GED In West Virginia

Last Updated on April 23, 2024.

West Virginia is using the GED and HiSET exams for its high school equivalency testing program. You cannot take the exams online in the state; you’ll have to come to an official test center.

To take the five HiSET sub-exams, you must set up an account on the website hiset.org. An account on the website GED.com is required for taking the GED test.

This website’s free GED practice tests and online free GED classes are courtesy of Onsego GED Prep, a full-scope, accredited, affordable GED® prep course that may also be used for the HiSET® exam.

This website’s free resources let you discover if online instruction with video lessons is right for you. If so, we recommend you register at Onsego GED Prep and prepare for the GED or HiSET exam efficiently.

The HiSET and GED exams offer individuals who didn’t finish high school the chance to earn a credential that’s equivalent to a standard high school diploma.

In 2014, West Virginia switched from the GED to the TASC (Test Assessing Secondary Completion) exam, but this program was discontinued.

So, in 2021, the state decided to opt for the HiSET exam for HSE (High School Equivalency) testing, and now, the GED exam was reintroduced as well.

The HiSET exam is offered both in paper-based and computer-based formats, whereas the GED exam is only offered on a computer. In West Virginia, however, only computer-based HiSET testing is permitted except when accommodation is granted.

The GED exam comes with four subtests covering these subject fields:

• Language Arts
• Science
• Math
• Social Studies

On the HiSET exam, there are separate reading and writing subtests, so five in total.

This post includes a full listing of West Virginia GED and HiSET prep facilities. Just choose your nearest city to find all the options in your area.

Preparation is more important than ever before, and there is hardly any job out there that doesn’t require applicants to hold at least a secondary education degree.

Registration is done online, and the GED and HiSET exams are offered both online (for qualifying candidates) and at official West Virginia testing sites.

West Virginia GED Requirements

• The minimum age to qualify for the West Virginia GED or HiSET exam is 16.
• Applicants ages 16, 17, or 18, however, are only eligible for the exams when they meet additional requirements.
• They must, for example, hold approval from a parent or guardian and permission from their school boards. Please contact a test center for details.
• Test-takers cannot be in possession of a high school or equivalent diploma.
• They can not be registered for any other education program.
• HiSET testers must be West Virginia residents as the state subsidizes the exam.
• All candidates must first pass the HiSET Official Practice Test (OPT) or the GED Ready Practice Test. All adult basic education (ABE) programs are authorized to give these practice tests.

GED Classes in West Virginia

In West Virginia, you can find numerous locations where GED and HiSET prep classes are available to support you in becoming well-prepared to take the five HiSET or the four GED sub-exams confidently.

You can prepare for the GED or HiSET test very well by studying online and using our free GED practice tests. You may also choose a traditional prep class in your area. Select your city or a city near you to discover all the options in your region.

• Charleston
• Huntington
• Morgantown
• Parkersburg
• Wheeling

West Virginia GED and HiSET Cost

As said earlier, West Virginia, as only one of a few states, offers High School Equivalency testing at no charge. After successful completion, you will obtain a diploma that is regarded and accepted by virtually all U.S. employers and colleges as equivalent to a common high school diploma.

West Virginia GED Testing Sites

Beckley
Academy of Career & Technology – 390 Stanaford Rd – Beckley – WV 25801 – Ph: (304) 256.4615
Buckhannon
Upshur Co. Adult Learning Ctr – 46 Raspberry Way – Buckhannon – WV 26201 – Ph: (304) 472.3330/1544
Fred Eberle Technical Ctr – 208 Morton Ave – Buckhannon – WV 26201 – Ph: (304) 472.1544
Charles Town
Jefferson Co. Adult Ed (@Washington High) – 300 W Washington Patriots Dr – Charles Town – WV 25414 – Ph: (304) 885.5110
Charleston
Garnet Career Center – 422 Dickinson St – Charleston – WV 25301 – Ph: (304) 344.9177
Carver Career Center – 4799 Midland Dr – Charleston – WV 25306 – Ph: (304) 348.6142
Clarksburg
STEAM Ctr Harrison Co. – 445 W Main St – Clarksburg  WV 26301 – Ph: (304) 326.7312
Craigsville
Nicholas Co. Career-Technical Ctr – 512 Milam Ave – Craigsville – WV 26205 – Ph: (304) 545.6773
Delbarton
Mingo Co. Learning Center – 165 Bulldog Blvd – Delbarton – WV 25670 – Ph: (304) 475.3347
Dunbar
Ben Franklin Career Center – 500 28th St – Dunbar – WV 25064 – Ph: (304) 766.0369
East Charleston
WV Dept. of Ed. (Bldg 6, Rm 243) – 1900 Kanawha Blvd – East Charleston – WV 25305 – Ph: (609) 534.2486
Eleanor
Putnam Career-Technical Ctr – 300 Roosevelt Blvd – Eleanor – WV 25070 – Ph: (304) 586.2411/3494
Elizabeth
Wirt Co. High School – 431 Mulberry St – Elizabeth – WV 26143 – Ph: (304) 275.4241
Elkins
Randolph Technical Ctr – 200 Kennedy Dr – Elkins – WV 26241 – Ph: (304) 636.9195
Elkins Mountain School – 100 Bell St – Elkins – WV 26241 – Ph: (304) 637.0313
Ellenboro
Ritchie Co. High – 201 Ritchie Co School Rd (Ste 1) – Ellenboro – WV 26346 – Ph: (304) 869.3526
Fairmont
Marion Co. Adult Learning Ctr – 601 Locust Ave – Fairmont – WV 26554 – Ph: (304) 363.7323
Foster
Boone Career-Technical Ctr – 3505 Daniel Boone Pkwy (Ste B) – Foster – WV 25081 – Ph: (304) 369.8252
Grafton
Taylor County Technical Center – 115 Sam Bord Dr – Grafton – WV 26354 – Ph: (304) 363.7323
Grantsville
Calhoun/Gilmer Career Ctr – 5236 E Little Kanawha Hwy – Grantsville – WV 26147 – Ph: (304) 354.6151
Hamlin
Lincoln Co. High – 81 Lincoln Panther Way – Hamlin – WV 25523 – Ph: (304) 638.0832
Hinton
Summers Co. Public Library – 201 Temple St – Hinton – WV 25951 – Ph: (304) 466.6040
Huntington
Cabell Co. Career Technical Ctr – 1035 Norway Ave – Huntington – WV 25705 – Ph: (304) 528.5106
Spring Valley Career & Tech Ctr – 1640 Spring Valley Dr – Huntington – WV 25704 – Ph: (304) 272.5116
Keyser
Mineral Co. Technical Ctr – 600 Harley O Staggers Dr – Keyser – WV 26726 – Ph: (304) 726.4767
Kingwood
Preston High School – 400 Knight Dr – Kingwood – WV 26537 – Ph: (304) 376.2986
Lavalette
Stepping Stones – 1235 Buffalo Creek Rd – Lavalette – WV 25704 – Ph: (304) 429.2297
Lewisburg
Davis-Stuart School – 163 Cottage Dr – Lewisburg – WV 24901 – Ph: (304) 647.5407
Lindside
Monroe Co. Tech Center – 142 James Monroe Dr – Lindside – WV 24951 – Ph: (304) 466.1423
Martinsburg
Berkeley County Schools – 206 Lutz Ave – Martinsburg – WV 25404 – Ph: (304) 263.3897
James Rumsey Tech – 3274 Hedgesville Rd – Martinsburg – WV 25403 – Ph: (304) 754.7925
Montgomery
MCA-South CTC – 3145 Fayette Pike – Montgomery – WV 25136 – Ph: (304) 9821.0036
Morgantown
Monongalia Co. Technical Ed Ctr – 1000 Mississippi St – Morgantown – WV 26501 – Ph: (304) 291.9240
Moundsville
Marshall Co. Schools (GED) – 2700 4th St – Moundsville – WV 26041 – Ph: (304) 845.7890
Mt. Hope
Gene Sparado School – 106 Martin Dr – Mt. Hope – WV 25880 – Ph: (304) 877.6904
New Cumberland
Rockefeller Career Ctr (GED, HiSET) – 80 Rockefeller Circle – New Cumberland – WV 26047 – Ph: (304) 564.3337
Oak Hill
Fayette Inst. of Technology – 300 W Oyler Ave – Oak Hill – WV 25901 – Ph: (304) 469.2911
Fayette Adult Ed. – 912 E Main St – Oak Hill – WV 25901 – Ph: (304) 469.2911
Ona
Pressley Ridge@Grant Gardens – 2580 Grant Gardens Rd – Ona – WV 25545 – Ph: (304) 743.3974
Parkersburg
Wood Co. Technical Ctr – 1515 Blizzard Dr – Parkersburg – WV 26101 – Ph: (304) 420.9501
Petersburg
S. Branch Career & Technical Ctr – 401 Pierpont St – Petersburg – WV 26847 – Ph: (304) 538.2701
Philippi
Philip Barbour High – 25 Horseshoe Dr – Philippi – WV 26416 – Ph: (304) 457.4807
Pineville
Wyoming Co. Career-Technical Ctr – 1201 Bearhole Rd – Pineville – WV 24874 – Ph: (304) 732.8050
Princeton
Mercer Co. Techn. Ed Center – 1397 Stafford Dr – Princeton – WV 24740 – Ph: (304) 425.1896 or (304) 466.1423
Mercer County Workforce Ctr – 195 Davis St – Princeton – WV 24739 – Ph: (304) 466.1423 or (304) 425.1896
Point Pleasant
Mason Co. Career Center – 281 Scenic Dr – Point Pleasant – WV 25550 – Ph: (304) 675.3039
Ranson
Jefferson Co. Adult Learning Ctr. – 401 S Fairfax Blvd – Ranson – WV 25438 – Ph: (304) 725.3011
Romney
Hampshire Co. CTE Building – 157 Trojan Way – Romney – WV 26757 – Ph: (304) 822.5015
Spencer
Roane Co. Board of Ed. – 802 Madison Ave – Spencer – WV 25276 – Ph: (304) 927.6400
St. Marys
Mid Ohio Valley Technical Inst. – 2134 N Pleasant Hwy – St. Marys – WV 26170 – Ph: (304) 869.3526
Stollings
Ralph R Willis Career & Technical Ctr – 144 Vocational Rd – Stollings – WV 25601 – Ph: (304) 752.4687
Sutton
Braxton County High – 105 Jerry Burton Dr – Sutton – WV 26601 – Ph: (304) 765.7331 or (304) 466.1423
Upperglade
Webster County High – 1 Highlander Dr – Upperglade – WV 26266 – Ph: (304) 772 847.5638
Welch
McDowell Co. Tech Ctr (HiSET, GED) – 1 Stadium Dr – Welch – WV 24801 – Ph: (304) 549.8100
Wellsburg
The Bruin Bridge School – 1447 Main St – Wellsburg – WV 26070 – Ph: (304) 737.6804
Weston
Lewis County HiSET Ctr – 205 Minuteman Dr – Weston – WV 26452 – Ph: (304) 269.8315
West Union
Doddridge County High – 79 Bulldog Dr – West Union – WV 26456 – Ph: (304) 873.2521
Wheeling
WV Northern Comm. Coll. (GED, HiSET) – 1704 Market St – Wheeling – WV 26003 – Ph: (304) 214.8969
Wheeling Park High (HiSET) – 1976 Park View Rd – Wheeling – WV 26002 – Ph: (304) 243.0400

What’s on the GED and HiSET Tests?

The HiSET exam contains five subtests that address the following academic subject areas: English Language Reading, English Language Writing, Social Studies, Science (including Chemistry and Physics), and Mathematics.

On the GED, the language writing and reading portions have been combined into one Reasoning through Language Arts sub-exam, so there are four GED subtests. Both exams will take around 7.5 hours to complete, but you can take the sub-exams separately and in any order you like.

GED and HiSET Scoring

The five HiSET sub-exams are scored on a scale that runs from 0 to 20. The passing score on each subtest is 8 (so out of 20). Averaging is not possible; your total result must be at least 45, and your essay part must at least yield a score of 2 out of 6.

The GED exam is scored on a 100-200 scale, where 145 is the passing score. There are three passing score ranges: 145-164 equals high school equivalent results; 165-174 scores are college-ready results; 175-200 scores will additionally result in college credit hours, depending on the subject and the academic institution/

How to Prepare for the GED or HiSET Exam

By the time you think you are ready to go the GED or HiSET way, take these guidelines at heart to get ahead. Locate a prep site in your region to see if you qualify. Learn all about the regulations and policies and if there’s any cost involved, or take advantage of a good online HiSET or GED prep course like Onsego.

Become optimally prepared before you take the test. You can find many locations where dedicated teachers will guide you through the entire GED and HiSET subject matter. Just select your city or a city near you from the listing above to discover all options in your area.

Community bookstores and libraries can also provide you with lots of material, and there are a few good and free online courses as well that provide great help. The HiSET and GED contents are quite similar, so you may benefit from our free support.

The free video lessons and practice tests featured on this website allow you to see if online learning is a good fit to start out on your GED prep journey.

This website’s free resources are courtesy of the Onsego GED Prep Course, an affordable, full GED prep course that’s recognized by GED Testing Service as being entirely aligned to the latest edition of the GED test.

Most probably, though, the best is to attend a (mostly free) preparation class at one of the many facilities in your neighborhood and combine this with a good online course like the lessons provided for free on this website. Just check your options by clicking on your nearest city in the listing above.

Free GED Online Prep in West Virginia

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

Option Pathway Program

Underage GED or HiSET applicants (16, 17, or 18 years old) who are enrolled in high school may also qualify to partake in the Option Pathway Program. This program allows students to sit for the exams while still being signed up for high school.

Students need to meet specific program guidelines and need to be referred to the Option Pathway Program by a counselor, teacher, or school administrator.

Before students can register for the West Virginia GED or HiSET exam, they must pass the GED Ready or HiSET Official Practice Test. These assessments are available at the state’s Adult Education (AE) Centers and at Option Pathway Program schools. Adult Education and Option Pathway teachers will assist students with the process of online registration and how to schedule the GED or HiSET subtests.

It’s about YOUR Future

For adults who never finished high school, getting their High School Equivalency diploma is very important because it offers them the opportunity to find a good job or improve their position, and it clears the way into colleges and universities. Please note that the GED or HiSET exam is available online (for qualifying candidates) and at state-approved testing sites.

The diploma you’ll receive when you’ve finished the four GED or five HiSET subtests (one at a time if you wish) allows for a college education, and you may even complete academic graduate programs.

Financial aid and other support are available at most schools, so contact the Department of Education office and request more info from the staff. Check also if other requirements apply for your preferred higher education program when you’ve passed the West Virginia HSE exam.

For more information:
West Virginia Department of Education
Office of Technical & Adult Education
1900 Kanawha Boulevard East
Charleston, WV 25305
Phone: 304.558.6315 or 800.642.2670

FAQ about GED in West Virginia

How to get a GED in West Virginia?

Virginia uses the GED and HiSET exams for its high school equivalency testing program. The HiSET exam has five independent subtests that cover the academic subject fields of Math, Language Arts Reading, Language Arts Writing, Science, and Social Studies. The GED has four sub-exams, as the writing and reading portions were combined into one Language exam. The GED and HiSET exams are available in a computer-based format only in West Virginia.

What are the West Virginia GED testing requirements?

In West Virginia, GED or HiSET testing is available exclusively to state residents who have never completed high school. West Virginia requires test-takers to be 16 years old or older. Applicants 16, 17, or 18 years of age may, however, only qualify if they meet strict additional requirements. All applicants must first pass the HiSET OPT (Official Practice Test) or GED Ready test, which is available at all WV adult basic education (ABE) facilities.

What is the GED cost in West Virginia?

West Virginia is one of four states that offer free high school equivalency testing to its residents. So, if you qualify for the GED or HiSET exam in West Virginia, you won’t have to pay anything! The full HiSET or GED exam will take some 7.5 hours to complete, but if you wish, you can take the subtests one or more at a time. Online testing is NOT possible in West Virginia.

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