If you didn't finish high school: the HSE diploma

New York State awards the HSE diploma in four ways; you need one. Most people take the GED exam. If you already have 24 credits from a U.S. college, Regents exams from a New York high school, or time for months of self-directed work, another path may fit. In every case you must have lived in New York State at least 30 days and not hold a high school or HSE diploma from the United States or its territories; a foreign diploma doesn't block you.

A foreign diploma works for CUNY admission. But State financial aid needs a U.S. diploma or a recognized equivalent, and no school certificate from another country is on the list of equivalents. That is why you may still need the HSE (or an ATB test) if you finished school abroad.

1. What counts as a recognized equivalent

   The list includes the New York State HSE diploma and a university degree from outside the United States recognized by that country's ministry of education or responsible agency. No foreign school certificate is on it.

2. Passing scores on the ATB test

   The college gives the test. State-approved passing scores: ACCUPLACER (a College Board placement test) 233 in reading, 235 in writing and 230 in arithmetic; CELSA (Combined English Language Skills Assessment) 97 for programs with an ESL component.

1. Check that you qualify

   You must have lived in New York State at least 30 days, have no high school or HSE diploma from the United States or its territories, and meet the age rule: 19 or older, or 16 to 18 with state approval.

2. Decide whether you need a class

   Classes are optional, but GED recommends them if you need help. Free prep is offered by NYC Public Schools Adult Education, CUNY colleges and Workers United with the Consortium for Worker Education.

3. Create an account on ged.com

   Register on ged.com with your own email; the account must be yours. Choose New York State as your jurisdiction. Enter your date of birth correctly: if you are under 19, the system shows the Age Eligibility form. The diploma is mailed to the address in your account.

4. Prepare your ID and proof of address

   Option 1: a valid, government-issued photo ID with your New York address (for example a driver's license or state ID). Option 2: a valid government-issued ID with an out-of-state address or no address (for example a passport), plus a document that proves New York State residency and is dated at least 30 days before the test: a utility bill, signed lease, tax record, voter registration, bank statement or car registration.

5. Schedule each test

   Book in your ged.com account, one appointment for each of the four tests. If the center has time, you can take all four in one day, about 7.5 hours. You may test in English or Spanish and mix languages; the diploma is issued in the language of your RLA test.

6. Do not miss an appointment

   Cancel or reschedule in your account at least 24 hours ahead. Miss an appointment and you wait 60 days to book that test again; after five missed appointments you can't book any test for six months (180 days).

7. If you did not pass a test

   A passing score is at least 145 on each test. You can retake a failed test after 60 days, up to three times per calendar year. You can't retake a passed test for a higher score; passed tests stay on your record.

8. Receive your diploma

   After you pass the fourth test, the diploma (NYS High School Equivalency Diploma) and transcript are mailed to the address in your account. GED says 8 to 10 weeks; the State Education Department says four to ten. If more than ten weeks have passed, email HSE@nysed.gov.

9. Send the transcript to a college

   Since October 27, 2026 you can have an official HSE transcript emailed to a college or university with a .edu address: create an account on my.ny.gov and open your HSE application. The diploma itself goes only by regular mail.

In New York State the GED is open from age 19. At 16 to 18 you need approval: creating a ged.com account brings up the Age Eligibility form, which an authorized official of your school or program signs and mails to the State's HSE Office. Approval takes up to a week after the form arrives; allow two more weeks for the mail. For ages 17 to 21 there is free prep: Pathways to Graduation.

• Pathways to Graduation

  Under 25Free

  Free HSE exam preparation for ages 17 to 21: all parts of the exam, special sections for ENL and Spanish bilingual students, classes for every reading and language level, paid internships, breakfast or lunch at some sites, MetroCards for eligible students, and College and Career Resource Centers. Enroll any time during the school year through a Referral Center.

  schools.nyc.gov

Classes review what the four tests cover and explain how the exam works. The GED is given only in English or Spanish, so if your English is still limited, start with an English class.

• NYC Public Schools Adult Education

  Any statusNYC residentsFree

  The City's school system offers free HSE preparation, Adult Basic Education (ABE, for people who first need to strengthen reading and math) and English classes to adults 21 and older without a U.S. high school diploma. Mornings, afternoons and evenings, Monday to Saturday, at more than 175 sites. No documents needed for English, ABE or HSE classes; a foreign diploma doesn't matter. Questions: adultednyc@schools.nyc.gov.

  schools.nyc.govMon–Sat, morning, afternoon and evening

• CUNY Adult Literacy Program

  Any statusFree

  Free HSE and GED preparation at 14 CUNY campuses in all five boroughs, mornings, evenings and weekends. Registration is open all year: contact the program at your college before you go. Colleges and contacts: “Free English classes for adults” and the CUNY website.

  cuny.edu

• Workers United and the Consortium for Worker Education

  Any statusFree

  GED preparation in English and Spanish, English classes and computer classes, on Zoom or in person in Manhattan. Anyone who lives or works in New York City can sign up through the Sign Up Here! form at the bottom of the web page; questions to info@cwe.org.

  cwe.org83 Maiden Lane, 12th floor, New York, NY

You book a test only in your ged.com account, which also has a test center search. Sites listed by NYC Public Schools and CUNY:

• Brooklyn Adult Learning Center

  Any statusNYC residentsFree

  One of the two NYC Public Schools Adult Education locations that give the GED.

  schools.nyc.gov475 Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11216

• Mid-Manhattan Adult Learning Center

  Any statusNYC residentsFree

  The second NYC Public Schools Adult Education location that gives the GED.

  schools.nyc.gov269 West 35th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018

• Brooklyn College (CUNY)

  Any statusFree

  The GED exam is given at the college's Adult Literacy Program.

  cuny.edu2900 Bedford Avenue, 0118 Ingersoll Hall, Brooklyn, NY 11210

• Kingsborough Community College (CUNY)

  Any statusFree

  The GED exam is given here; book it in your ged.com account. Prep classes: SKrivenko@kbcc.cuny.edu.

  cuny.edu2001 Oriental Boulevard, Building T2, Room T231, Brooklyn, NY 11235

• College of Staten Island (CUNY)

  Any statusFree

  The GED exam is given at the Adult Literacy and Language Program.

  cuny.edu2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10314

• Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center (CUNY)

  Any statusFree

  One of the two CUNY affiliated testing centers where the GED exam is given.

  cuny.edu163 West 125th Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10027

• Queens Educational Opportunity Center (CUNY)

  Any statusFree

  The second CUNY affiliated testing center where the GED exam is given.

  cuny.edu158-29 Archer Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11433

If exams don't suit you and you have time for independent work, you can build a portfolio through NEDP. Find a provider near you; if there is none or there is a waitlist, write to the State's NYS NEDP HUB at NYSNEDP@nysed.gov with your name, your city and whether you have already contacted an NEDP provider.

• Brooklyn Public Library, Adult Learning

  Any status

  An NEDP provider in Brooklyn. Email: HSE@bklynlibrary.org.

  casas.org25 4th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11217

• Queens Public Library, Long Island City

  Any status

  NEDP for self-directed youth and adults with life and work experience and basic computer skills, done online from home or the library. Age 18 or older; attend the orientation and pass the CASAS diagnostic test. The program takes 6 to 12 months. Fill in the NEDP Inquiry Form on the website or email HSE@queenslibrary.org.

  queenslibrary.org37-44 21st Street, Long Island City, NY 11101

• Destination Tomorrow

  Any status

  An NEDP provider in the Bronx. Walk in Mon–Fri 10 am–6 pm (last visitor at 5 pm) or email info@destinationtomorrow.org.

  destinationtomorrow.org452 East 149th Street, Bronx, NY 10455Mon–Fri 10 am–6 pm

• 1199SEIU Training and Employment Funds

  Any status

  An NEDP provider only for eligible members of the 1199 union.

  1199seiubenefits.org498 Seventh Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10001

• NYS NEDP HUB

  Any status

  The State's fully remote hub for people with no NEDP provider nearby or facing a waitlist. Email NYSNEDP@nysed.gov with your name, your city and whether you have already contacted an NEDP provider. NYSED's conditions: age 18 or older, no high school or equivalency diploma, at least 30 days in New York State, CASAS tests at a ninth-grade level; about 8 to 10 hours of independent work a week.

  acces.nysed.gov

If you already have credits from a U.S. college or Regents exams from a New York high school, you can earn the HSE with no GED exam (or just one test). Mailing address for documents: HSE Office, 89 Washington Avenue, EBA 460, Albany, NY 12234.

• College Credit Pathway (24 college credits)

  Any status

  Fill in Section A of the College Credit Pathway Application and mail or bring it to the registrar's office of the college where you earned the credits. The college completes Section B and sends the application with your official transcript to the HSE Office. Expect a decision four to six weeks after all documents arrive. You must have lived in New York State at least 30 days, not hold a high school diploma, and be past the compulsory school attendance age (in New York City, June 30 of the school year you turn 17). Foreign credits are not accepted.

  acces.nysed.gov

• Regents-HSE Exam Pathway (Application R)

  Any status

  Create a ged.com account and enter your GED ID on Application R. Section B is completed by an HSE prep program, if you attended one. Email or mail the application to the New York high school you last attended; if it has closed, to the school district's central office, or in New York City to NYC Public Schools. The school completes Section C and sends it with your official transcript to the HSE Office. The transcript arrives in about four to six weeks, sometimes up to ten. You must still pass one GED test.

  acces.nysed.gov

• New York State Education Department, High School Equivalency Office

  Any status

  Handles New York State HSE diplomas: find out where your diploma is, order a duplicate or a transcript. Email HSE@nysed.gov. Check your diploma status on the HSE Status Verification page; order an official document or send a transcript to an .edu address from your my.ny.gov account.

  acces.nysed.gov89 Washington Avenue, EBA 460, Albany, NY 12234