Maryland requires GED candidates to be a minimum of 16 years old depending on the test center. Some test center locations require the test taker to be at least 18 years old. Test centers should be contacted prior to the test date to get the most updated information available. There is no maximum age limit for obtaining a GED.
Maryland GED exams can only be taken by residents of the state. GED candidates have to be residents of the state of Maryland for at least three months before taking the test. Valid Maryland identification has to be presented to take the test. Valid identification includes: a current Maryland-issued driver's license, state ID card issued by the Motor Vehicle Administration, an official Maryland Learner's Permit or a current Active Duty Military ID card. The address on the identification has to be current. Test scores and any other correspondence will be sent to the mailing address listed on the ID.
An application for the GED test has to be submitted before the GED exam test can be taken. Contact information, employment and earnings information, as well as questions regarding the reason for taking the test, will be requested from the application. The applicant will have the opportunity to choose the most convenient location to take the GED exam from a list of locations provided at the end of the application. As of June 2010, a scheduling fee of $45 applies each time an application is submitted or if the test needs to be rescheduled for any reason. The fee can be paid by check or money order.
To be eligible to take the GED exam, candidates cannot already possess a high school diploma from a Maryland high school or have a high school certificate or diploma issued from another state. The candidate also has to have been officially withdrawn from a regular full-time public or private school for at least three months at the time the test is taken. The candidate also can take the GED exam upon obtaining a Maryland High School Certificate of Program Completion showing proficiency in life skills and accurate knowledge of writing, social studies, literature and arts and mathematics.