GED In Kentucky

Last Updated on April 10, 2024.

In Kentucky, applicants looking to earn their GED diploma have the option to take the exam online or at an official GED testing center.

Registration for the GED exam must be done online through the official GED website, GED.com.

To find out if online learning for the GED® test is something for you, check out this website’s totally free online GED classes and practice tests.

If our online learning system is fine for you, you can switch to Onsego GED Prep, an accredited, affordable program that generously offers our free support.

Kentucky is using the computer-based GED exam for the state’s high school equivalency testing program. The GED test gives persons who couldn’t complete high school the chance to obtain an equivalent credential.

You can find numerous locations across Kentucky where GED preparation is offered to become ready to take the Kentucky high school equivalency exam successfully, and our free GED practice tests allow you to assess your knowledge level.

The GED exam comes with four separate subtests that can be taken individually. The testing fields are

• Mathematical Reasoning
• Science
• Reasoning through Language Arts
• Social Studies

Throughout North America, the GED credential is accepted just like a common high school diploma by practically all employers and schools.

The GED exam is fully computerized. Paper-based testing is not an option anymore.

Kentucky passed legislation to cover the cost of GED testing for first-time test-takers through the KY Skills U program. As the cost of the four GED tests is huge ($144 when taken online or at a test center), this important step has broken down that barrier.

GED Kentucky Requirements

• In Kentucky, you must be 19 years of age or 18 and legally withdrawn from school for no less than 90 days. Local school superintendents may choose to waive the 90-day wait period.
• In Kentucky, you first need to take the official GED Ready® practice test, offered at no cost through the Kentucky Skills U Program, or you may take it online.
• In Kentucky, test-takers are required to be state residents with current Kentucky mailing addresses.
• Test-takers cannot already hold a secondary education degree and not be engaged in another education program.

In Kentucky, the fee for GED testing is $144 ($36 per individual test) when done at one of Kentucky’s official test centers or online. But the state has passed legislation that covers the testing fee for Kentuckians who take the test for the first time! This GED fee waiver applies only to first-time test-takers. Read more below.

So, online GED testing costs $36 per subtest as well in Kentucky ($144 for the entire battery). To qualify for online GED testing, you need to attain a “green” score on the GED Ready test available at GED.com for $6.99. There are four GED Ready tests, one for each GED module, so you can add $28 to the total online testing cost!

In Kentucky, when you take the exam at a testing site, you receive two retests at a reduced rate, and there is no wait time. If you retake a subject test for the third time, you’ll need to wait for a 60-day period before you can take that subject test again.

The reduced rate for the first two retests (just a $10 fee for the testing center) is valid for a 1-year period. After that, the regular fees will be charged again. Keep in mind that first-time test-takers can take the four GED tests at no charge! This does NOT apply to online testing!

GED Prep Classes in Kentucky

You can prepare for the GED test by studying online. You can also choose a traditional GED prep class near you. Kentucky Adult Education is called KentuckySkillsU. Choose the city nearest to you:

• Bowling Green
• Lexington
• Louisville
• Madisonville
• Owensboro
• Pikeville
• Somerset

Kentucky GED Testing Centers

Albany
Clinton Co. Community Ed. – 2353 N Hwy 127 – Albany – KY 42602 – Ph: (606) 387.6480
Ashland
Ashland Comm. & Techn. Coll. – 1400 College Dr – Ashland – KY 41101 – Ph: (606) 326.2252
Bowling Green
Southcentral Kentucky Comm. & Techn. Coll. – 1127 Morgantown Rd – Bowling Green – KY 42101 – Ph: (270) 901.1036
Brownsville
Edmonson Co. Public Library – 280 Ferguson St – Brownsville – KY 42210 – Ph: (270) 597.2146
Burlington
Boone Co. Library – 1786 Burlington Pike – Burlington – KY 41005 – Ph: (859) 342.2665
Campbellsville
Campbellsville University – 409 N Hoskins Ave – Campbellsville – KY 42718 – Ph: (270) 789.5396
Carrollton
Jefferson Comm. & Techn. Coll. – 1607 Hwy 227 – Carrollton – KY 41008 – Ph: (502) 213.5215
Central City
Muhlenberg County ACE 2 – 50 Career Way – Central City – KY 42330 – Ph: (270) 824.1701
Covington
Kenton Co. Library – 502 Scott Blvd – Covington – KY 41011 – Ph: (859) 962.4066
Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown Comm. & Techn. Coll. – 610 College St  – Elizabethtown – KY 42701 – Ph: (270) 706.8492
Florence
Gateway Comm. & Techn. Coll. – 500 Technology Way – Florence – KY 41042 – Ph: (859) 442.1159
Frankfort
Thorn Hill Ed. Center – 700 Leslie Ave – Frankfort – KY 40601 – Ph: (502) 875.1481
Grayson
KEDC-Carter – 116 W Main St – Grayson – KY 41143 – Ph: (606) 474.9375
Greenup
KEDC-Greenup – 614 W Main St – Greenup – KY 41144 – Ph: (606) 473.1091
Harlan
Southeast KY Comm. & Techn. Coll. – 164 Ball Park Rd – Harlan – KY 40831 – Ph: (606) 589.2145
Hazard
Hazard Comm. Coll. – 1 Community College Dr – Hazard – KY 41701 – Ph: (606) 487.3406
Henderson
Henderson Comm. Coll. – 2660 S Green St – Henderson – KY 42420 – Ph: (270) 831.9661
Highland Heights
Northern KY University – 1 Nunn Dr – Highland Heights – KY 41099 – Ph: (859) 572.6373
Hopkinsville
Hopkinsville Comm. Coll. – 720 North Dr – Hopkinsville – KY 42240 – Ph: (270) 707.3750
Irvine
West Irvine Intermediate – 253 Main St – Irvine – KY 40336 – Ph: (606) 643.8200
Jackson
HCTC Lees Coll. Campus (Library) – 601 Jefferson Ave – Jackson – KY 41339 – Ph: (606) 487.-3044
Lawrenceburg
Bluegrass Comm. & Tech. Coll.- 1500 Bypass N US 127 – Lawrenceburg – KY 40342 – Ph: (859) 246.6850
Lexington
Bluegrass Comm. & Techn. Coll. – 164 Opportunity Way – Lexington – KY 40511 – Ph: (859) 246.6669
London
Laurel Co. Adult Education – 103 S Broad St – London – KY 40741 – Ph: (606) 878.9134
Somerset Comm. Coll. – 100 University Dr – London – KY 40741 – Ph: (6060 878.4728
Louisville
YouthBuild Louisville – 800 S Preston St – Louisville – KY 40203 – Ph: (502) 295.3144
Madisonville
Madisonville Comm. Coll. – 2000 College Dr – Madisonville – KY 42431 – Ph: (270) 824.1702
Maysville
Maysville Comm. and Techn. Coll. – 1755 US Hwy 68 S – Maysville – KY 41056 – Ph 606.759.7141
McKee
Jackson County Public Library – 336 N Main St – McKee – KY 40447 – Ph: (606) 392.9169
Morehead
Morehead State University – 280 University Blvd – Morehead – KY 40351 – Ph: (606) 783.2526
Newport
Newport GED Test Center – 30 W 8th St – Newport – KY 41071 – Ph: (859) 292.3056
Nicholasville
Jessamine Co. GED Testing Ctr – 851 Wilmore Rd – Nicholasville – KY 40356 – Ph: (859) 887.9509
Owensboro
Owensboro Comm. & Techn. Coll. – 1501 Frederica St – Owensboro – KY 42301 – Ph: (270) 686.4456
Owingsville
Bath Co. Memorial Library – 24 W Main St – Owingsville – KY 40360 – Ph: (606) 674.2531
Paducah
Western KY Comm. & Techn. Coll. – 4810 Alben Barkley Dr – Paducah – KY 42002 – Ph: (270) 534.3322
Paintsville
Big Sandy Comm. & Techn. Coll. – 513 3rd St – Paintsville – KY 41240 – Ph: (606) 788.2806
Paris
Paris-Bourbon Library – 701 High St – Paris – KY 40361 – Ph: (859) 987.4419
Pikeville
Big Sandy Comm. & Techn. Coll. – 120 S Riverfill Rd – Pikeville – KY 41501 – Ph: (606) 789.5321
Richmond
Eastern Kentucky University – 521 Lancaster Ave – Richmond – KY 40475 – Ph: (859) 622.1281
Madison Co. Public Library – 507 W Main St – Richmond – KY 40475 – Ph: (859) 623.6704
Russellville
Logan Co. GED Testing Ctr – 2400 Bowling Green Rd – Russellville – KY 42276 – Ph: (270) 726.8432
Shelbyville
Jefferson Comm. & Tech. Coll. – 1361 Frankfort Rd – Shelbyville – KY 40065 – Ph: (502) 213.3669
Somerset
Somerset Community College – 808 Monticello St – Somerset – KY 42501 – Ph (606) 451.6850
Tompkinsville
Monroe Co. Board of Education – 309 Emberton St – Tompkinsville – KY 42167 – Ph: (270) 487.9100
Whitesburg
Southeast Kentucky Comm. & Techn. Coll. – 2 Long Ave – Whitesburg – KY 41858 – Ph: (606) 589.3360
Williamsburg
Whitley County Skills U Ctr – 116 N 4th St – Williamsburg – KY 40769 – Ph: (606) 549.1989
Williamstown
Grant Co. Public Library – 201 Barnes Rd – Williamstown – KY 41097 – Ph: (859) 824.2080
Winchester
Bluegrass Comm. & Techn. Coll. – 2020 Rolling Hills Ln – Winchester – KY 40391 – Ph: (859) 246.6595

Online GED Exam

The GED exam is now also available online. It used to be that if you were looking to get hold of a GED degree, your personal appearance at an official Kentucky GED testing site was required, but that has changed!

To qualify for taking the GED exam online, test-takers will have to score in the “green zone” on the GED Ready practice test. To learn more, check out -> The online GED test.

How to Start with GED Preparation

Not everyone qualifies for the GED program. You must not have finished high school and cannot be engaged in a school program. Get in touch with your nearest GED prep center and find out if you qualify. Check also this website’s many relevant posts for additional information.

By the time you have the idea that you are ready to go the GED path, stick to these guidelines to get ahead: first, contact your nearest GED prep center to see if you may qualify, and if you do, check out testing dates and fees. Become informed, and try to discover as many details as possible from the local GED test center.

In Kentucky, all applicants must complete adult education preparation classes, obtain the Test Readiness Certification, and successfully take the official GED Ready Test (practice test) before they are allowed to sit for the examination. All these prerequisites can be completed at the state’s Adult Education (KY Skills U) sites or through the KET GED Connection program.

The most important reason why people think about taking the GED exam is that they don’t have a high school diploma. Nowadays, if you don’t have a high school education, you will have no chance of getting hired for virtually any kind of job. Without a high school education, it is not possible for anyone to get admission to a college or university.

GED Scoring

After completing the GED exam, you will receive a diploma that is all across America recognized and accepted as being equivalent to a high school diploma by virtually all businesses, government agencies, employers, recruiters, and colleges. Take also a look at our post about how to sign up for your GED exam at the portal MyGED.

GED scoring happens on a 100-200 scale. The following scoring system applies:

• 100-144: below-passing score
• 145-164: high school equivalency score
• 165-174: college-ready score
• 175-200: college-ready + college credits score

So, your overall score (for four subtests) cannot be under 580 out of a possible 800 points.

Kentucky Virtual Adult Education

You can decide to join one of the many (for Kentucky residents, free) GED prep classes available in your neighborhood all across the state through the Kentucky Skills U Program. You can also get books from your local library or bookstore or sign up for online GED courses (a good option is the Kentucky Virtual Adult Education). Even if you prefer to study in front of the television, you can discover a great GED TV preparation program called GED Connection.

The GED exam includes four individual tests in the subject fields of Social Studies, Science, Math, and Literacy. Go to GED.com for all relevant information and sign up with MyGED to get access to an online portal that will guide you through all the processes and provide a wealth of information about schools, their programs, and developments in the employment market and job options.

Your Future

The state of Kentucky has an unemployment rate of around 8.5 percent, and if you don’t want to be part of that demographic and you don’t have a secondary education credential, get up and complete your high school education using the path of the General Education Development program.

Since the GED program was introduced in the 1940s, in Kentucky alone, almost 440,000 adults have received their GED credentials. Holding the GED diploma will open doors for you that remained previously closed. It gives you a chance to change your job or your career; it will enable you to further your education and will positively impact your personal life.

Free GED Online Prep in Kentucky

• Practice Tests: Math, Social Studies, Language, and Science
• Online GED Classes
• Pre GED Tests

GED Testing Service reports that people who hold a secondary school credential are expected to earn some $9,600 more annually than those who do not.

Over the past years, the Kentucky economy has added more than 3,100 new jobs annually in the sectors of Healthcare, Education, and Finance. Most of these new jobs are at the entry level but require applicants to have at least a secondary education credential (HS or GED diploma).

The free video lessons and practice tests featured on this website do not cover all GED topics and are a part of the extensive online GED course developed by ONSEGO, a premium GED prep course recognized by GED Testing Service.

KY Skill U and GED Plus

Kentucky Adult Education has a new name: Kentucky Skills U. Colleges operating within the KY Community & Technical College System (KCTCS) offer motivated students who never finished high school and also don’t have a GED the opportunity to earn a college degree and the GED diploma at the same time.

In the modern-day economy, practically all entry-level jobs require some post-secondary education, but there are still more than 1 million Kentucky residents that have an insufficient literacy level, while nearly 1 in 5 adult Kentuckians 25 and up have no secondary education diploma.

The GED Plus program offers eligible applicants the opportunity to get hold of their GED credentials and a college certificate simultaneously. The colleges offer this option tuition-free, and students can earn their certificates within four months. The college courses are in high-demand technical areas like Healthcare, Construction/Trades, IT/Business Services, Manufacturing, and Logistics.

A New Pathway Towards a High School Equivalency Credential

Kentucky adults who never completed their high school education and also don’t hold a GED diploma can now earn an HSE (high school equivalency) diploma with no need to pass a test. As the Kentucky Skills U slogan states: The More You Learn, The More You’ll Earn.

On August 31, 2018, a new Administrative Regulation became effective in Kentucky that allows the state’s new Kentucky Skills U Program to award qualifying applicants the “Commonwealth of the State of Kentucky HSE (High School Equivalency) Diploma “for completion of credit hours at an institution of the Kentucky Community & Technical College System.”

Qualifying candidates for this program need to be at least 19 years old, not already hold a high school or equivalent diploma, have a valid Kentucky address, and meet the placement and admission requirements of the institutions within the state’s Community & Technical College System (KCTCS).

State adult education officials of the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Council said that it’s imperative to create alternative and innovative options beyond the standardized GED test to allow state residents to demonstrate that they have the competencies, knowledge, and skills at a level comparable to high school graduates and that they are ready to get into college.

There is a growing need for schools to become more nimble, responsive, and flexible in assisting and supporting students in obtaining contemporary skills through accelerated models. Creating an effective study plan for exams is key for applicants planning to go on to college.

Eligible applicants qualify for the Commonwealth of Kentucky HSE (High School Equivalency) Diploma when they have successfully completed at least 3 credit hours (of 12 in total) in the following content fields and hold official KCTCS transcripts: Written Communication, Natural Sciences, Social & Behavioral Sciences, and Quantitative Reasoning.

Successfully completing these courses entails passing the courses with a grade that’s greater than or equal to “C.” (This constitutes at least 2.0 on a scale that goes to 4.0). Applicants may also be awarded credit for prior study achievements as indicated on official KCTCS transcripts.

There are 16 colleges within the Kentucky Community & Technical College System that offer post-secondary and higher education options in over seventy locations across the state.

So now, through this cooperation between Kentucky Skills U and the Commonwealth’s College System, people without a high school diploma and also adults wanting to go back to college have the chance to earn their high school equivalency degree while at the same time working towards college credit.

This opens doors not only to numerous new career opportunities but also the chance for them to continue their academic education in college and achieve an associate degree or certificate or even go on for a higher degree.

KY Skills U was formerly called Kentucky Adult Education, and KCTCS officials and staff have reviewed and assessed the entry-level courses that are used in the content areas.

The courses that meet or exceed the skills and knowledge at a level of the GED test at the college-ready (165-175) or the college-level PLUS college credit level (175-200) may result in that students don’t need to submit ACT or SAT.

Non-qualifying students can, of course, always choose to follow an online GED course to help them earn their GED diploma and still go to college. Online GED courses prove a fresh start for anyone of any age!

To earn the Commonwealth of KY High School Equivalency Diploma, candidates need to submit official KCTCS transcripts that document that they successfully completed the required credit hours.

Additionally, they must submit a full application as well as pay a $25 application fee to KY Skills U. For more information about the Commonwealth of Kentucky HSE (High School Equivalency) Diploma program, get in touch with Kentucky Skills U at 502-892-3058. It’s all about the Freedom of Education, one of our nation’s great achievements!

KET GED Connection Program

An estimated 750,000 Kentucky adults don’t have a secondary education degree (high school or GED diploma), almost twenty percent of all adult Americans lack a high school diploma, and each year, over one million are added to the legion that quit high school prematurely.

These statistics are shocking. Individuals who don’t have a secondary credential are highly unlikely to ever get a job, end up in poverty, and get into trouble with the law (three out of four prison inmates actually left high school without a diploma).

The CPB (The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has developed the American Graduate initiative, and KET was chosen to produce a series of inspiring stories of great Americans who quit high school but later earned a GED and are now highly successful.

Via the documentaries, Kentucky residents may better understand the difficulties that they will face if they don’t complete their high school education and learn about people and institutions around the nation that help adults get back on the pathway to college and professional success. If you want to learn more about KET’s online GED preparation course “Fast Forward,” go to KET.org.

FREE GED Testing in Kentucky

While funding lasts, Kentucky ​will take up the tab for your 1st GED sub-test in each of the four GED subjects plus a limited number of retakes (2 per subject at a test center and/or 1 per subject online). To qualify, you’ll first have to pass the GED Ready Practice Test (available for free at Kentucky Adult Education Prep Centers).

When scheduling a sub-test at a GED test center, enter the promo code KYFREEGED during checkout. If you schedule an ​online proctored GED sub-test, enter the code KYFREEGED first, and enter the promo code OPKYFREEGED during checkout.

For retakes at a GED test center, enter the promo code KYRETAKE during checkout. For online retakes, enter the promo code OPKYRETAKE during checkout.

For more information:
Commonwealth of Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
Kentucky Skills U
100 Airport Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502.573.1555

FAQ about GED in Kentucky

How to get a GED in Kentucky?

To earn a GED high school equivalency (HSE) certificate in Kentucky, you’ll have to pass the four entirely computer-formatted tests that make up the GED exam. The four tests are covering the subject fields of Math, Language, Social Studies, and Science.

What are the Kentucky GED testing requirements?

To qualify for the GED exam, you cannot already hold a high school diploma. In Kentucky, GED testers must be at least 19 years old, though 18-year-olds may also qualify if they have been officially out of school for at least 90 days. Kentucky residency is required, and testers must first attain sufficient scores on the GED Ready practice test.

What is the GED cost in Kentucky?

In Kentucky, GED testing at a test center or online costs $144 for the complete GED battery or $36 per individual subtest. To qualify for the online proctored GED exam, you just reach passing scores on four GED Ready tests ($28), so you can add that as well to the total cost of online GED testing. You can, however, register and pay for one (or more) of the four subtests at a time. To schedule your tests, you need to set up an account on the website GED.com.

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