Located in the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), the District of Columbia General Education Development Program Office administers the tests of General Education Development (GED®) and seeks to make the testing program a springboard for further education, training, and employment. As part of this responsibility and pursuant to DC Municipal Regulation (DCMR) 5-A § 8402.2, the State Superintendent, or an authorized designee, may approve certain exceptions to GED® testing eligibility requirements.  

Specifically, the Superintendent, or their designee, may approve exceptions to the requirements that applicants: 1) provide documentation that they have achieved “likely to pass” or “too close to call” on the practice exam for corresponding subject tests, or provide a letter from an approved GED® preparation program stating that the individual is prepared to succeed on the exam; and 2) be at least 18 years of age and either unenrolled from high school for a minimum of six months, a member of a high school class that has already graduated, or certified by a government sponsored GED® preparation program.  

Under the authority granted by 5-A DCMR § 8402.2, Interim State Superintendent Dr. Antoinette Mitchell approves two new exceptions to GED® testing eligibility requirements. One exception lowers the minimum age requirement from 18 to 16 for qualifying individuals, and the second exception removes barriers to testing for students 18 years old and above (e.g., removing the six month wait period after withdrawing from high school).  

This page describes in detail two new GED® testing eligibility requirements exceptions approved by Interim State Superintendent Dr. Antoinette Mitchell. These are the only presently approved exceptions from the GED® testing eligibility requirements, as defined in 5-A DCMR § 8402.  

Effective Date  
This guidance, issued on Oct. 1, 2024, takes effect on this day and will remain in effect until further notice.  

Approved Exceptions to 5-A DCMR § 8402  
Interim State Superintendent Dr. Antoinette Mitchell approves the following two new exceptions to GED® testing eligibility requirements:  

1. Exception to the Minimum Age Requirement: 
OSSE shall allow 16- and 17-year-old DC residents to take the GED® test if the applicant meets all other eligibility requirements stated in Chapter 84 of Title 5-A of the DC Municipal Regulations and can provide a letter of consent to test from the parent, legal guardian, or other primary caregiver AND one of the following forms of documentation:  

• Their most recent completed DC Residency Verification Form confirming enrollment in a DC Public School or DC Public Charter School educational program that provides academic preparation toward GED completion;  
• A letter from the DC ReEngagement Center affirming the candidates’ eligibility to sit for the GED® tests;  
• A Notice of Intent to home-school with OSSE during the upcoming school year OR an approved letter from OSSE to home-school during the current school year;  
• Proof of incarceration in an out-of-home secure placement within the juvenile justice system and the student could not reasonably be able to complete a traditional high school diploma program based on their current level of academic credits and time remaining for compulsory education; or  
• A letter proving enrollment in a program established by federal law to provide GED® test preparation to youth under the age of 18.  

2. Exceptions for Adult (18+) Students:
Heretofore, under 5-A DCMR § 8402.1(d), all prospective GED® test applicants were required to meet at least one of the four below eligibility criterion. This guidance document exempts all prospective GED® test applicants who are at least 18 years old from this requirement.  

1. The applicant has not been enrolled in a traditional high school program for a period of not less than six (6) months prior to submitting an application;  
2. The applicant was a member of a high school class which has already graduated;  
3. The applicant has officially withdrawn from a traditional high school program without re-enrollment for a period of not less than six (6) months, during which time the applicant has been enrolled in a GED® preparatory class; or  
4. The applicant is certified by a GED® preparation program sponsored by the government of the District of Columbia or the federal government.  

Questions  
If you have questions, please contact OSSE’s GED® Program Office at (202) 274-7173 or email Philip PremDas, DC’s GED® Administrator, at [email protected]. 

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Related Content: General Education Development Tests (GED)