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Updated GED Age Waiver Policy

Pursuant to DC Municipal Regulations Chapter 5-A § 8402.1(d), applicants for the GED test must be at least 18 years of age to be eligible to take the test, unless the requirement is waived by OSSE. Since GED Testing Service’s national policy requires all GED candidates to be at least 16 years of age, OSSE can, under certain circumstances, allow 16- and 17-year-olds to sit for the GED. OSSE recently updated our policy for when these age waivers would be granted.

Effective June 8, 2016, OSSE will consider waiving the minimum age requirement, which is 18 years old, for a 16- and 17-year-old DC resident GED test applicant if the applicant, meets all other eligibility requirements as stated in Chapter 84 of Title 5A of the DC Municipal Regulations and can provide documentation proving that s/he:

  • Has not been enrolled in a traditional high school program for at least six months and has submitted a Notice of Intent to Home School with OSSE;
  • Has not been enrolled in a traditional high school program for at least six months, and is enrolled in a DCPS or DC Public Charter School-based educational program that provides academic preparation toward GED completion;
  • Is incarcerated or in an out-of-home secure placement within the juvenile justice system and s/he could not reasonably be able to complete a traditional high school diploma program based on his/her current level of academic credits and time remaining for compulsory education; or
  • Is enrolled in a program established by federal law to provide GED test preparation to youth under the age of 18.

If you have questions or would like to apply for a GED age waiver, please contact OSSE’s GED Program Office at (202) 274-7173 or email Philip PremDas, DC's GED administrator, at [email protected].


Related Content: General Education Development Tests (GED)

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