To take the GED in Washington, you must be at least 19, or 16 with approval. It costs $36 per subject at a test center, and online testing costs $36 per subject. You must live in Washington to test there. Confirm on GED.com before you book.
Key facts
Standard age (16 with approval): 19
Test center, per subject: $36
Online, per subject: $36
Residency required: Yes
How much does the GED cost in Washington?
At a test center, the GED costs $36 per subject in Washington.
Online, it costs $36 per subject.
A discounted retake at a test center costs $10 per subject.
We did not find a state program that pays the test fee.
More detail: The price is the same online or in person. 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 Washington?
The standard minimum age to take the GED in Washington is 19.
Younger people may be able to test from age 16 with approval.
Rules for younger test takers: At 16, 17 or 18 you must show you are not enrolled in high school. Give your test center a Request for Approval to Test form from your school district, or a notarized home-school statement from your parent.
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 Washington to take the GED?
Yes. You need to live in Washington to take the GED there.
You must live in Washington when you test. If your photo ID is not from Washington, bring another document showing your Washington 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 Washington?
Yes. Online testing from home is available in Washington for $36 per subject.
Details: Online testing is open from age 16. You need a green GED Ready score within the last 60 days 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 Washington?
In Washington: 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 Washington require?
Washington 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 have graduated from high school or be enrolled in high school.
Bring a non-expired, government-issued photo ID on test day (GED.com).
What is the GED credential called in Washington?
When you pass, Washington issues the Certificate of Educational Competency.
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 Washington rules?
Check two places before you book: the Washington state agency and the Washington page on GED.com. When they disagree, ask the state agency.
One section of the state's page lists $30 per test ($120 total); GED.com and other parts of that page list $36 per test. We show $36.
Official quotes
"You must be 19 years old to test in Washington." (https://www.ged.com/policies/washington.html)
"In Washington, anyone 16 through 18 years of age must provide documentation verifying that they are not enrolled in any type of high school program at the time of testing." (https://www.ged.com/policies/washington.html)
"this form must be obtained from either the last Washington school district you attended or the Washington school district in which you currently reside" (https://www.ged.com/policies/washington.html)
"All test takers must be a resident of Washington State at the time of testing to be awarded a High School Equivalency (GED®) Certificate in this state." (https://www.ged.com/policies/washington.html)
"Yes, you are required to be a resident to take the test in Washington." (https://www.ged.com/policies/washington.html)
"Yes, you are required to take the GED Ready® practice test before taking the official GED® test online." (https://www.ged.com/policies/washington.html)
"Washington charges $36 per subject for the GED® test at a Test Center." (https://www.ged.com/policies/washington.html)
"Washington charges $36 per subject for the GED® test taken online" (https://www.ged.com/policies/washington.html)
"In Washington, there is no waiting period for your first two retakes. After taking a test subject 3 times, you'll have to wait 60 days before retesting." (https://www.ged.com/policies/washington.html)
"*In Washington, there is a $10 test center fee for GED® test retakes" (https://www.ged.com/policies/washington.html)
"The Online Proctored Exam costs $36 for a retake in Washington. Discounted retakes are not offered on the Online Proctored Exam." (https://www.ged.com/policies/washington.html)
"In Washington the credential is called the Certificate of Educational Competency." (https://www.ged.com/policies/washington.html)
"Before you can schedule an online test, you must score "Green" on the GED Ready practice test within the last 60 days." (https://www.ged.com/state-information-online-testing.html)
"The tests can be taken at a test center or online." (https://www.sbctc.edu/becoming-a-student/basic-education/ged-students.aspx)
"You are at least 19 years old and have not graduated from high school." (https://www.sbctc.edu/becoming-a-student/basic-education/ged-students.aspx)
"You are a current resident of Washington." (https://www.sbctc.edu/becoming-a-student/basic-education/ged-students.aspx)
"(If your photo identification is not from Washington, you will need to have additional documentation showing you have a Washington address.)" (https://www.sbctc.edu/becoming-a-student/basic-education/ged-students.aspx)
"If you are 16, 17 or 18 years old, you must submit a Request for Approval to Test form OR a Notarized Statement/Letter for Home School Students." (https://www.sbctc.edu/becoming-a-student/basic-education/ged-students.aspx)
"Each test is $36 and you must pass all four tests to earn a GED® certificate." (https://www.sbctc.edu/becoming-a-student/basic-education/ged-students.aspx)
"Price is the same for online or in-person at a test center." (https://www.sbctc.edu/becoming-a-student/basic-education/ged-students.aspx)
"($30 per test or $120 for all four tests)" (https://www.sbctc.edu/becoming-a-student/basic-education/ged-students.aspx)
"The Online Proctored Exam allows for one retake before a 60 day waiting period." (https://www.ged.com/policies/washington.html)
"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. … GED Testing Service waives its $26 testing fee" (https://www.ged.com/policies/washington.html)
"There's no limit to how many times you can test in a year." (https://www.ged.com/policies/washington.html)
"The only exceptions to this are those who are enrolled in a program while in the military, while incarcerated in a correctional facility, or enrolled in the Washington Options Program (Open Doors)." (https://www.ged.com/policies/washington.html)
"Notarized Statement/Letter for Home School Students … this form must be completed by the parent/guardian who provided the home-based instruction and then notarized." (https://www.ged.com/policies/washington.html)
"No, Washington doesn't require you to prepare for the GED® test in an adult education classroom." (https://www.ged.com/policies/washington.html)
"Yes, in Washington you can take the test in English or Spanish, and you can combine two different languages to earn your credential." (https://www.ged.com/policies/washington.html)
"You have current government-issued photo identification with your name, address, birth date and signature on it." (https://www.sbctc.edu/becoming-a-student/basic-education/ged-students.aspx)
"You are not currently enrolled in high school." (https://www.sbctc.edu/becoming-a-student/basic-education/ged-students.aspx)
Questions and answers
How much does the GED cost in Washington? 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 Washington? The standard minimum age is 19. People as young as 16 may test with approval, such as a waiver and parent consent.
Can I take the GED online in Washington? 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 Washington to take the GED? Yes. You must be a Washington resident to test there. Bring proof of where you live if your ID does not show it.
What happens if I fail a GED subject in Washington? 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.