Overview of Eligibility Requirements and Information for High Schools Submitting Documents for the New York State Regents-High School Equivalency (HSE) Exam Pathway
Eligibility Requirements
The New York State Regents - HSE Exam Pathway to a HSE Diploma allows candidates to substitute passing scores on Regent’s examinations taken in high school for corresponding High School Equivalency Exam subject tests. Applicants who have earned all four subject credits through the Regents – HSE pathway must also to take and pass at least one HSE exam subject as required by the NYSED Commissioner’s Regulations.
Candidates pursuing this pathway must:
- Have lived in New York State for at least thirty days and must have met age eligibility requirements to take the GED, as delineated by the Age Eligibility Criteria in NYSED Commissioners Regulations.
- Apply for the Regents - HSE Exam Pathway by sending the completed Application R to the most recent high school that you attended.
- Register for the GED and schedule subject tests. To register for the GED or to learn more about GED testing, please visit the HSE Exam section of our website. When completing the Application R, please include your 16-digit GED ID number, received after you complete your GED registration and set up a GED account on GED.com.
- Candidates are responsible for knowing which GED subject tests they need to take. Refer to your official NYSED HSE Transcript for details or obtain a copy of a transcript.
- All applicants must take and pass at least one GED subject test to earn a NYS HSE diploma. One subject test must be taken and passed even if the applicant had Regents credit in all required subject areas. The applicant may select which subject test to take in this situation.
- Any Regents Math, Science, or Social Studies Regents Examinations may be used towards the corresponding HSE exam subject test requirement. Regents English Language Arts Exam credits may be used in place of the GED Reasoning Through Language Arts subject test.