The GED is a viable option for someone who didn't complete high school, and GED exam preparation services can help you build up competency in the five core areas tested. People completing a GED can expect to earn 15% more in their lifetime than people without a high school diploma.

For students struggling with the GED subject areas, there are GED classes online that prepare you for the GED test. As with any online educational venture, there are things you should watch out for before spending any money or registering for GED testing.

1. Contact your state department of education for correct information about testing. Each state has different requirements concerning age and residency. Contacting the state lets you find out about requirements and necessary waivers. For example, the Florida GED requires an age waiver for students under 18.

2. Check the accreditation of the GED program before paying tuition. Any GED diploma should have ACE or GEDTS accreditation.

3. Be careful signing up for the GED online. Most of these companies are known as diploma mills, which means you pay them a fee for a diploma or GED certificate that is useless in the real world.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find your state's GED education requirements

Talking to your state department of education is the first step you should take before attempting the GED test. This ensures you've met all the requirements, don't need any waivers and are aware of any GED exam preparation services offered by the state.

I recommend: Take a look at the list of state education departments listed on the Indiana Department of Education website. Get in touch with the administrators responsible for GED testing in your region at the American Council on Education.

Assess your skills with a free GED practice test

Before signing up for a whole course load of GED exam prep, take a free online test that assesses your skills and shows you your weaknesses. Some of these tests offer explanations for wrong answers, letting you see exactly where you struggle so you can get the right kind of help.

I recommend: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Supplemental Publishers offer a GED practice test, including help with the GED essay. Polish a variety of skills with the TestPrepReview.com free online quizzes. This site also includes a self-help directory, leading you to educational resources.

Enroll in an accredited online high school for a GED diploma

An online high school is not the same as an online GED diploma course. An online high school requires you to take classes and complete assignments over a period of 6 to 12 months, depending on the school. However, these high schools are accredited and give you a diploma that is not only marketable on a resume but transferable to a college. When researching online GED programs, remember that the GED exam cannot be taken online.

I recommend: Learn about online high schools that grant high school diplomas at World Wide Learn. Search Degree Press for an online high school by location, accreditation, tuition and religion preferences.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When enrolling in an online high school, look for schools that offer a college preparatory GED education. These GED classes are more stringent and give you a college-bound education, as compared to a general education.

Thinking of getting your GED? Congratulations, getting your GED is a great step forward to improving your professional marketability. Even if your schedule is busy, there are several options help you get your GED certificate. Flexible online GED classes and GED testing enable you to fit this educational advancement in to your busy schedule.

Whether you are considering the GED test for personal advancement or wish to offer employees resource information for GED achievement, there are many options available. There are also many benefits to obtaining a GED certificate, such as:

1. A GED diploma affords more opportunities for professional advancement.

2. A more qualified workforce. Offering information on a GED program to valued employees shows interest and promotes continued education.

3. A GED education enables recipients to pursue higher education programs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find the nearest GED program

The first step to taking the GED test is to simply find out where and when you can take it. This will help you adjust your schedule and prepare using a GED practice test or drafting a GED essay.

I recommend: Several websites list GED testing facilities including: The American Council on Education, My-GED and GED High School.

Take GED classes online

Many institutions offer GED classes online. These flexible GED program options enable you to participate any time of the day or night.

I recommend: There are several organizations that provide the resources to obtain a GED online. Check out Universal Classes or GED For Free for more information.

Use a GED study guide

If a class is too structured for you, or won't fit in your schedule, consider at purchasing a GED study guide that will prepare you for the big exam.

I recommend: Study guides that cover all of the mail elements of the test are available at: Study Guide Zone, GED Prep Info and FreeEd.Net.

Take a GED practice test

Once you start studying, consider taking a GED practice test to give you an idea of how you are doing. A practice test can show you the areas where you do best and the areas where you may need improvement.

I recommend: GED practice tests can be found online at Steck Vaughn, Test Preview and 4Tests.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A GED certificate is not the same as a high school diploma. Some employers may insist that you pursue a high school diploma program to continue your education.
• •  As the workforce becomes more and more competitive, a GED education should just be the first step in continuing your education.

The American GED is a real plus for those who did not go through the conventional route to obtain a high school degree, and GED exam preparation services are key for students who want to get an equivalent degree later in life. The GED helps to alleviate the pressure put on those who need more education to get a job or continue in an existing one.

From time to time, business leaders may actively look for GED testing assistance to help send a worker back to school for a GED certificate, where a worker will get both the personal triumph of attaining that level of education and a higher value to the employer as a more fully trained and educated staffer. In these situations, both parties can benefit from web resources for working with GED exam preparation services, like:

1. Help with figuring out what the process of getting a GED certificate entails in the state in which a business is located.

2. Help with finding the right GED classes online or on-site that will help a student achieve success.

3. More in helping to monitor a GED exam preparation service in what it provides for best test-taking results.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use state resources to learn about state requirements for GED testing before calling GED prep help

The policies of many states for attaining the GED vary quite a bit. For those wanting to send a worker to school for a GED, state sites can be a great tool for getting a little knowledge about how the process works in the 'home state' before contacting GED exam preparation services.

I recommend: State tools like this sites from the Vermont Department of Education will help students and those who are sending them figure out state requirements for getting the GED. To find specific GED requirements in states like Florida, use sites like this Florida GED Resources page that describe efforts now underway in state government regarding continued education.

Find appropriate GED exam preparation services through school search sites

A manager looking for GED exam preparation services for workers will want to find programs that are slanted toward the right age levels, as well as those that provide the best preparation assistance for the money, and do the most in helping to boost the confidence of the student. School search sites can help in this area by presenting various venues for contrast and appraisal.

I recommend: Sites like College Kingdom can inform those interested in a GED exam about industry pricing, local test centers, GED attainment policy and more, including resources on how to prepare. Look for more GED exam preparation services and providers at Education Portal online.

Use info pages to help deal with GED exam preparation services

Some info sites can come in handy as buyers compare the services they have hired to what is 'standard' within the general GED learning community. Use the resources you find on these pages to analyze the results of what you get from a GED exam preparation service shop, including a GED practice test setup and other curriculum, for getting workers into a better situation as GED holders.

I recommend: GED Prep Info provides a list of pages detailing aspects of getting results on a GED test. Find more from Universal Class online.