To take the GED in Tennessee, you must be at least 18, or 17 with approval. It costs $36 per subject at a test center, and online testing costs $36 per subject. You do not have to live in Tennessee to test. Free or subsidized testing is available for some residents. Confirm on GED.com before you book.
Key facts
Standard age (17 with approval): 18
Test center, per subject: $36
Online, per subject: $36
Residency required: No
How much does the GED cost in Tennessee?
At a test center, the GED costs $36 per subject in Tennessee, or $144 for all four subjects.
Online, it costs $36 per subject ($144 for all four).
A discounted retake at a test center costs $10 per subject.
Free or subsidized testing: yes, for some residents. Your test fees may be covered by vouchers if you attend a local adult education program. All programs funded by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development offer vouchers.
More detail: All four subjects cost $144, in person or online. A discounted in-person retake costs a $10 test center fee. Online retakes cost $36.
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 Tennessee?
The standard minimum age to take the GED in Tennessee is 18.
Younger people may be able to test from age 17 with approval.
Rules for younger test takers: At 17, your superintendent (or home-school parent) must sign the HSE Recommendation for 17-Year-Old Student form. Upload it to the state's age waiver site and wait for approval before you sign up. Online, a parent must attend check-in.
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.
Do you have to live in Tennessee to take the GED?
No. You do not have to live in Tennessee to take the GED there.
Can you take the GED online in Tennessee?
Yes. Online testing from home is available in Tennessee for $36 per subject.
Details: Online testing is open from age 17. 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 Tennessee?
In Tennessee: In person, no wait for your first two retakes; after three attempts, wait 60 days. 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 Tennessee require?
Tennessee 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.
Bring a current government-issued ID that shows your name, address, birth date, photo and signature.
Bring a non-expired, government-issued photo ID on test day (GED.com).
What is the GED credential called in Tennessee?
When you pass, Tennessee issues the High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED).
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 Tennessee rules?
Check two places before you book: the Tennessee state agency and the Tennessee page on GED.com. When they disagree, ask the state agency.
"$36 per subject for the GED" (https://www.ged.com/policies/tennessee.html)
"The total of $144 for all 4 subject areas." (https://www.ged.com/policies/tennessee.html)
"The total cost is $144 for all 4 subject areas." (https://www.ged.com/policies/tennessee.html)
"may be covered by vouchers if you attend a local adult education (AE) program" (https://www.ged.com/policies/tennessee.html)
"In Tennessee the credential is called the High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED)." (https://www.ged.com/policies/tennessee.html)
"You must be 18 years old to test in Tennessee." (https://www.ged.com/policies/tennessee.html)
"Tennessee has specific requirements for 17-year-old testers." (https://www.ged.com/policies/tennessee.html)
"No, there is no residency requirement to take the test in Tennessee." (https://www.ged.com/policies/tennessee.html)
"The first transcript and diploma will be complimentary, after that a cost of $20 will be applied to each document." (https://www.ged.com/policies/tennessee.html)
"there is a $10 test center fee for GED" (https://www.ged.com/policies/tennessee.html)
"You can choose the HiSET or the GED" (https://www.tn.gov/workforce/jobs-and-education/ae/aer/hiset.html)
"you’ll need a special Age Waiver form" (https://www.tn.gov/workforce/jobs-and-education/ae/aer/hiset.html)
"Not every program offers vouchers, but all programs funded by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development do." (https://www.tn.gov/workforce/jobs-and-education/ae/aer/hiset.html)
"pays for the whole exam for Tennessee residents" (https://www.tn.gov/workforce/jobs-and-education/ae/aer/hiset.html)
"Your ID must show your name, address, birthday, photo, and signature." (https://www.tn.gov/workforce/jobs-and-education/ae/aer/hiset.html)
"The HSE Recommendation Form needs to be uploaded to the TN Age Waiver Zendesk Site" (https://www.ged.com/policies/tennessee.html)
"After taking a test subject 3 times, you’ll have to wait 60 days before retesting." (https://www.ged.com/policies/tennessee.html)
"Online Proctored Exam allows for one retake before a" (https://www.ged.com/policies/tennessee.html)
Questions and answers
How much does the GED cost in Tennessee? It costs $36 per subject at a test center ($144 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 Tennessee? The standard minimum age is 18. People as young as 17 may test with approval, such as a waiver and parent consent.
Can I take the GED online in Tennessee? 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 Tennessee to take the GED? No. Tennessee does not require residency to take the GED. Check the residency section for any conditions on the credential.
Can I take the GED for free in Tennessee? Yes, for some residents. Your test fees may be covered by vouchers if you attend a local adult education program. All programs funded by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development offer vouchers. Programs have conditions and funding can run out, so confirm before you book.
What happens if I fail a GED subject in Tennessee? You only retake the subject you did not pass. In person, no wait for your first two retakes; after three attempts, wait 60 days. 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.