded more than 305,000 GED diplomas.
