High School Equivalency Diploma
The High School Equivalency Tests (HiSET) give those who left high school prior to graduating the opportunity to earn their High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED). The HiSET exam certifies your academic knowledge is equivalent to that of a high school graduate in the following subject areas:
- Science
- Social Studies
- Mathematics
- Language Arts - Reading
- Language Arts - Writing
Learn more about the HiSET and resources available including:
- HiSET Test at a Glance (PDF) or HiSET Test at a Glance Spanish (PDF)
- Benefits of the HiSET (PDF) or Benefits of the HiSET Spanish (PDF)
Eligibility and Cost
In order to be enrolled in an Iowa HSED program, you must:
- be at least 16 years and 9 months of age (unless court-ordered)
- not be enrolled in high school
- have consent of parent or guardian if under 18 years of age
All costs for the HSED program, including HiSET exam fees and study material, are covered by Northeast Iowa Community College.
Enrollment and Orientation
Dubuque Only: The enrollment and orientation process at the Dubuque Center is unique compared to all other locations, as it consists of two parts.
Part 1 of the Dubuque enrollment process, which takes approximately 30 minutes, occurs two weeks prior to the enrollment period. During this time, students will visit the NICC Dubuque Center to complete the following steps:
- Complete enrollment paperwork
- Speak with an Adult Education staff member about the HSED program expectations and requirements
- Schedule a time to take the CASAS Reading and Math pre-tests during Part 2 of the enrollment process
- Take home the assigned CASAS study booklet, which must be completed prior to your CASAS appointment
Part 2 of the Dubuque enrollment process, which takes approximately 3 hours, consists of the following:
- Attend your scheduled testing appointment, the completed study booklet is your entrance ticket to take the CASAS pre-tests
- Take the CASAS Reading & Math pre-tests, which measure your readiness to take the actual HiSET exams
- Create an Individual Learning Plan with one of our HSED instructors after completion of CASAS assessments
All other locations: The enrollment and orientation process typically takes 3 to 4 hours. During this time you will learn about the program, complete enrollment forms, take a pre-test in both Reading and Math, and meet with an Adult Education and Literacy team member to create a learning plan that will be your guide toward successful completion of the HiSET exam.
Enrollment periods are listed below. To schedule enrollment or learn about upcoming sessions, please call or email:
Adult Education & Literacy
844.642.2338, ext. 3600
ael@nicc.edu
Enrollment may be completed at the following locations:
Enrollment is available at all locations on a managed basis, with a new session beginning every two months. See below for enrollment dates. An appointment must be schedule at least one week prior to the first day of the upcoming enrollment period.*
* If you plan on enrolling at the Dubuque Center, please review the two part enrollment process explained above.
| Enrollment & Orientation Dates | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dubuque - Part 1 | Dubuque - Part 2 | All Other Locations |
| December 16 - 19, 2024 | January 6 - 9, 2025 | January 6 - 9, 2025 |
| February 17 - 20, 2025 | March 3 - 6, 2025 | March 3 - 6, 2025 |
Please be aware that Dubuque parking is metered. However, if you park in the Iowa Street Parking Ramp and bring us your ticket, we can put a validation sticker on it that will cover the cost when you're ready to leave for the day.
Participation Options
- Dubuque In-Person Class: Monday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
- Dubuque Tutoring Appointments: Monday - Thursday, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 (Must schedule 24 hours in advance)
- Manchester In-Person Class: Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Oelwein In-Person Class: Wednesdays
- Calmar Campus - Wilder Business Center: Tuesdays, by appointment with your instructor
- Decorah IowaWORKS Office - 312 Winnebago St: Thursdays, by appointment with your instructor
- Study Online: Subject to availability.
- Approved Homework: Assigned by instructor to be completed at home.
Testing Accommodations
Interested in Testing Accommodations? Please review the HiSET ADA Accommodations Policy and Process and do not hesitate to inform our team at the time of enrollment. Supply our staff with the required documentation and we will submit the Accommodations Request Form for you!
Completion and Graduation Ceremony
Diplomas are processed through Diploma Sender after all five HiSET subjects have been completed.
| Ceremony Location | Ceremony Date |
|---|---|
| Calmar Campus/Wilder Business Center | July 2025 |
| Dubuque/Town Clock Center | July 2025 |
As a graduate, you will receive a scholarship to NICC for a free 3 credit class or its equivalent value toward a Career Pathway Certificate, as well as many other new opportunities:
- find a better job in just a few months with a Career Pathway Certificate
- continue your education in one of our career programs
- earn your degree tuition-free, if you qualify for Iowa's Last-Dollar Scholarship
- find a new job through IowaWorks
Meet Our Staff
Katie Baumhover
Director of Adult Education and Literacy
844-642-2338 ext. 3134
563-275-2779 (text only)
baumhoverk@nicc.edu
"My name is Katie Baumhover and I am the Director of Adult Education and Literacy at NICC. Before moving into the Director role, I served as an ESOL, HSED, and IET instructor at NICC for five years. I earned a MFA in Writing from Columbia College Chicago and my Bachelors in English and Anthropology from The University of Iowa. The best part of my job is serving and advocating for our students."
William Spencer
Lead AEL Instructor
Dubuque Center/Online
844-642-2338 ext. 3133
563-275-2744 (text only)
spencerwi@nicc.edu
"Hello. My name is Will Spencer and I am a Lead Instructor in the NICC HSED program. I came to this position after 25 years as a Teacher and Administrator at a variety of schools in Florida and Iowa. Other experiences I have had in my career have included coaching soccer at the High School and College levels. I have had the opportunity to coach in two High School State Championship games, winning one. I also was on the coaching staff of a local college where we made three NCAA tournament appearances, making it to the Final Four twice. I have also been a club DJ. With these experiences I am always willing to talk about sports and music.
What I like most about my current position is the welcoming nature of the staff at the Dubuque Center. We are happy to meet new students and help them achieve their academic goals. This position allows me the freedom to use the skills I have developed in my life while helping others take steps to achieve their goal of completing their High School Education."
Aaron Burbach
Lead AEL Instructor
Dubuque Center/Online
844-642-2338 ext. 3136
563-275-2141 (text only)
burbachaa@nicc.edu
"My name is Aaron Burbach and I bring a diverse skill set to my role as a Lead Adult Education Instructor. With experience of more than twelve years as a High School Educator, ten years as a small business owner, and two years as a Professional Writer, I am equipped and excited to assist HSED Clients with achieving their academic and personal advancement goals."
Roxanne Rawson
HSED/ESOL Instructor
Calmar Campus
844-642-2338 ext. 1342
rawsonr@nicc.edu
"My name is Roxanne Rawson. In addition to working with individuals pursuing their high school diploma, I also work with English language learners and our certificate pathway programs. (It was only a few years ago that I completed a CNA—Certified Nursing Aide—program myself.)
I grew up on a farm here in NE Iowa and have since lived in 7 other states across the country (FL, NY, PA, MN, AZ, NV, WI). I chose to go to college after high school, AND I nearly dropped out a couple times. Perhaps the two most valuable classes I ever took were 1) high school typing/keyboarding (because I use it all the time) and 2) teaching study skills and strategies (not because I intended to teach back then but because learning those study skills and strategies taught me how to navigate a more traditional classroom and inspired me to carry on).
The HSED program is intentionally not a traditional classroom. Rather, it's a space where, as instructors and coaches, we get to help each individual navigate their HSED studies once they are ready. We also get to watch students work hard AND meet their personal goal of graduating!"
Russell Bahl
Success Coordinator / Project Manager
844-642-2338 ext. 3107
563-275-2684 (text only)
bahlr25104@nicc.edu
"My name is Russell Bahl and I took an unconventional path toward working in Education. Having held numerous roles from Technician to Engineer, predominantly in the R&D and Manufacturing of Medical Devices, I always found myself longing for a more direct and positive impact on society. I came back to my hometown of Dubuque and began my journey in Adult Education at NICC in 2018, and never looked back. Aside from the Data and Policy portion of my current position, I really enjoy getting to know our students and understanding their barriers on a personal level while using the "outside the box" mindset I developed during my past career to find new and more efficient ways to serve our community."
Laurie Anderson
Learning Center Instructor
Dubuque Center
andersonl@nicc.edu
"Teaching HSED students has been a passion of mine since 1981. I retired from teaching the HSED program in 2017, and returned part-time in 2021. I believe that every student has the right and privilege to learn at their own pace with positive instruction and motivation to be as successful as they want to be in their journey."
