Not all students graduate from high school and join a college.
They can take the General Educational Development or GED test to get a GED diploma.
This is a high school level certification and is recognized all over the USA if you are looking into higher education or getting a better job.
A student must score 145 out of 200 to earn a high-school-level certificate. If you scored between 165-175, that means you are college-ready. And if you score 175 above, you can get college credits.
Once you earn the GED certificate, you can include it in your resume at the time of applying for a new job or when you apply for a college.
In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about adding GED to resumes:
Table of Content:
GED or general education development consists of a series of tests to assess candidates who have not graduated from high school.
These tests mainly assess the candidate's proficiency in science, mathematics, social studies, and reading proficiency at the high school level.
Upon completing the GED tests, you'll get a certificate that shows that you have all the skills and knowledge equivalent to a high school diploma. Hence, adding it to your resume can give you plus points during the job application process.
The state department of education issues the GED. And, it's recognized by almost all colleges and organizations working in the USA.
There are major differences between a high school diploma and a GED.
The primary difference between a GED and a high school diploma is the time taken to complete the courses.
A high school diploma takes four years of high school to complete. And a GED, which is a test in 5 subjects, only takes 7 hours.
Apart from this, a GED does not require the candidate to acquire formal education.
Most employers in the USA accept a GED certificate as an alternative to a high school diploma.
GED certificates can even help you get into the military, which is extremely difficult with a high school diploma.
With that said, it would be a great addition if you listed your GED certificate in your resume.
If you are looking for a job, a GED in your resume will tell the recruiter that you possess all the skills of a high school diploma student.
Similarly, if you are applying for higher studies, the GED in your resume can help you get selected for college.
Let's see some ways GED in a resume can be beneficial for your career:
In conclusion, it's challenging to grow in your career if you don't have a high school diploma or a GED certificate on your resume. It's even getting harder as the job market is getting over-saturated with a lot of skilled professionals.
Since GED is an alternative to a high school diploma, you can add it to the education section of your resume.
Always write the full name followed by the Acronym to ensure the GED experience is ATS friendly.
States like California have their own GED test. So, make sure to add the relevant GED in your resume based on where you apply for a job.
Here are the full forms of 3 popular GED tests:
If you're unsure about what to list, check the job requirements or look at industry data to understand which GED experience most companies require.
Below are some examples of how to put GED on resume:
General Education Development Diploma | Jul '19
High School Equivalency Diploma | Jul '19
California High School Equivalency Certificate | Jul '19
If you've already graduated from college or you're pursuing your graduate degree after earning your GED, then you don't have to list GED in your resume.
Apart from that, if you have significant work experience, you don't need to add GED to your resume.
Given below are some scenarios where you can list your GED in your resume:
After you pass all five exams for the GED test and score above 145 out of 200, then you can earn a GED credential. This is a high school diploma equivalent certificate, even if you don't have formal education.
Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC)
Especially in the states like New York, West Virginia, and Indiana, GED is entirely replaced by TASC.
Harvard does accept GED. However, it is not mandatory to have GED certification to get into Harvard. . In fact, to get into Harvard, candidates don't even need a high school diploma.
Due to the high demand for GED, there are fake companies that provide GED certificates with minimal fees. However, these fake GED certificates hold no value. And if the university or school catches a student using a fake GET, they might get into trouble and even get kicked out from their school or job.
The short answer is No.
There is not much difference between a high school diploma and a GED. Most employers don’t care about a candidate’s high school diploma or GED certification. They care about the candidate’s personality and skills.
A high school diploma is also called a secondary diploma.
While a GED certificate takes less time to acquire, it does not mean that it is easier than a high school diploma. You still need to cover most basic topics you were taught in high school to acquire the GED.
Despite GED being an equivalent certificate to a high school diploma, it has some disadvantages. Such as:
Yes, you can take your GED test online.
You can take the GED test from a GED Testing Service at GED.com.
Can you go to Yale with a GED?
Yes, you can go to Yale with a GED certification.
The maximum GDE score one can get is 800 points.
And to be eligible for the GED certificate, one must earn a minimum of 580 scores.
Adding GED to a resume is essential for getting a higher paying job or getting higher education.
You have to keep the following points in mind when doing it:
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