How to Earn your GED

Getting your GED can benefit you in many ways. It can help advance in your career, it can help you get into college, you can meet various qualifications for promotions and pay raises at work, reach a personal goal you may have set for yourself, and more. However before you can reap the benefits you have to first find the right GED program for you.

Who is Eligible?

Before you can get into a GED program you have to make sure that you are eligible for the program. To be eligible you must:

• Be a resident of the State of Illinois for at least 30 days prior to the exam.
• Be at least 18 years of age.
• If you are 17 you can still be eligible, but you must provide an official letter of withdrawal from the most recent school you have attended.
• If you are 16 you can still be eligible, but you must enroll in the Alternative Learning Opportunities Program (ALOP) or in the state's Lincoln Challenge program.

Online or Traditional GED Program:

Illinois offers both online and traditional in-class GED programs.  Before you sign up for a GED program you have to first decide if online or traditional classes would be best for you and your lifestyle. 

Online programs require you to be dedicated, organized, and self-motivated. If you do not organize a plan for your online classes it will cause you to suffer and fall behind. However, if you are able to set deadlines for yourself and ensure you meet those deadlines every week, you should see success.  Online classes also offer you more flexibility than traditional classes, it is great for anyone who already has a time commitment with work or family.

Traditional classes do not offer as much flexibility, you will have to make sure that you are able to attend the classes during their scheduled times. However, most locations offer day and night classes which can make it easier for those who have obligations during certain parts of the day. Traditional classes allow you access to face-to-face communication with your teacher and can help you be more disciplined in getting your work done. One important thing to keep in mind when selecting a traditional GED program is the proximity from where you work/live to the location of the class and if you are willing to make that commute.

Where to Register for a GED Program.

You can register for a GED Program many different ways:

The official GED website allows you to prepare for your test online with practice test, tips, and more.

Adult Education & Family Literacy Provider Locator can locate GED preparation classes that are offered free of charge in your area.

Most community colleges offer GED preparation programs so be sure to contact your local community college to see if their campus offers a GED class.

Also, you can find GED testing locations in Illinois here.​​