GED® Testing Center/St. Helens, Oregon

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The St. Helens Test Center is Now Open

for Testing Ages 16-20

(See Testing Schedule Below)

NW Regional ESD | Columbia Service Center
800 Port Ave., St. Helens, OR 97051

Karen Roldan, GED Chief Examiner

kroldan@nwresd.k12.or.us
Phone: 503-366-4122
Fax: 503-397-0796
Map and Directions

 

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Program Description

Program Services

Registration Information

Accommodations

Testing Information/Schedule

Requirements for Completion
State of Oregon Test Records

     GED® Test Records Order Form - PDF | Word

Check Scores Online

Search for Test Centers

How do I prepare to take the GED test?

Did You Know?

 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

General Educational Development (GED®) testing is one of the many services offered through the Northwest Regional ESD.

Tests are administered at the Northwest Regional ESD office in St. Helens or at the Washington County Service Center in Hillsboro. 

PROGRAM SERVICES

GED® tests are developed by the American Council on Education to enable persons who have not graduated from high school to demonstrate the attainment of developed abilities normally acquired thorough completion of a high school program of study.

In accordance with the policies established by the Commission on Adult Learning and Educational Credentials, the GED® Testing Service, and the Oregon Department of Education, the NWRESD offers GED® Testing to qualified applicants at the Columbia Service Center in St. Helens  and the Washington Service Center in Hillsboro. Tests are given in only the English language format at both locations.

The Information Bulletin by the GED® Testing Service, can offer more information on the GED® tests.

REGISTRATION

Open for testing throughout the school year, Sept.-June.

*Registration is required before you can schedule appointments for testing.  Anyone wishing to register for GED® testing must schedule an appointment by calling or emailing at the above contact information. Registration is by appointment only.

AGE REQUIREMENTS:

If you are age 21+ and have started testing at this center, you can complete your testing with possible fees. (see below).

This test site will only register and test people ages 16 through 20, unless

you are 20 years of age prior to September 1 and are enrolled either a school or in a GED® preparation program either through a school district, community college or other public agency and who turn 21 AFTER September 1 will be allowed to take the GED® test.   

CLICK HERE for alternative testing locations for age 21 and over.

• Testing fees in the form of cash, money order, or voucher are required before the student can be registered and begin testing.
• Once you have registered and paid, you have 3 years to complete and pass all five tests, or you will have to pay fees for reinstatement.

All new GED® testing applicants must bring the following to registration:

• Either a current US Government or state issued photo identification or Military ID. ID must include: photo, date of birth, and your signature.
• No longer accepted: HIGH SCHOOL ID Cards, Program ID cards and mail used for proof of current address.
• Applicant 16 or 17 years of age must present a copy of ONE of these documents:
• Exemption from compulsory attendance letter (obtain from the school you are, or were attending)
• GED® Option Waiver Form (Obtain from the school you are attending.)
• GED® Option Program letter of Authorization
• Home-schooled applicants can obtain the GED® Option Program Letter of Authorization from the Education Service District Home School Program Administration if the ESD is enrolled in the option program.    If the ESD is not enrolled in the option program, an exemption of compulsory letter will have to be obtained from a High SchooL.

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ACCOMMODATIONS

Special accommodations are available upon request and approval for those with disabilities of physical and mental impairments. Please contact the GED Examiner for further information and/or access the forms at this website: www.acenet.edu

 

FEES

• Payment is $120.00, which is payable at the time of registration. The testing fee must be paid by cash or money order . (Sorry, no personal checks accepted.) Make money orders payable to: NWRESD/GED® Testing. This fee covers all five of the GED® English language tests which must be completed in three years, or you will have to pay fees* for reinstatement.

• Other fees:
• $15 – Per test for re-testing to achieve a passing score or to raise the overall average.
• $15 – Per test transfer fee (transfers within Oregon)
• $35 – Transfer fee (transfers from another state to complete testing)
• $5 – Per test “no show” fee if applicant misses a scheduled test. 24-hour notice of cancellation is required. Payment is required before testing again.
• $15 – Reinstatement fee if one year has lapsed from the registration date or last test date.
• *$35 - fee to complete your testing if you started and did not complete within the three year deadline form the first test date. For example if you took your first GED® test on December 1, 2006, you must complete by December 1, 2009. If you do not successfully complete all five tests in the GED® test battery and earn your GED® within the three year deadline, you will have to pay an additional state fee of $35, in addition to the applicable fees listed above.

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TESTING INFORMATION

You may schedule appointments for testing after you have registered (see registration section below).

• To schedule testing, call 503-366-4122
• If you leave a voicemail, it is essential that you leave the following information: Name & phone number, if you are new and need to sign up for registration and/or the test subject.

Request test appointments at least 24 hours before your requested test date.

• You must bring a photo ID each time you test.
• Arrive at least 10 minutes before your test time. If you are not able to be on time, call to reschedule your test.
• All tests must be passed with a minimum score of 410 or better on individual tests with a minimum 450 average for the full battery of five tests to earn a GED® credential.
• Upon completion, an official GED® Testing Center Transcript can be requested, and mailed within 3-5 days upon completion. In addition the certificates will be mailed to successful applicants from the Oregon Dept. of Community Colleges and Workforce Development in approximately four to six weeks.
• Click HERE for a Printable Testing Schedule Letter

Sept. 2011 - June 2012 Schedule
TUESDAY'S
Registration*	8:30 AM- 9:30 AM Fees Collected Completion of forms and test sign-ups
Writing (2 hrs)	10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
WEDNESDAY'S
Reading (65 min.)	9:00 AM - 10:05 AM
Math (90 min.)	10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
THURSDAY'S
Science (80 min.)	9:00 AM - 10:20 AM
Social Studies (70 min.)	10:40 AM - 11:50 AM

*Registration is required before you can schedule appointments for testing.  Anyone wishing to register for GED® testing must schedule an appointment by calling or emailing at the above contact information. Registration is by appointment only.

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REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLETION

• All five individual GED® 2002 English language tests must be passed with a minimum standard score of 410 on individual tests and a 450 battery average to earn a GED® Credential.
• Test scoring and reporting will be discussed at registration. Writing tests are scored in two parts, with a combined score and results in one day.
• GED® Certificates will be mailed to successful applicants from the Oregon Department of Education approximately four to six weeks after testing is completed.

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STATE OF OREGON TEST RECORDS

The state of Oregon GED® office will no longer provide phone verification of records. As a GED® student requesting records, please open and print the following form:      

GED® Test Records Request and mail it to the address listed at the top of the form with payment. Allow 7 to 10 business days for a response.

Obtaining an Official GED Transcript Via the Web: 

Getting your GED status has never been easier, faster, and more secure. E-Transcripts offer GED examinees complete control over their personal record by providing direct access through the internet. It takes just a few minutes to download and print a transcript for schools, employers, the military, etc.

E-Transcripts are free to examinees, so you can print as many copies as you like whenever you require them.

To get started, you will need your ACCESS Code, on your original transcript.

If you have your ACCESS code, please visit the the following website:
https://www.nrspro.com/Unity/GED/123/Default.aspx 
 
If you DO NOT have your ACCESS Code:
Go to your nearest Oregon GED Testing Center and present your driver's license or other state level ID. Ask for your "Test History" which has your ACCESS code printed on it.

Then go to this website: http://www.GED123.org and print your official transcript.

If you cannot go to a Testing Center, please see the State of Oregon Test Records above.

        

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Third Party Verifications

Verifications cannot be done by telephone. To verify someone has earned a GED® in Oregon:

Fax your company's completed official request form AND the examinee's signed information release to 503-378-8434. Requests missing the signed release will not be processed. The following must be included:

• Examinee's name(s) at the time of testing;
• Examinee's complete SS#;
• Examinee's complete date of birth;
• Year of testing (approximate is acceptable) and where (at least the city) the GED tests wer taken-as best as you are able to ascertain; and
• Examinees signature releasing the information. 

The State GED® office will then provide you with results by return fax. They will not fax a transcript or duplicate certificate. If you need a transcript or duplicate certificate, you will need to submit by mail your form to the state GED® office with the payment.               <GED® Test Record Request Form>

Link to the state GED® webpage: www.oregon.gov/ccwd/ged/

HOW DO I PREPARE TO TAKE THE GED TESTS?

Study materials are available to help prepare for the GED® test. These materials may be purchased from your local bookstore or borrowed from the library. The GED® Testing Service offers the GED® Information Bulletin to answer questions, and what the GED® Tests look like.

Local and area resources include:

• St. Helens Library
• St. Helens Bookstore
• Portland Community College
• Management Training Corp.

Other resources include websites containing practice questions and other helpful test taking tips:

• www.gedpractice.com
• www.gedforfree.com
• www.4test.com
• www.testprepreview.com

DID YOU KNOW?

• More than 800,000 adults take the GED® Tests each year.
• The GED (Tests of General Educational Development) is a battery of five tests that when passed, serves as a an equivalent to a high school diploma.  It is accepted by 98% of colleges and universities that require a high school diploma as well as 96%  of companies whose jobs require a high school degree. (Ace GED Testing Program Fact Sheet 2010)
• Those who obtain scores high enough to earn a GED® diploma outperform at least one-third of today's high school seniors.
• Successful GED® graduates include: Bill Cosby, Wendy's founder Dave Thomas, Delaware's Lieutenant Governor Ruth Ann Minner, and U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell.
• One out of every seven people who graduate each year earns that diploma by passing the GED® Tests.
• 68 percent of GED® test-takers plan to enter a college, university, or trade,  technical or business school during the next year.
• The average age of people taking the GED® Tests is 24.4.

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