To take the GED in North Carolina, you must be at least 18, or 16 with approval. It costs $26 per subject at a test center, and online testing costs $36 per subject. You do not have to live in North Carolina to test. Confirm on GED.com before you book.
Key facts
Standard age (16 with approval): 18
Test center, per subject: $26
Online, per subject: $36
Residency required: No
How much does the GED cost in North Carolina?
At a test center, the GED costs $26 per subject in North Carolina, or $104 for all four subjects.
Online, it costs $36 per subject.
A discounted retake at a test center has no extra fee.
We did not find a state program that pays the test fee.
More detail: In person, all four subjects cost $104, and you get one free retake for each subject. Online tests and online retakes cost $36. Classes are free at your local community college.
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 North Carolina?
The standard minimum age to take the GED in North Carolina is 18.
Younger people may be able to test from age 16 with approval.
Rules for younger test takers: At 16 or 17 you need an approved exception. Contact the HSE Chief Examiner at your local community college for the release paperwork. Online, a parent must attend check-in.
The minimum age to test online is 16.
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.
Do you have to live in North Carolina to take the GED?
No. You do not have to live in North Carolina to take the GED there.
You do not need to live in North Carolina, but you must take and pass the last test in your battery there to receive a North Carolina diploma.
Can you take the GED online in North Carolina?
Yes. Online testing from home is available in North Carolina for $36 per subject.
Details: Online testing is open from age 16. You need a green GED Ready score before you schedule.
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 North Carolina?
In North Carolina: In person, no wait for your first two retakes; after three attempts, wait 60 days each time. 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 North Carolina require?
North Carolina does not require GED Ready to book at a test center. You do need a green GED Ready score to test online. Taking it anyway is a good way to check that you are ready.
You can combine GED and HiSET scores. The Multiple Pathways to High School Equivalency program is another state-approved route.
Bring a non-expired, government-issued photo ID on test day (GED.com).
What is the GED credential called in North Carolina?
When you pass, North Carolina issues the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges 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 North Carolina rules?
Check two places before you book: the North Carolina state agency and the North Carolina page on GED.com. When they disagree, ask the state agency.
"North Carolina charges $26 per subject for the GED" (https://www.ged.com/policies/north-carolina.html)
"North Carolina charges $36 per subject for the GED" (https://www.ged.com/policies/north-carolina.html)
"*North Carolina does not charge for retakes." (https://www.ged.com/policies/north-carolina.html)
"Minimum age for testing Online in North Carolina is 16." (https://www.ged.com/policies/north-carolina.html)
"but you must take and pass the last test in your battery in North Carolina to be awarded a diploma from North Carolina" (https://www.ged.com/policies/north-carolina.html)
"In North Carolina, the credential is called the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges High School Equivalency Diploma." (https://www.ged.com/policies/north-carolina.html)
"request your free North Carolina credentials: one official transcript and one diploma" (https://www.ged.com/policies/north-carolina.html)
"Price per subject area $36.00 Total Test Taker Fee for full GED" (https://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/students/what-we-offer/finish-high-school/)
"One complimentary retake for each section of the exam" (https://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/students/what-we-offer/finish-high-school/)
"must contact the HSE Chief Examiner at their local community college to request drop-release paperwork" (https://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/students/what-we-offer/finish-high-school/)
"you can earn a High School Equivalency credential in North Carolina by combining GED and HiSET scores" (https://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/students/what-we-offer/finish-high-school/)
"You must be 18 years old to test in North Carolina" (https://www.ged.com/policies/north-carolina.html)
"with free instruction at your local community college" (https://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/students/what-we-offer/finish-high-school/)
"Discounted Retake Program does not apply for the Online Proctored GED" (https://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/students/what-we-offer/finish-high-school/)
"The Multiple Pathways to High School Equivalency (MPHSE) diploma program" (https://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/students/what-we-offer/finish-high-school/)
"You must be 18 years old to test in North Carolina; however, a waiver to test at 16 or 17 may be granted" (https://www.ged.com/policies/north-carolina.html)
"After taking a test subject 3 times, you’ll have to wait 60 days each time before retesting." (https://www.ged.com/policies/north-carolina.html)
"Online Proctored Exam allows for one retake before a" (https://www.ged.com/policies/north-carolina.html)
Questions and answers
How much does the GED cost in North Carolina? It costs $26 per subject at a test center ($104 for all four). 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 North Carolina? The standard minimum age is 18. People as young as 16 may test with approval, such as a waiver and parent consent.
Can I take the GED online in North Carolina? Yes. You need a computer with a webcam, reliable internet, a private room and a green GED Ready score within the last 60 days for each subject.
Do I have to live in North Carolina to take the GED? No. North Carolina does not require residency to take the GED. Check the residency section for any conditions on the credential.
What happens if I fail a GED subject in North Carolina? You only retake the subject you did not pass. In person, no wait for your first two retakes; after three attempts, wait 60 days each time. 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.