Alabama no longer has a high school graduation exam. The State Board of Education discontinued the Alabama High School Graduation Exam in November 2013, and the last students required to pass it were those who entered ninth grade in the 2010–2011 school year. Today, a diploma turns on completing 24 credits, taking the ACT, passing a civics test tied to the U.S. Government course, and, starting with the Class of 2026, meeting at least one college and career readiness indicator. Adults who finished all their coursework years ago but were denied a diploma because they failed the old exam can now receive that diploma through a state program.
When Alabama Ended the Graduation Exam
For roughly 30 years, the AHSGE was a pass-or-fail gate to a diploma. It tested five subjects: reading, language, mathematics, science, and social studies. Students who completed every required credit but failed any section could not graduate.
The State Board voted to eliminate the exam in November 2013, concluding that it no longer aligned with the state’s updated academic standards. Students who first entered ninth grade in 2010–2011 were the last class held to the requirement. Every graduating class since has followed the current model.
What Replaced the Exit Exam
Alabama measures graduation readiness through a mix of coursework and assessments rather than a single high-stakes test.
A standard diploma requires 24 credits spread across English, math, science, social studies, physical education, health, career preparedness, an elective block drawn from CTE, world language, or the arts, and open electives. Local school boards can add to the state floor, and the Alabama State Department of Education publishes two configurations, Option A and Option B, that both lead to the same diploma.1Alabama Administrative Code. Rule 290-3-1-.02 – Regulations Governing Public Schools
Every public high school junior takes the ACT on a school day during the spring, at no cost. Alabama has used the ACT as its accountability test since 2015. Taking it is mandatory, but there is no minimum score required to graduate. A benchmark score on any subject can, however, satisfy the readiness indicator described below.
As part of the required U.S. Government course, students must pass a civics test modeled on the 100-question U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization exam. The passing bar is 60 correct out of 100, and students who fail can retake the test as many times as needed. A school’s chief administrator can waive the requirement for good cause if a student fails at least twice but still carries a passing grade in the government course itself. Special education students age 18 or older are also not required to pass unless their IEP specifically calls for it and they are learning at grade level in that subject.2Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 16-40-10 – Completion of Required Government Course to Include Civics Test Component
Beginning with the Class of 2026, students on the General Education Pathway must also meet at least one college and career readiness indicator. Qualifying options include an ACT subject benchmark, a score of 3 or higher on any AP exam, a score of 4 or higher on any IB exam, postsecondary credit earned in high school, a silver or gold on ACT WorkKeys, completion of a youth apprenticeship, a state-recognized industry credential, acceptance into a branch of the military, or completion of a CTE program of study. The list is broad enough that students on any post-graduation track can qualify, and students on the Essentials or Alternate Achievement Standards pathways are exempt from the indicator entirely.3Alabama Achieves. AHSG Requirements – College and Career Readiness Indicators
Getting a Diploma If You Failed the Old AHSGE
If you attended an Alabama public high school, earned all 24 required credits, and were denied a diploma only because you didn’t pass the graduation exam, you can now claim that diploma. There is no need to redo coursework you already completed.
Start by asking the high school you last attended to send a Transcript Audit form to a participating Adult Education program. The high school verifies your credits and forwards the audit. You must be at least 18, and enrollment includes a basic skills assessment called the TABE (Test for Adult Basic Education).4Alabama Community College System. High School Diploma Option
This is a real high school diploma from the school you attended, not a GED equivalency certificate. That distinction matters for jobs, licensure, and further education that treat the two credentials differently.
If You Left School Before Finishing Your Credits
Adults who earned some credits but withdrew before completing graduation requirements have a separate path: the High School Diploma Option program run through the Alabama Community College System’s Adult Education division. You finish the remaining coursework through a local community college and receive a state-issued diploma from the high school you originally attended, even if that school has since closed. You must be at least 18 and have earned a minimum number of credits from an Alabama public high school.4Alabama Community College System. High School Diploma Option
The REACH Act
In June 2025, Governor Ivey signed the Restoring Educational Advancement of Completing High School Act, known as the REACH Act, which expanded the High School Diploma Option program. The law lowered the minimum age to 18 and formalized the program’s structure through the Alabama Community College System in collaboration with the State Superintendent of Education. Under the current framework, adults who dropped out with at least 12 credits, or who failed the discontinued exit exam, are eligible to enroll and earn a diploma through community college coursework.5Alabama Legislature. Alabama HB266 Enrolled – Restoring Educational Advancement of Completing High School (REACH) Act
How to Start
Contact the Adult Education program at your nearest community college, or visit the Alabama Community College System’s website to find a local provider. If your goal is to clear the old AHSGE denial specifically, ask the provider about the Transcript Audit process and be ready to identify the high school you last attended. If you need to finish credits as well, the same office can enroll you in the High School Diploma Option program.