High School Equivalency Resources

While Studying and Testing

Study Resources

GED Blog: Get tips and best practices for succeeding on the GED
GED FAQs
HiSET Resources: General resources for HiSET preparation
HiSET FAQs

GEDWorks^TM

Employers who participate in the GEDWorks program cover the cost of the GED test for their employees. Some participants in Colorado include*:

Amazon
Chili's Grill & Bar
Jiffy Lube
KFC
Maggiano's Little Italy
Murphy USA
Pizza Hut
Taco Bell
The Cheesecake Factory
Total Wine

*This is not an exhaustive list. GED is constantly adding more employers, but this office does not get notified.

To join GEDWorks, talk to your employer or edit your employment information in your GED student account profile.

What's Next? Life After Your Diploma

*The Colorado Department of Education does not endorse any of the outside organizations listed below. These resources are provided as a convenience to assist in your individual career exploration. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list but are simply some resources that our office is aware of.*

Career Exploration/Opportunities

State Resources:

NEW: Broadband Career Pathway for HSE Completers: The Governor’s Office of Information Technology has launched a new career pathway for broadband, which includes jobs such as construction, telecommunications, fiber splicing, locating, technician, and more. Many of these positions are learn-and-earn jobs meant to help people advance their careers while earning up to $70,000-$80,000 per year. The Office estimates more than 3,000 broadband jobs to fill by 2026. Look for open positions on My Colorado Journey.
My Colorado Journey: a free career exploration and resource platform for Coloradans of all ages and interests
Colorado Workforce Centers: Connect with the workforce center in your county to access free career guidance and many other services to help kickstart or change your career
Registered Apprenticeships: Colorado's Registered Apprenticeships help you find a well-paying job while gaining hands-on (paid) experience in industries such as healthcare, cybersecurity, and hospitality, to name a few. Explore the Directory to browse current apprenticeships or connect with an apprenticeship navigator.

Career Pathways for GED Graduates:

GED^® Tech Apprenticeship Program: Interested in a career in tech? GED Testing Service^® has partnered with WithYouWithMe to provide free training and job placement with employers who want to hire GED-graduate talent. Read GED's program flyer for an overview.
Julius Education: Interested in green energy jobs? Julius Education connects job seekers to green energy employers. They have partnered with GED Testing Service®, ICAST, and the Energy Efficiency Business Coalition (EEBC) to launch the Green Buildings Talent Accelerator program to recruit and place diverse candidates in Denver into high-demand green jobs. The program is designed for residents of the city and county of Denver. Anyone interested can create an account on the Julius Denver website to get started.

Funding for College/University

NEW Opportunity Next Scholarship: This is a new scholarship for High School Equivalency completers who credentialed in the 2023-24 academic year and want to pursue college, university, registered apprenticeships, technical college, or other approved training providers for the 2024-25 academic year.
College Opportunity Fund: This is a state stipend for undergraduate students attending a participating in-state college or university.
Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative: COSI provides funding to help students return to college (Finish What You Started program), return to work after the COVID-19 pandemic (Back to Work program), or pursue a college degree after being released from the Division of Youth Services (Second Chance Scholarship).
Other resources from the Colorado Department of Higher Education
Formerly incarcerated? Find re-entry community partners around Colorado through the Department of Corrections website.

Other: CDE Resources

High School Equivalency Fact Sheet
- Please see the current HSE Fact Sheet for basic information about high school equivalency testing in Colorado, including cost, content areas, and scoring information for the GED and HiSET tests.
U.S. Department of Education's Diploma Mill webpage
- Beware of fake HSE diploma websites that want to charge you hundreds of dollars to quickly provide you with a fake diploma; these are known as "diploma mills." Only take the online GED and HiSET tests directly through your myGED account or myHiSET account. Check the GED Marketplace for approved prep materials or HiSET's official prep providers.
Third-party Education Verifications
- If you are a third party looking to verify education as part of a background check or for an incarcerated person, please contact DiplomaSender at 855-313-5799 or thirdpartysupport@diplomasender.com. They will work with you to get an account set up and ensure you have the proper permissions to access student data.
US Department of Education Dear Colleague Letter (2014)
- Information from the US Department of Education to institutions of higher education regarding state-authorized examinations that the state recognizes as the equivalency of a high school diploma. The Letter addresses the 2014 version of the GED and other HSE exams, such as HiSET, that emerged at that time.