Is a GED the same as an Arizona high school diploma?

No. The GED is a test owned and administered by GED Testing Service. The credential Arizona awards is the Arizona High School Equivalency Diploma, issued by the Arizona Department of Education. Passing the GED tests is one of three approved pathways to that diploma, and on its own it does not produce one.

What score do I need on the Arizona Civics Test?

As of January 1, 2026, the passing score is 70 out of 100. It was previously 60. All three HSE pathways require it. A passing score earned in middle school or high school can be accepted, and the test can be retaken as many times as needed with no waiting period between attempts.

How much does the GED test cost in Arizona?

Arizona charges $41 per subject, whether you test at a test center or online. There are four subjects, so testing straight through costs about $164. Retakes at a test center cost $15 in Arizona; online retakes cost the full $41.

Can I take the GED test in Arizona if I am 16 or 17?

Yes, with documentation. You must provide verification from the last school you attended certifying formal withdrawal, plus a signed, notarized, dated statement of consent from a parent or guardian, along with a current government-issued photo ID. These can be presented at an authorized testing location or emailed to AdultEd@azed.gov. For the online exam, a parent or guardian must be present at pre-test check-in.

Do I have to live in Arizona to test here?

No. Arizona has no residency requirement for GED testing. However, you must take your last test in Arizona in order to receive the Arizona High School Equivalency Diploma.

Do I need to take a class before testing?

No. Arizona does not require classroom preparation before taking the GED test. Free state-funded adult education classes are available across Maricopa County if you want them, and they are also the only route to the HSE PLUS Career Readiness Pathway.

GED & Arizona HSE Diploma Pathway FinderThree approved ways to finish — and the free classes in Maricopa County

Most people are told to “go get your GED.” In Arizona that advice is incomplete, and the gap costs people months. This page explains what Arizona actually awards, helps you pick which of the three pathways fits what you have already done, and gives you the free programs to call.

The part nobody mentions: in Arizona, the GED is not the diploma.

The GED® is a set of tests owned by a private company. The credential is the Arizona High School Equivalency Diploma, awarded by the Arizona Department of Education. Passing the GED tests is only one of three approved ways to earn it.

All three ways also require passing the Arizona Civics Test. People pass all four GED subjects, wait for a diploma that never arrives, and only then find out about the civics requirement. That is the single most common way this process stalls.

Nothing here is stored or sent anywhere. Every answer stays on this device so you can close the page and come back to it. There is no account, no score, no test, and no required order — skip anything you would rather not answer and the page still works.

What have you already done? Tap anything that applies, or nothing at all. This is what decides which pathway is shortest for you.

What’s in the way right now? This changes which program to call and what to ask them for.

Where in the Valley are you? Optional. Used only to list the closest free classes — tap again to unselect.

Every pathway ends at the same gate: the Arizona Civics Test

Whichever route you take, Arizona will not issue the diploma until you pass this. It is worth doing early rather than last, because it is the one piece that surprises people.

You need 70 out of 100. The passing score rose from 60 to 70 on January 1, 2026. Anything you read that still says 60 is out of date.
Retakes are unlimited, with no waiting period between attempts.
A passing score from middle school or high school can count. If you took civics before you left school, ask the Arizona Department of Education before you pay to sit it again.
You register for it on GED.com, even if you are using the College Credit or HSE PLUS pathway. It can be taken online with a proctor or at a testing center.
On the College Credit Pathway you must pass civics before submitting any paperwork to the state.

Questions about civics or your pathway: Arizona Department of Education, Adult Education Services — 602-258-2410 or AdultEd@azed.gov.

What the GED testing route actually costs in Arizona

This applies only to the GED Testing Pathway. The College Credit and HSE PLUS pathways have different costs, and free adult education classes are free on every pathway.

Arizona GED test fees, verified September 21, 2026
One subject, test center or online	$41
All four subjects	$164
Retake at a test center	$15
Retake online	$41
Free classes to prepare	$0

You do not have to pay for all four at once. Subjects are scheduled and paid for one at a time, so $41 is the real entry price, not $164.

Who to call

What to say when they pick up

You do not owe anyone your history. “I want to finish my diploma” is a complete sentence.

Questions people actually ask

Is a GED worth less than a real diploma?

Employers and Arizona public universities and community colleges accept the Arizona HSE Diploma. Some selective private colleges and a few military occupational specialties weight a traditional diploma more heavily. If a standard diploma matters to you and you are 18 or older, Phoenix has a route to one: The Excel Center is a tuition-free public charter high school for adults that awards an actual high school diploma, with free childcare and transportation help — 602-535-4401, 4837 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix. It takes longer than testing, and for many people that trade is worth it.

I took the GED years ago. Do my old scores still count?

The GED test was fully redesigned in 2014, and scores from before that are generally no longer usable toward the current credential. Scores from the 2014 test series onward are typically still on file in your GED.com account. Do not assume either way — log in at GED.com, or call the Arizona Department of Education at 602-258-2410, before you pay to retake anything.

Can I combine college credits with GED scores?

Not on the College Credit Pathway — Arizona is explicit that college credits cannot be combined with GED passing scores or high school credits on that route. The HSE PLUS Career Readiness Pathway is the one built for combining: it lets high school credits, college credits, GED subjects passed, adult education coursework, work certificates, and employment all count toward a single point total. If you have a scattered mix of partial progress, HSE PLUS is usually the pathway worth asking about.

Do I have to be an Arizona resident?

No. Arizona has no residency requirement for testing. But you must take your last test in Arizona to receive the Arizona diploma, so if you are moving mid-process, finish here or check the rules in the state you are moving to first.

Can I test in Spanish?

Yes. The GED test is offered in English and Spanish in Arizona, and since August 2019 you can combine the two languages across subjects to earn the credential. Several Maricopa County adult education programs teach in Spanish; ask when you call.

Do I need to take a class first?

No. Arizona does not require classroom preparation before testing. But the classes are free, they are run by state-funded programs, and they are the only door to the HSE PLUS pathway — so there is very little reason not to at least call one.

Verify before you go. Phone numbers, class schedules, and fees change. Everything on this page was checked against the operator’s own website on September 21, 2026, but call ahead before traveling — especially for class start dates, which move. If something here is wrong, please tell us at corrections@commonladder.org so the next person gets it right.

Where this came from

Arizona Department of Education, High School Equivalency Services — the three approved pathways, the January 1, 2026 civics score change, and eligibility under A.R.S. §15-702.
Arizona Department of Education, College Credit Pathway — the 25-credit breakdown, grade and course-level rules, and the application process.
Arizona Department of Education, HSE PLUS Career Readiness Pathway — the 22-point structure and WIOA Title II enrollment requirement.
Arizona Department of Education, Adult Education and English Classes by County — the state-funded Maricopa County program list, with phone numbers and addresses.
GED Testing Service, Arizona state policy page — fees, age and documentation rules, retake policy, language options, and transcript process.