Enroll in GED preparation classes, offered throughout state and community colleges, learning centers and adult education centers.
Find classes in your area by entering your zip code into the search box located on the American Council on Education (ACE) website under "find a GED testing center," or by visiting ACE's directory, "GED preparation contacts by state."
In addition, the American Literacy Directory (ALD) provides a list of learning centers, including contact information, directions and maps to each location. Simply enter your zip code for a complete manifest in your area. Alternately, call the National Institute for Learning, which administers the ALD, at 1-800-828-8133.
You can also look in your phone book, in the ad section and under government, for a catalogue of schools and education centers that offer classes in GED preparation.
Study for the test. Watch "GED Connections," a PBS program designed to help people prepare for the GED. For a schedule, go to the PBS website and enter your zip code.
Use resource books such as, "The Keys to GED Success" available at most testing centers, as well as in libraries and bookstores.
Obtain official GED practice tests, available from most testing centers. Locate a testing center at the ACE website. Check sample questions provided by the ACE.
Find a testing location near you, either through the ACE website, contacting your state GED administrator or by calling toll-free 800-626-9433. Be sure to contact the testing center to learn the location, as well as the date and time of testing.
The GED cannot be taken on line, so beware of any agency that advertises this service. There are more than 3400 official testing centers on record, so choose one from the official list.
Be sure you understand any residency restrictions. Some states require that you take the test in the county where you live.
Request your transcript by calling your local testing center or by filling out the ACE transcript request form. Visit ACE's "understanding your scores" web page.
According to an ACE GED Testing Service video, 98 percent of colleges and universities in the United States accept the GED credential in place of a high school diploma. GED graduates are qualified for the same types of financial aid as high school graduates and must meet the same criteria for entrance.