New Jersey

You must be 18 years old to test in New Jersey.

You can be 16 or 17 years old and take the GED^® test if you

• complete a Certificate of Consent to Participate form verifying that you’re not enrolled in school, have permission to take the GED^® test and have a parent or legal guardian accompany you to the test center with your completed Certificate of Consent to Participate form. You must bring your Certificate of Consent form to a test center whether you plan to test at a test center or the online exam.
  
• If you have a legal guardian, you must bring a copy of the court document awarding guardianship.
  
• If the parent cannot go to the test center, the Consent to Participate form must be signed by the parent before a New Jersey Notary. The student can take the notarized form to the chief examiner at the test center who will then verify the form to release the age restriction. The student can then complete the registration for the online assessment.

For those testing on the Online Exam:

• A parent or guardian must be present at the pre-test check-in to give consent and authorize the underage tester to be recorded during testing. If the parent or guardian is not present, the exam session will be revoked.

Yes, you must provide photo identification to demonstrate eligibility to take the GED^® test.  

• Driver’s Licenses, Permits, Passports, Voter registrations, School/College ID, Employee ID, or other photo identification, valid or expired, that has been issued by a public entity or private third party;
  

In addition to photo identification you must provide one or more of the following:

• Property tax bills; deeds; contracts of sale; leases; mortgages; signed letters from landlords; and other evidence of property ownership,  tenancy, or residency;
  
• Financial account information; utility bills; delivery receipts; and other evidence of personal attachment to a particular location;
  
• Court orders; State agency agreements; and other evidence of court or agency placements or directives;
  
• Receipts; bills; cancelled checks; insurance claims or payments; and other evidence of expenditures demonstrating personal attachment to a particular location or to support the test taker
  
• Medical reports; counselor or social worker assessments; employment documents; unemployment claims; benefit statements; and other evidence of circumstances demonstrating family or economic hardship, or temporary residency;
  
• Affidavits, certifications, and sworn attestations pertaining to statutory criteria from the parent, guardian, person keeping an “affidavit student,” adult student, person(s) with whom a family is living, or others, as appropriate;
  
• Documents pertaining to military status and assignment; and
  
• Any other business record or document issued by a governmental entity.

Some states allow people who don’t live there to take the GED^® test and others don’t. You’ll need to check the residency requirement for the state that you’re interested to test in.

No, New Jersey doesn’t require you to prepare for the GED^® test in an adult education classroom.

For those testing in-person at a Testing Center: 

• No, you’re not required to take the GED Ready® practice test before taking the official GED® test. 

For those testing on the Online Exam: 

• Yes, you’re required to take the GED Ready® practice test before taking the official GED® test online. 

What is my cost if I test at a Test Center?

• Starting July 1, 2023: New Jersey charges $36 per subject for the GED® test at a Test Center.

What is my cost if I test Online?

• New Jersey charges $36 per subject for the GED® test via Online.

You will pay for the test online with a debit or credit card when you schedule your test.

Don’t have a credit or debit card? Some students use American Express Bluebird. Register for a free Bluebird card online and add funds with cash at a Walmart location. Learn more about Bluebird.

For those testing in-person at a Testing Center:  

• In New Jersey, there is no waiting period if you do not pass a subject area test the first time. After taking a test subject 3 times, you’ll have to wait 60 days before retesting. There’s no limit to how many times you can test in a year.

For those testing on the Online Exam: 

• The Online Proctored Exam allows for one retake before a 60 day waiting period. After taking a test subject two times online, you’ll have to wait 60 days before retesting.  

For those testing in-person at a Testing Center: 

• Starting July 1, 2023: You will receive one discounted* retake for every GED® test subject you purchase but don’t pass. You have 365 days after your full price test to use this retake. This retake offer (1 full price:1 discount) repeats until you pass the test. GED Testing Service waives its $26 testing fee, however additional testing fees may still apply in your state.

*In New Jersey, there is a $10 test center fee for GED® test retakes. 

Note: We have extended the limited-time offer of up to 2 discounted retakes for exams taken in test centers, as long as both retakes are completed by June 30, 2024.  

For those testing on the Online Exam:

• The Online Proctored Exam costs $36 for a retake in New Jersey. Discounted retakes are not offered on the Online Proctored Exam. 

There may be additional requirements that you need to meet. We recommend contacting your state’s office at [email protected] to find out more about your credential.

Duplicate diplomas are not issued in New Jersey. Go here to request a duplicate transcript.

In New Jersey, the credential is called the New Jersey State Issued High School Diploma.

For those testing in-person at a Testing Center:

• Yes, in New Jersey you can take all test subjects in the same day if you can find a testing center with hours that accommodate it.

For those testing on the Online Exam:

• No, you must schedule your test appointments separately, one at a time. After you complete one online exam you may schedule another, based on appointment availability.

Yes, in New Jersey you can take the test in English or Spanish, however, you cannot combine two different languages to earn your credential.

It depends on whether or not that state has a residency requirement.  Check the residency requirements in that state and don’t hesitate to contact the GED Administrator^™ in that state with questions.

Larry Breeden
GED Administrator^™
New Jersey Department of Education
GED Testing
P.O. Box 500
Trenton, NJ 08625-0500
Phone: (609) 341-3071
Fax: (609) 984-0573