About the Illinois Community College Board. The Illinois Community College Board consists of eleven members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate for six-year terms. One student member is selected by the ICCB Student Advisory Committee for a one-year term. The Board Chair is selected by the Governor.

• Illinois Ged Age Requirements

Illinois uses multiple options for HSE (high school equivalency) testing, the GED®, HiSET, and TASC.

HSE testing gives persons without a high school diploma the chance to acquire an equivalent diploma.

All three options measure academic proficiency at a level comparable to that of high school graduates.

The GED must be taken on a computer while the HiSET and TASC can be done both on a computer and on paper.

The GED contains four separate tests (modules) that can be taken individually within a time frame of two years.

The four GED tests are in the fields of Social Studies, Math, Literacy, and Science.

Illinois Ged Age Requirements

TASC and HiSET have five subtests (Literacy has separate reading and writing tests) that may also be taken individually.

Illinois requires test takers also to pass the state’s U.S. Constitution Test.

Illinois HSE testing requirements

The minimum age in Illinois is 17. For 16 year old’s there are restrictions. See your nearest testing site.
GED exam fee: $120 (computer based), HiSET and TASC is somewhat cheaper.

GED Retesting: $30 per subject.

In Illinois, you MUST be a state resident.

There is no requirement to first take a GED practice test, but you also must pass the Illinois Constitution test.

You must not have a high school degree and you don’t attend another program.

Online testing is NO option

There are numerous locations in Illinois where prep courses are offered that will make you optimally prepared to take the GED, TASC, or HiSET exam confidently. Mind you that, in order to take the high school equivalency test, you need to go personally to a testing site, the exam is just not offered online.

To check what you know take a free GED Practice Test.

HSE Classes in Illinois

You can prepare for the GED test by studying online.

You can also choose traditional GED Prep classes near you.

Choose your nearest city:

The GED credential is recognized as equivalent to a high school diploma by recruiters, government agencies, and colleges all across the United States. Getting the GED certificate is important for individuals who, for whatever reason, never finished high school, and gives them a second chance to obtain a comparable diploma. The GED credential gives them the chance to get a job, to improve their current employment, and get a college education.

Illinois HSE testing centers

Aurora
Waubonsee Comm College – 5 E Galena Blvd, Aurora, IL 60506, 630-801-7900
Belleville
SWIC Belleville – 2500 Carlyle Ave, Belleville, IL 62221, 618-235-2700 et.x 5525
Carlinville
Regional Off of Education – 826 N Broad St, Carlinville, IL 62626, 217-854-4016
Chicago
Lighthouse for the Blind – 1850 West Roosevelt, Chicago, IL 60608, 312-666-1331
Int’l Academy of Design and Technology – 1 N State St, Chicago, IL 60602, 312-980-9200
City Colleges of Chicago, Kennedy-King Coll – 747 W 63rd St, Chicago, IL 60621, 773-451-2155
Paul Simon Chicago Job Corps – 3348 S Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60623, 773-890-3100
Richard J. Daley College – 7500 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60652-3011, 773-838-7774
Safer Foundation Youth Empowerment Program – 609 W Adams, Chicago, IL 60661, 773-638-8480
St. Augustine College – 1333-45 W Argyle, Chicago, IL 60640, 773-276-9196
Truman College – 1145 W Wilson Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, 793-907-4732
Wilbur Wright College – 4300 N Narragansett, Chicago, IL 60634, 773-481-8450
Chicago Heights
Prairie State College – 202 S Halsted St, Chicago Heights, IL 60411, 708-709-3500
Cicero
Morton College – 3801 S Central Ave, Cicero, IL 60804, 708-656-8000
Crystal Lake
McHenry Co College – 8900 US Hwy 14, Crystal Lake, IL 60012, 815-455-3700
Decatur
Macon-Piatt Regional Office of Ed. – 1690 Huston Drive, Decatur, IL 62526, 217-872-3721
Dixon
Lee-Ogle Regional Office of Education – 7772 Clinton St, Dixon, IL 61021, 815-652-2054
Dixon
Sauk Valley Comm College – 173 IL Route 2, Dixon, IL 61021, 815-835-6301
Elgin
Community College – 1700 Spartan Dr, Elgin, IL 60123, 847-214-7825
Evanston
Illinois Comm College Board – 1007 Church St, Evanston, IL 60201, 847-328-9795
Galesburg
Carl Sandburg College – 2400 Tom L. Wilson Boulevard, Galesburg, IL 61401, 309-341-5323
Galva
Black Hawk College East – 26230 Black Hawk Rd, Galva, IL 61434, 309-854-1700
Geneva
Kane County Regional Off of Education – 210 South 6th St, Geneva, IL 60134, 630-232-5957
Glen Ellyn
College of DuPage – 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, 630-942-2852
Granite City
SWIL Granite City – 4950 Maryville Rd, Granite City, IL 62040, 618-235-2700 ext. 5525
Grayslake
College of Lake Co – 19351 W Washington St, Grayslake, IL 60030, 847-543-2076
Hillsboro
Christian-Montgomery Regional Off of Education – 203 S Main St, Hillsboro, IL 62049, 217-532-9591
Jacksonville
Brown-Cass-Morgan Reg Off of Education – 110 N West Street, Jacksonville, IL 62650, 217-243-1804
Lewistown
Reg Superintendent’s Office – 257 W Lincoln Ave, Lewistown, IL 61542, 309-518-8029
Lincoln
Heartland Comm. Coll. – 620 Broadway St, Lincoln, IL 62656, 217-735-1731
Loves Park
Boone Winnebago Reg. Office of Education, 300 Heart Blvd, Loves Park, IL 61111, 815-636-3060
Malta
Kishwaukee College – 21193 Malta Rd, Malta, IL 60150-9699, 815-825-2086
Morris
JJC Morris Education Ctr – 1715 N Division, Morris, IL 60450, 815-942-1552
New Lenox
Will County Regional Off. of Education – 702 W Maple St, New Lenox, IL 60451, 815-740-8360
Normal
Heartland Comm. Coll. – 1500 W Raab Rd, Normal, IL 61761, 309-268-8180
Oglesby
Illinois Valley Comm College – 815 N Orlando Smith Ave, Oglesby, IL 61348, 815-224-2720
Palatine
William Rainey Harper Coll. – 1200 W Algonquin Road, Palatine, IL 60067, 847-925-6615
Palos Hills
Moraine Valley Comm College – 10900 S 88th Ave, Palos Hills, IL 60465, 708-974-5249
Pekin
Regional Off. of Education – 414 Court St, Ste 100, Pekin, IL 61554, 309-477-2290
Pontiac
Heartland Comm. Coll. – 211 E Madison St Pontiac IL 61764, 815-842-6777
Rockford
Goodwill Mission Services Ctr – 850 N Church St, Rockford, IL 61103, 815-965-3795
South Holland
S Suburban College – 15800 S State St, South Holland, IL 60473, 708-596-2000
Springfield
Lanphier HS GED testing 1300 N Eleventh St Springfield IL 62702 217.525.3080
Sterling
Whiteside Reg. Off. of Education – 1001 W 23rd Street, Sterling, IL 61081, 815-625-1495
Stockton
Regional Superintendent of Schools – 500 N Rush St, Stockton, IL 61085-1033, 815-947-3810

Questions? Call Illinois state’s office at 217-558-5668

Are adjustments required? This is the link to our contact page.

GED – How to start

If you want to sign up for the GED exam you cannot already have a secondary education credential or be registered for a school program. Contact your nearest GED prep or testing site to find out if you can enroll in the GED program.

By the time you think you are ready to take on the GED test(s), go to MyGED at GED.com where you will be guided through the entire process. On taking the exam, be sure to be totally prepared. A pretty effective way to get all set is also available through this website’s services: video lessons and practice tests that cost you nothing!

Check also:

One GED subtest at a time

The GED exam contains four independent sub-test. You can take one of these four tests (on Math, Social Studies, Science, and Literacy) when you optimally prepared within a two-year time frame. The TASC or HiSET modules may also be dealt with separately. Come to the GED exam prepared, take it confidently, and earn your GED credential. To obtain your Illinois High School Equivalency Certificate, you also need to pass the high school-level United States and State of Illinois Constitution exam, or present proof completion.

At your community bookstore, they surely have preparation materials, and you can find as well a lot of GED prep classes that offer preparation in your area often free of charge. Just check an area by clicking on a major city near you in the above list. This website also offers great and free online GED video instruction.

GED vs. HiSET/TASC

The Illinois Community College Board has approved that the HiSET and TASC exams can also be used in the state. The HiSET and TASC exams are available in both paper-delivered and computer-based formats and are less costly than the GED exam. After passing the four GED tests (or the five HiSET or TASC tests), and the Illinois Constitution Test, you’ll be awarded the Illinois HSE (high school equivalency) Certificate. This credential will surely help improve your life as it allows for continued education in college, and offers better job opportunities. This page lists all facilities in key Illinois areas where you can attend GED courses to get ready for the exam. Choose a city near you.

Lowered GED passing score

The GED (General Education Development) passing score was reduced to 145 just two after it was introduced. So you need to score at least 580 points in total. In Illinois, you additionally must pass the “United States and State of Illinois Constitution” test. Successful test takers are also required to pay a $10 administrative fee to receive their certificate. The HiSET requires you to score (on a 1–20 score scale) at least 8 points on each of the five sub-tests and a combined score of no less than 45. Your essay must have a minimum score of 2 points. The TASC requires you to score no less than 500 (out of 800) on each of the five subtests and your essay must have no less than a 2-score.

What is on the GED exam

The latest version of the GED exam is very different from the earlier versions. The exam is computer-formatted and will take about 7.5 hours to complete, but you can take one of the four tests at a time (in maximally two years). The much-needed revision of the GED exam has aligned it again with contemporary high school standards, university requirements, and industry demands. The overhaul resulted in the fact that the GED certificate is credible again as a true high school degree equivalency.

Your diploma will surely result in far better and well-paying employment opportunities and also opens the doors towards a great college education. You may even earn college credit if you score high on the GED test! So study hard, online or in a class, and get your credential! Upon request, you will not only receive your diploma, but also the transcript of your scores. Contact your dream public or college and learn all about their admissions policies and see if you meet all prerequisites.

GED timed exam

The difficulty level of the GED exam is comparable to that of a current high school diploma. Multiple-choice has for a great part disappeared in favor of essay-based answering. Critical reasoning and problem-solving are the focus elements of the GED exam. If a student needs some accommodation, please make a timely request at a testing center. There is no online testing option. You must come to an official Illinois testing facility.

At the GED exam, you are allowed the following time: English Language Arts: 150 minutes including a short break, Mathematical Reasoning: 115 minutes, Science: 90 minutes, and Social Studies: 70 minutes. The HiSET and TASC exams have five tests that cannot be taken individually but spread out over a few days. The Language Arts section has separate reading and writing tests.

Are GED-HiSET-TASC prep classes free?

All across the state of Illinois, you can find GED preparation classes at adult education centers, libraries, or churches, that are mostly free of charge. More information and practice tests are available at GED.com, but our website also includes free GED practice tests. A great advantage of the new GED test is that you can register and schedule your tests online. Go to GED.com, or call 1-877-392-6433.

Don’t forget to check our article about how to sign up for your GED exam with the online portal MyGED.

There is no need to take the complete GED exam at once. You can take each of the four tests individually and on different dates, or you can choose to take more modules on the same day. The Illinois GED test fee is $30 per module, and as we’ve seen, there are four modules. In Illinois, you additionally have to pay for administrative costs.

So now, in Illinois, three versions of the HSE (high school equivalency) exam are available in Illinois, though not at all testing centers. The ICCB announced that more and more testing sites are now offering multiple combinations of choices. The GED test costs $120 and offers practically immediate scoring results. The HiSET test and the TASC are available in computer-based and paper versions cost respectively $90 and $92 in Illinois.

Do you want to become a Medical Assistant?

Your GED diploma allows for a fine college education and increasingly more students want to get into the medical profession. Check out this summary of how to become a medical assistant:

• Medical assistants are required to complete a two-year vocational program
• Average Salary: $31,230
• Expected Lifetime Earnings: $1,370,000

Medical Assistant – Education

Medical assistants (or CMA – Certified Medical Assistants) are usually required to complete a two-year vocational program before they can begin to look for employment in this field. These vocational programs are offered by a vast array of different organizations such as community colleges, vocational schools, and junior colleges.

These programs usually require the aspiring medical assistant to complete courses in pharmaceutical technology, diagnostic procedures, ethics, and clinical procedures. Students may also be required to complete on-the-job training offered by their employer and are usually required to be computer literate.

Top Certified Medical Assistant Schools

1. Keiser University

2. Kaplan University

3. South University

4. Finlandia University

5. Concordia University Wisconsin

6. Allied Health Institute

7. Baylor College of Medicine

8. Quinnipiac University

9. Mountain State University

10. Herzing University

Medical Assistant – Certification

Most employers in the healthcare industry prefer (or even insist) that the Medical Assistants they employ are certified. Certification mostly is done by The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). This organization provides certification to graduates schools that offer medical assisting programs that are accredited by the CAAHEP (The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) or by the ABHES (The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools).

Medical Assistant – The Job

Certified Medical Assistants usually work to support physicians and are working mostly in outpatient or ambulatory healthcare facilities, such as medical clinics and offices. Medical Assisting belongs to America’s most rapidly growing professional options, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

This job growth is due to aspects such as the foreseen increased number of outpatient care facilities and physicians’ offices, the rapid development of technological advancements, and the continuously increasing number of elderly patients who are in need of medical treatment. Certified Medical Assistants generally are cross-trained so they can perform both clinical duties and administrative tasks.

Medical assistants are tasked with various administrative duties that are necessary to keep the offices of medical professionals running smoothly. Medical assistants are usually employed by podiatrists, chiropractors, and physicians. The tasks that they are usually required to perform may be as basic as answering phones or as complicated as organizing billing records and interviewing patients.

Medical assistants employed in a clinical role may be required to complete the medical histories of patients, explaining treatment alternatives to patients and ensuring that patients are prepared for their appointment with the physician.

Medical Assistant Employment Opportunities

Professionals in this field work in a medical setting and can, therefore, expect a clean, well-lit environment for their day-to-day work activities. They can also expect to work in an environment where they must usually handle more than one job at a time, so it is imperative that they have good multitasking skills. The majority of medical assistants work over 40 hours per week, but there are instances where they may work on a part-time basis.

Medical assistants usually have plenty of advancement opportunities available to them. This is especially true if they take additional training on their own or through their employer. Medical assistants can advance to a number of different positions which include office management and administrative support management.

Employment prospects for medical assistants are excellent and the field is expected to grow at a much faster rate than average over the next ten years. Though the earnings of medical assistants vary from state to state, most professionals in this field can expect a median income of approximately $31,000 per year. Applicants new to this field generally make around $23,000 per year and those with the most experience make in excess of $42,000 per year.

So now you’ve learned all about getting your GED in Illinois!

Employment/Age Certificate

January 1, 2019

Footnotes:

¹Table includes both the general certification procedure required by law and those used in practice. Table does not include exceptions to the general procedures; nor does it identify certificates that may be required for employment in street trades, entertainment, or other work for which a special permit may be required.

²Under the columns 'For minors of age indicated' an entry of M denotes 'Mandated,' i.e., the requirement is mandated under State law; R denotes on 'Request,' i.e., the certificate is not required under State law, but the law directs an administrative agency to issue the certificate on request; P denotes 'Practice,' i.e., the law makes no requirement, but the State issues the certificate on request.

¹⁸Alabama. No minor under 18 years of age may be employed in, about, or in connection with any of the following occupations, positions, or places: #3 In tunnels or excavations with depths exceeding four (4) feet. The following occupations in excavation operations are prohibited: Excavating, working in or backfilling (refilling) trenches, except manually excavating or manually backfilling trenches that do not exceed four feet in depth at any point. EXCEPTION - Minors age 16 or older may be issued a permit to work at excavation sites which are less than four (4) feet in depth.

³Alaska. In addition to individual certificates, employers may obtain advance approval for a specific job consisting of listed duties permitting them to hire minors, of at least 14 years of age, without prior individual approval.

⁴Florida. Employment or age certificates are not required. However, employers of any minor must obtain and keep on record proof of the child's age. An age certificate issued by the district school board is one method of meeting the proof of age requirement.

⁵Iowa. Employment and age certificates are issued by both the Iowa Workforce Development Department and the schools.

An employer may require minors 16 or 17 years of age to obtain a work permit.

⁶Kentucky. Employers of children under age 18 must maintain a proof of age.

⁷Michigan. A work permit is not required for a minor 16 years or older who has completed the requirements for high school graduation or has obtained a high school equivalency certificate and provided copy of certification to the employer. A work permit is not required for a 17 year old minor who has passed the general education development (GED) test and provided copy of certification to the employer. Certification is now issued by MDE (Department of Education).

⁸Minnesota. Age certificates are not required. However, employers of any minor must obtain and keep on record proof of the child's age. Age certificates satisfy this requirement as do copies of birth certificates, drivers licenses, and U.S. Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service Employment Eligibility Verification Forms I-9.

⁹Montana. No certificate is required at any age in nonhazardous employment. Since minors under 16 may not work in hazardous employment, certificates for this age category are not deemed necessary.

¹⁰Nevada. Only certificates issued are those for minors under age 14 with written permission of district judge.

¹¹New Hampshire. Work certificates are not required for 16- and 17-year-olds. Instead, employers must maintain on file a signed, written document from the youth's parent or legal guardian authorizing the employment. The Department of Safety may issue age certificates to 16- and 17-year-olds

¹²North Carolina. Employment certificates are issued by the Department of Labor both directly and electronically.

¹³Ohio. Age certificates are not issued, but proof of age is required for minors 16 and 17 years of age for employment during school vacation. With the approval of the Superintendent of Schools of the district where they live, 16- and 17-year-old minors are not required to provide a certificate to be employed at a seasonal amusement or recreational establishment.

¹⁴Oregon. Minors age 14–17 are not required to obtain work permits. Instead, employers are required to apply for annual certificates to employ these minors.

¹⁵Tennessee. No certificates are issued. However, employers of minors under age 18 must obtain and keep on file proof of the minor's age. A birth certificate, passport, driver's license, State issued identification, or parent's oath as to the minor's age are acceptable proofs of age under the child labor law.

¹⁶Wisconsin. Certificates are issued by volunteer permit officers who are representatives of the Department of Workforce Development. Many of the permit officers are school officials, but other public employees such as municipal and county employees and court officials are also included.

¹⁷Wyoming. Employers of children under age 16 must maintain a proof of age.

Note: N/A indicates 'not applicable.' 'No provision' as an entry under either employment or age certificate indicates that the issuance of such a certificate is unnecessary because another type of certificate covers all minors.

Division of Communications
Wage and Hour Division
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

This document was last revised in January 2019.

The Department of Labor does not administer State laws. Please consult your State's Department of Labor for details on your State's requirements.