A GED on a resume isn't something to hide or apologize for, but plenty of job seekers still second-guess how to present it. Whether it's your highest credential or one stop on a longer academic path, the way you list it can shape how quickly a hiring manager understands your background. Getting the format right also matters more than most people expect, especially since resumes often pass through automated screening before a human ever reads them.
Should you put a GED on your resume?
In most cases, yes. A GED is treated as equivalent to a high school diploma, so listing it shows you've met that baseline education requirement most jobs ask for.
That said, whether it's worth including depends on your situation:
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Include it if: it's your highest level of education, you're applying for a role requiring "a high school diploma or equivalent," or you don't yet have other credentials to list
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Consider skipping it if: you've since earned an associate's, bachelor's, or higher degree, since that credential already covers the same requirement
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Mark it as in progress if: you're still working toward completing it, rather than listing it as finished
For most entry-level applicants or anyone without a college degree yet, including a GED is almost always the safer choice.
How to put a GED on your resume?
Getting the format right makes your education section easier to scan and harder to misread, especially for automated resume screening systems.
Use the full, formal name
Write it out as "General Educational Development (GED)" rather than just the abbreviation on its own. This keeps your resume looking professional and ensures both human readers and applicant tracking systems recognize the credential correctly.
Include the issuing state and year
A clean, standard entry looks like this:
General Educational Development (GED) [Issuing State or Agency] [Year Completed]
Adding the issuing state or agency isn't strictly required, but it matches how other education entries are typically formatted and adds a layer of legitimacy.
Label it clearly if it's still in progress
If you haven't finished yet, avoid listing it as complete. Instead, use wording like "In Progress" or "Expected Completion: [Month, Year]" so your resume stays accurate.
Keep formatting consistent
Whatever style you use for your GED entry, apply it consistently across the rest of your education section. Mixing formats, like bolding one entry's date but not another's, makes the section look unpolished even if the information itself is accurate.
Where should you put a GED on your resume?
Placement matters almost as much as formatting, since it signals to employers how your education fits into your overall background.
Education section, if it's your highest credential
If a GED is the most advanced education you've completed, it belongs in your resume's Education section, positioned the same way a high school diploma or college degree would be.
Certifications section, if you've gone further
Once you've earned a college degree or other advanced credential, that achievement typically takes over the Education section, and your GED can move down to Certifications, or be left off entirely if space is limited.
Near the top, if you're early in your career
With little or no work experience yet, placing your education section higher on the page, closer to the top of your resume, helps fill that gap and gives employers something concrete to evaluate early on.
Near the bottom, if you have solid work experience
Once you've built up relevant work history, your education section naturally moves toward the bottom, letting your experience and skills lead the resume instead.
There's no single "correct" placement for everyone, just the option that puts your strongest qualifications in front of an employer first.
GED on resume example
Seeing a complete entry can make the formatting guidance above much easier to apply to your own resume.
Example 1: GED as highest credential
Education General Educational Development (GED) Ohio Department of Education | 2022
Example 2: GED still in progress
Education General Educational Development (GED) Expected Completion: June 2026
Example 3: GED listed under Certifications, after a college degree
Education Bachelor of Science in Business Administration State University | 2024
Certifications General Educational Development (GED), 2019
Whichever format fits your situation, keeping the entry short, accurate, and consistent with the rest of your resume is what actually matters most to employers reading it.
FAQs
1. Should I include my GED graduation date?
Yes, in most cases. Including the year you completed your GED helps employers understand your education timeline, especially if they're comparing it against your work history. If you're still working toward it, list an expected completion date instead of leaving the timeline blank. And if you ever need to verify that date later in the hiring process, knowing how to get a GED diploma copy ahead of time can save you from scrambling if an employer asks for documentation.
2. Should I put my GED score on my resume?
Generally, no. Most employers only care that you've met the equivalency requirement, not the specific GED score range you landed in. The exception might be if you scored exceptionally high and you're applying somewhere that explicitly values academic performance, but for the vast majority of applications, leaving your score off keeps the entry clean without adding information no one's asking for.
Conclusion
A GED on a resume doesn't need to be complicated to present well. Once you know whether to include it, how to format it, and where it fits best, the rest comes down to keeping your education section consistent with the rest of your resume. If you're still working toward earning yours, a GED practice test can help you track your readiness before you're ready to add a completion date instead of "in progress."