What a GED Actually Is
A GED is a test that replaces a high school diploma.
You take four subject tests. Math. Science. Social studies. Reading and writing.
Pass all four and you get a certificate. Most employers treat it like a diploma.
The test costs around one hundred fifty dollars total in most states. Some states charge less. Some charge more.
When You Need a GED
Trade schools require it. Welding programs. HVAC programs. Electrician apprenticeships. All need a diploma or GED.
Community colleges require it for degree programs. If you want to take college classes, you need it.
Some unions require it. Pipefitters. Ironworkers. Carpenters. Check the union rules before you start.
Military requires it. If you want to enlist, you need a diploma or GED.
See: Trade Schools After Prison
When You Do NOT Need a GED
Warehouse jobs do not require it. Forklift operators do not need diplomas.
Restaurant work does not require it. Dishwashers. Line cooks. Servers. None require GED.
Construction labor does not require it. General labor. Demo work. Concrete work. No diploma needed.
Temp agencies do not require it. They send you out same-day. No education check.
Most delivery driving does not require it. Amazon. FedEx ground contractors. Food delivery apps. No GED needed.
Why GED Becomes a Trap
People start GED prep with no plan for after. They study for months. They get the GED. Then they do not know what job to apply for.
People use GED as an excuse to delay job hunting. They say they are working on their education. Rent does not wait.
People fail one section multiple times. They keep retaking it. Months pass. They still have no income.
People think GED will make employers hire them. It does not. Employers hire people with experience and references.
Fastest Ways to Get a GED
Online prep sites teach the material. Khan Academy is free. GED.com has paid prep for thirty dollars per month.
Study two hours per day. Take practice tests. When you pass practice tests, schedule the real test.
Most people pass in two to four months if they study daily. Longer if they only study once a week.
Do not take classes that last a year. You do not have a year.
Online GED Programs
Online programs let you study at your own speed. No schedule. No commute.
You still take the real test in person at a testing center. Online prep does not mean online testing.
Some states offer online testing now. Check your state rules. Most still require in-person testing.
Programs do not guarantee you pass. They teach material. You still have to learn it.
Community College and Adult Education
Community colleges offer free GED classes in most states. Classes meet two or three times per week.
Classes move slow. They follow a semester schedule. Sixteen weeks minimum. Sometimes two semesters.
Adult education centers offer similar classes. Free or low cost. Slow pace.
Use these if you need structure and cannot study alone. Skip them if you can learn from videos and practice tests.
Read: Reentry Resource Center
GED Alternatives
HiSET and TASC are other high school equivalency tests. Some states accept them instead of GED.
Check which test your state uses. Do not study for GED if your state uses HiSET.
Employers treat all three the same. Colleges treat all three the same.
Do not take more than one. Pick the test your state accepts and take that one only.
When GED Should Wait
You have no income and no housing. Get a job first. Any job. GED does not pay rent.
You are on a wait list for trade school that starts in six months. Wait until three months before start date. Then begin GED prep.
Your parole officer is pushing you to get it but no job requires it. Ignore the pressure. Get employed first.
You have a job that does not require GED. Keep the job. Study at night if you want the GED later.
If You Start GED Too Early
You will spend four months studying. You will have no income during that time.
You will finish GED and realize the jobs you can get do not require it. You wasted four months.
Your parole officer will ask what jobs you applied for. You will say you were working on your GED. They will not care.
Landlords will reject you because you have no work history. GED does not replace employment.
Get the job first. Get stable housing. Then decide if you need GED. Most people do not need it right away.
Related: Job Certifications After Prison