High School Equivalency

The Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB) has approved the GED®, and the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET®), as high school equivalency examinations for use as a qualifying instrument for the awarding of the Mississippi High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED).

The MCCB, Office of Adult Education (OAE) coordinates administration of the two approved tests in Mississippi. This section outlines the policies and procedures for the administration of each test as a high school equivalency examination at testing centers approved by the state.

In addition to the policies and procedures outlined in this section, all testing centers within the state that are involved in the High School Equivalency (HSE) program, including test administration and determining eligibility of test takers, are required to comply with the policies described in each test vendor’s HSE policy manual.

In order to be eligible to take a HSE test, testers must not be enrolled in or have graduated from an accredited high school. HSE testing is only available to individuals eighteen (18) years of age and older.  To be eligible to take an HSE test all sixteen (16) and seventeen (17) year‐olds must meet the following requirements:

1. Not currently enrolled in K-12 school.
2. Provide documentation (withdrawal form) signed by the superintendent/designee certifying the applicant has been released from compulsory school attendance by the school board.
3. Have a signed written consent form from a parent or legal guardian.

*** Individuals under the age of 16 are not eligible to test under any circumstances. 

***All required documentation for 16 & 17 year olds should be kept on file.

Sixteen (16) year‐olds are only able to take an HSE test if they are approved for an age waiver. The age waiver requires 16‐year‐old testers to meet one of the conditions below and provide an original, typed letter on the letterhead of the requesting institution/agency, addressed to the applicant supporting one of the conditions below.  If none of the conditions in the age waiver apply, the tester cannot be approved and must wait to test until the age of 17.

Conditions allowing a 16‐year‐old applicant to take an HSE Test (must meet at least 1 condition):

1. Home School examinees: proof of registration as a homeschooled student from a local school district or home school association.
2. An applicant with documentation verifying any one of the following conditions:
   1. incarcerated in a correctional institution, correctional youth center, training school for adjudicated youth, or similar institution; 
   2. confined as a patient or resident of a state-operated hospital or alcoholic rehabilitation center;
   3. enrolled in or has completed a program of instruction provided by the Job Corps or other such agency, or an apprenticeship training program;
   4. married with minor status removed;
   5. a member of the United States Armed Forces; or
   6. an emancipated minor. (Court order with case number)
   7. an applicant who is enrolled in an official Option/alternative education program as stipulated in Senate Bill #2855 from the 1997 legislative session.  
   8. an applicant with extenuating or extreme personal circumstances showing proper documentation.  These include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
   9. an illness of long-range duration;
   10. sole support of family; or
   11. untenable situation at home which required the person to leave school to earn a livelihood.

Note: Any situation in which the local Chief Examiner cannot render a determination on granting a waiver will be referred to the State High School Equivalency Office for guidance.

Testers are not required to be residents of Mississippi to test in the state. Mississippi does not require testers to participate in an adult education preparation program or take an official practice test prior to testing, however, it is strongly recommended that testers prepare and study to better review the content and skills that will be measured on the test.

• Must be an original document; photocopied documents are not acceptable
• Must show full name
• Must meet ID requirements for the state or jurisdiction in which you are testing
• ID cannot be expired
• Must meet test vendor ID requirements

Additionally, the name used when creating the HSE test taker account and scheduling the appointment must exactly match what is on the ID presented on test day at the test center.

The identification must also include: 

• Name
• Address
• Date of birth
• Signature, and
• Photograph

The following types of identification will be accepted:

• Passport
• Driver’s license
• Learner’s Permit
• National/State/Country Identification Card
• Any other form of government‐issued ID that meets test vendor ID requirements

Testers may be required to provide more than one form of identification to meet the requirements above.  If a tester does not provide the proper ID at the testing center, the tester will not be allowed to test and will likely lose their payment.

Test takers should provide a supplemental ID if the test center administrator questions the primary ID document provided.

• Supplemental ID documents may not be used to resolve last name discrepancies. The last name on your primary ID must match (excluding hyphens and accents) the name on your registration confirmation.
• The following ID documents are generally acceptable as supplemental ID:
  • Government‐issued ID cards (including, but not limited to, those listed under Primary ID Documents earlier in this section).
  • Student ID card

The following documents are not acceptable as primary or supplemental ID under any circumstances:

• Any document that is photocopied
• International driver’s license
• Draft classification card
• International student ID
• Credit/debit card of any kind
• Notary‐prepared letter or document
• Birth certificate
• Social Security card

Diploma Sender 
www.diplomasender.com 
Phone: 855-313-5799 
Email: support@diplomasender.com 
Address: PO Box 722050, Norman, OK 73069 

GED Testing Service 
Tester Registration: www.ged.com 
Educators & Administrators: www.gedtestingservice.com 
Customer Service Phone: 877-392-6433 
help@gedtestingservice.com 
Testing Center Service line: 1-866-389-3665 
Pearson Vue Support for Testing Centers: 800-704-3613

HiSET
Test Administration Services
Phone: 1-800-257-5123, Option 3
Email:  HiSETTAS@ets.org
Website: HiSET@ets.org
Address: ETS, Mail Stop 34-Q, Ewing, NJ 08618

**This toll-free number is reserved for Test Administrators and Proctors only.  This number should not be shared with test-takers.

NOTE: 

When you contact test publishers please be prepared to provide your name, your site name, your site number (if known), the system you are trying to access (i.e. Online Registration System, Online Assessment System, or the Online Reporting System), and your username and password for the system in question.

Please keep a record of the date, time name of the customer service representative and your case number (if applicable).

Contact your local adult education program. Each program has dates set up for enrollment.

High school equivalency (HSE) exams are designed for out-of-school youth and adults without a high school diploma. HSE exams have eligibility requirements. Like taking a driving test, you must meet these eligibility requirements before you can test.

Age 

HSE testing is only available to individuals eighteen (18) years of age and older.  To be eligible to take an HSE test all sixteen (16) and seventeen (17) year‐olds must meet the following requirements:

• Not currently enrolled in K-12 school.
• Provide documentation (withdrawal form) signed by the superintendent/designee certifying the applicant has been released from compulsory school attendance by the school board.
• Have a signed written consent form from a parent or legal guardian.

*** Individuals under the age of 16 are not eligible to test under any circumstances

Residency

There are no residency requirements.

Identification

A state-issued photo ID is needed to verify your identity and age on test day before testing can begin. Follow the requirements listed below:

• Original document; photocopied documents are not acceptable
• Cannot be expired
• Meet test vendor ID requirements
• Include
• Name
• Address
• Date of Birth
• Signature, and
• Photograph

The following types of identification will be accepted:

• Passport
• Driver’s license
• Learner’s Permit
• National/State/Country Identification Card
• Any other form of government‐issued ID that meets test vendor ID requirements

Yes, the GED, TASC, and HiSET exams help you earn a high school equivalency credential that is accepted by colleges and universities.

No. The GED and HiSET exams are only given at approved testing centers by computer or paper. Check with your local Adult Education program for testing schedules.