what is a ged certificate

A GED certificate is a high school equivalency diploma that certifies academic knowledge equivalent to a high school diploma in the United States and Canada. It is an alternative to a high school diploma and is earned by passing four academic subject tests in science, mathematics, social studies, reading, and writing. The GED Testing Service is a joint venture of the American Council on Education, which started the GED program in 1942. Passing the GED test gives those who do not complete high school, or who do not meet requirements for a high school diploma, the opportunity to earn a Certificate of High School Equivalency or similarly titled credential. A GED certificate can be used to apply for a job or to college just as a high school diploma would.