To take the GED in Kentucky, you must be at least 19, or 17 with approval. It costs $36 per subject at a test center, and online testing costs $36 per subject where allowed. You must live in Kentucky to test there. Free or subsidized testing is available for some residents. Confirm on GED.com before you book.
Key facts
Standard age (17 with approval): 19
Test center, per subject: $36
Online, per subject (limited): $36
Residency required: Yes
How much does the GED cost in Kentucky?
At a test center, the GED costs $36 per subject in Kentucky.
Online, it costs $36 per subject.
A discounted retake at a test center costs $10 per subject.
Free or subsidized testing: yes, for some residents. While funding lasts, Kentucky pays for your first test in each subject plus limited retakes. First pass GED Ready, free at a Kentucky Adult Education center. At a test center, enter KYFREEGED1 at checkout; online tests and retakes use other state codes.
More detail: Without the state code, each subject costs $36. The state covers two retakes per subject at a test center or one online. Other discounted in-person retakes cost a $10 test center fee.
At US test centers, GED Testing Service waives its fee on retakes of a failed subject (up to two discounted retakes, used within 12 months). State and test-center fees may still apply. Online retakes are not discounted.
How old do you have to be to take the GED in Kentucky?
The standard minimum age to take the GED in Kentucky is 19.
Younger people may be able to test from age 17 with approval.
Rules for younger test takers: At 19 you need no age approval. At 18 you must have withdrawn from school for 90 days or meet another exception. At 17 you can test only in a few cases, such as a district alternative program. Under 19, complete the underage form.
The minimum age to test online is 17.
Nationally, GED Testing Service says test takers must be at least 16 and not enrolled in an accredited high school. Each state adds its own rules.
If you are under 18 and test online, a parent or guardian must be with you at check-in (GED Testing Service policy).
Do you have to live in Kentucky to take the GED?
Yes. You need to live in Kentucky to take the GED there.
You must be a Kentucky resident with a Kentucky mailing address.
Where a state requires residency, GED Testing Service asks you to self-certify that you live there before you schedule. The state may check further.
Can you take the GED online in Kentucky?
Online testing in Kentucky is limited. GED.com says restrictions may apply, so check your GED.com account before you plan on it.
Details: Online testing is limited and starts at 17. You must pass GED Ready before you test online.
Some students who test at home say working math on an on-screen whiteboard feels slow, so some choose a test center for Math. Practice your scratch work on screen if you plan to test online.
To test online, GED.com requires:
A computer with a webcam and reliable internet.
A "green" GED Ready score (Likely to Pass) within the last 60 days, for each subject you want to test online.
A private room with a closed door, and a government-issued photo ID.
You must be in the United States while you test.
What are the GED retake rules in Kentucky?
In Kentucky: In person, no wait after your first failed attempt; after three attempts, wait 60 days before a fourth or later try. Online, you get one retake before a 60-day wait.
The national rule from GED Testing Service: at a test center, you can retake a subject you did not pass two times with no waiting period. After a third or later attempt, you wait 60 days. Online, you get one retake before a 60-day wait. State rules can be stricter, and they come first.
If you miss by a few points, you keep the subjects you passed and retake only the one you missed. Review the topics from your score report before you book again.
What else does Kentucky require?
Kentucky requires a GED Ready practice test score before you book at a test center.
Take and pass GED Ready before you schedule, even for a test center. You cannot combine English and Spanish scores.
Bring a non-expired, government-issued photo ID on test day (GED.com).
What is the GED credential called in Kentucky?
When you pass, Kentucky issues the Commonwealth of Kentucky High School Equivalency Diploma.
To pass, you need a score of 145 or higher on each of the four subjects: Math, Reasoning Through Language Arts, Science and Social Studies (GED.com).
Where can you check the official Kentucky rules?
Check two places before you book: the Kentucky state agency and the Kentucky page on GED.com. When they disagree, ask the state agency.
"Kentucky charges $36 per subject for the GED" (https://www.ged.com/policies/kentucky.html)
"In Kentucky the credential is called the Commonwealth of Kentucky High School Equivalency Diploma." (https://www.ged.com/policies/kentucky.html)
"required to be a resident of the state with a Kentucky mailing address" (https://www.ged.com/policies/kentucky.html)
"practice test before scheduling your test" (https://www.ged.com/policies/kentucky.html)
"there is a $10 test center fee for GED" (https://www.ged.com/policies/kentucky.html)
"has passed at least one (1) section of the GED" (https://www.ged.com/policies/kentucky.html)
"you cannot combine two different languages to earn your credential" (https://www.ged.com/policies/kentucky.html)
"test in each subject plus limited retakes (two per subject in a testing center and/or one per subject via online proctored) while funding lasts" (https://kyae.ky.gov/Students/Pages/earn-ged-diploma.aspx)
"test with no age approval is 19 years old" (https://kyae.ky.gov/Students/Pages/earn-ged-diploma.aspx)
"to be officially withdrawn from public or private school for 90 days, as certified by the local school district" (https://kyae.ky.gov/Students/Pages/earn-ged-diploma.aspx)
"Students under 19 must complete the documentation of underage testing form." (https://kyae.ky.gov/Students/Pages/earn-ged-diploma.aspx)
"17-year-olds may test only if they fall into one of the following categories" (https://kyae.ky.gov/Students/Pages/earn-ged-diploma.aspx)
"Child in Custody of Department of Juvenile Justice" (https://kyae.ky.gov/Students/Pages/earn-ged-diploma.aspx)
"it may not offer the HiSET" (https://hiset.org/get-started/state-requirements/)
"All examinees 19 and older do not have to meet the requirements." (https://www.ged.com/policies/kentucky.html)
"Kentucky requires specific requirements from 17 and 18-year-old testers." (https://www.ged.com/policies/kentucky.html)
"After taking a test subject 3 times, you’ll have to wait 60 days before retesting for a fourth and any subsequent times." (https://www.ged.com/policies/kentucky.html)
"Online Proctored Exam allows for one retake before a" (https://www.ged.com/policies/kentucky.html)
Questions and answers
How much does the GED cost in Kentucky? It costs $36 per subject at a test center. Online it costs $36 per subject. These are official fees checked October 26, 2026. Confirm on GED.com before you book.
How old do you have to be to take the GED in Kentucky? The standard minimum age is 19. People as young as 17 may test with approval, such as a waiver and parent consent.
Can I take the GED online in Kentucky? Online testing is limited in Kentucky, and restrictions may apply. Check your GED.com account. Where it is allowed, you need a webcam, reliable internet and a green GED Ready score within 60 days.
Do I have to live in Kentucky to take the GED? Yes. You must be a Kentucky resident to test there. Bring proof of where you live if your ID does not show it.
Can I take the GED for free in Kentucky? Yes, for some residents. While funding lasts, Kentucky pays for your first test in each subject plus limited retakes. First pass GED Ready, free at a Kentucky Adult Education center. At a test center, enter KYFREEGED1 at checkout; online tests and retakes use other state codes. Programs have conditions and funding can run out, so confirm before you book.
What happens if I fail a GED subject in Kentucky? You only retake the subject you did not pass. In person, no wait after your first failed attempt; after three attempts, wait 60 days before a fourth or later try. Online, you get one retake before a 60-day wait.
Data notes
Rules and fees change. Always confirm on GED.com and with your state agency before you book. We checked this data on October 26, 2026.
How we collected it: Each state's GED Testing Service policy page and GED.com's online-testing table, cross-checked against the state education or adult-education agency. Every value is backed by a quote saved from an official page. Where sources disagree, the conflict is listed in plain words with the value we show. Official test fees only; confirm on GED.com before you book.
Next steps
Find your starting point with the free 32-question GEDPilot diagnostic.
Build a week-by-week plan around your job, family and test date.
Try the free sample lesson on number sense, the base for GED Math.
Take GED Ready, the official practice test, and aim for green (145 or higher) before you book.
Plan test day: your ID, arrival time, and test center or online.
Independent preparation materials. Not affiliated with or endorsed by ACE or GED Testing Service. GED is a registered trademark owned by ACE. Practice results do not predict an official GED score, and GEDPilot does not guarantee a passing score.