To take the GED in Texas, you must be at least 18, or 16 with approval. It costs $36.25 per subject at a test center, and online testing costs $42.25 per subject. You must live in Texas to test there. Free or subsidized testing is available for some residents. Confirm on GED.com before you book.
Key facts
Standard age (16 with approval): 18
Test center, per subject: $36.25
Online, per subject: $42.25
Residency required: Yes
How much does the GED cost in Texas?
At a test center, the GED costs $36.25 per subject in Texas, or $145 for all four subjects.
Online, it costs $42.25 per subject ($169 for all four).
A discounted retake at a test center costs $16.25 per subject.
Free or subsidized testing: yes, for some residents. While funding lasts, the HSE Subsidy Program pays GED test fees for eligible people 21 and older. Contact your local Texas Workforce Commission Adult Education and Literacy program to qualify.
More detail: Prices include the test center fee and state fee. In person, you get two discounted retakes for each subject you buy; each costs $16.25. Online retakes cost $42.25.
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 Texas?
The standard minimum age to take the GED in Texas is 18.
Younger people may be able to test from age 16 with approval.
Rules for younger test takers: At 17 you need a photo ID, Texas residency, a parent's permission, and you must not be enrolled in school. At 16 you must also be in state care, under a court order, or in Job Corps or the Texas Challenge Academy.
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.
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 Texas to take the GED?
Yes. You need to live in Texas to take the GED there.
You must be a Texas resident. Prove it with a Texas driver's license or ID, or a bill, bank statement or government mail with a Texas 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 Texas?
Yes. Online testing from home is available in Texas for $42.25 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 Texas?
In Texas: In person, no wait for your first two retakes; after three attempts, wait 60 days, and this count resets every January 1. 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 Texas require?
Texas 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 must not be enrolled in or a graduate of an accredited high school.
Bring a non-expired, government-issued photo ID on test day (GED.com).
What is the GED credential called in Texas?
When you pass, Texas issues the State of Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency.
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 Texas rules?
Check two places before you book: the Texas state agency and the Texas page on GED.com. When they disagree, ask the state agency.
"Texas charges $36.25 per module for the GED" (https://www.ged.com/policies/texas.html)
"Texas charges $42.25 per subject for the GED" (https://www.ged.com/policies/texas.html)
"The HSE Subsidy Program helps eligible people 21 and older by paying for their GED test fees." (https://www.ged.com/policies/texas.html)
"there is a $16.25" (https://www.ged.com/policies/texas.html)
"The Online Proctored Exam costs $42.25 for a retake in Texas." (https://www.ged.com/policies/texas.html)
"In Texas the credential is called the State of Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency." (https://www.ged.com/policies/texas.html)
"You must be 18 years old to test in Texas." (https://www.ged.com/policies/texas.html)
"You will receive two discounted retakes for every GED" (https://www.ged.com/policies/texas.html)
"Includes test center fee and state administrative fee" (https://tea.texas.gov/student-readiness-and-high-school/certificate-high-school-equivalency/ged-test-information)
"This policy resets every January 1st." (https://tea.texas.gov/student-readiness-and-high-school/certificate-high-school-equivalency/ged-test-information)
"A test taker must provide proof of residency in Texas" (https://tea.texas.gov/student-readiness-and-high-school/certificate-high-school-equivalency/eligibility-requirements-high-school-equivalency-testing)
"enrolled in the Texas Challenge Academy" (https://tea.texas.gov/student-readiness-and-high-school/certificate-high-school-equivalency/eligibility-requirements-high-school-equivalency-testing)
"Incomplete scores on the TASC test and HiSET exam are no longer valid in Texas." (https://tea.texas.gov/student-readiness-and-high-school/certificate-high-school-equivalency/frequently-asked-questions-about-high-school-equivalency-testing)
"a PDF containing your Certificate of High School Equivalency and test scores for $5.00" (https://tea.texas.gov/student-readiness-and-high-school/certificate-high-school-equivalency/frequently-asked-questions-about-high-school-equivalency-testing)
"it may not offer the HiSET" (https://hiset.org/get-started/state-requirements/)
"If you are 17 and have a government (national or foreign) issued photo ID" (https://www.ged.com/policies/texas.html)
"After taking a test subject 3 times, you’ll have to wait 60 days before retesting." (https://www.ged.com/policies/texas.html)
"Online Proctored Exam allows for one retake before a" (https://www.ged.com/policies/texas.html)
Questions and answers
How much does the GED cost in Texas? It costs $36.25 per subject at a test center ($145 for all four). Online it costs $42.25 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 Texas? 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 Texas? 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 Texas to take the GED? Yes. You must be a Texas 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 Texas? Yes, for some residents. While funding lasts, the HSE Subsidy Program pays GED test fees for eligible people 21 and older. Contact your local Texas Workforce Commission Adult Education and Literacy program to qualify. Programs have conditions and funding can run out, so confirm before you book.
What happens if I fail a GED subject in Texas? You only retake the subject you did not pass. In person, no wait for your first two retakes; after three attempts, wait 60 days, and this count resets every January 1. 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.