Closing the Gap: GED® Mobile Testing Units Drive Opportunity Across Arkansas

At Arkansas Workforce Connections – Adult Education, we believe that every Arkansan, no matter where they live, deserves the opportunity to complete their high school education and unlock new pathways to success. One way we are helping make that possible is through our GED^® Mobile Testing Units, which continue to expand access to testing across the state.

What Are Mobile Testing Units?
A Mobile Testing Unit is a portable set of secure computers and testing equipment that make it possible to reach learners and deliver secure GED^® testing in remote locations. These testing centers are created as satellite locations of existing, fixed testing centers and meet the same strict security and quality standards as a permanent GED^® Testing Center

Mobile testing centers were first introduced in 2013 in multiple states to address the unique needs of correctional facilities. By taking the GED^® test directly to inmates on-site, correctional programs could remove security and transportation barriers, giving individuals the chance to earn a diploma and build brighter futures after release.

Today, this same mobile model helps remove barriers for many Arkansans living in rural areas. Mobile units are set up in community centers, public libraries, adult education classrooms, and other locations where students need them most. 

Certified proctors, often the same staff who run the fixed centers, oversee its setup and operation. They handle check-ins, ID checks, security procedures, and test delivery, ensuring each test session meets GED^® Testing Service’s standards.

By using mobile units this way, communities without permanent testing sites gain a reliable option close to home — removing barriers of distance, travel costs, and time away from family or work.

Why Do They Matter?
In many parts of Arkansas, “testing deserts” add layers of obstacles for adult learners with limited transportation. The further someone must travel, the more barriers they face — from added costs to time away from jobs and families, and even the courage it takes to step into an unfamiliar place to test.

By bringing the test closer to home, GED^® Mobile Testing Units help reduce these barriers and open doors for more Arkansans to earn their high school equivalency diploma. More graduates contribute to a more skilled workforce, stronger communities, and greater economic stability for Arkansas families and employers alike.

Arkansas Leads the Way
Arkansas proudly operates 32 GED^® Mobile Testing Units, more than any other state. This ensures that learners in every corner of our state have a pathway to complete their education and build a stronger future – highlighting our commitment to breaking down educational barriers and investing in our people and workforce.

Last year alone, Arkansas’s mobile units served 513 test takers with 375 completing all four sections and 328 passing, resulting in a strong 87% pass rate. These strong results helped establish Arkansas as fourth in the nation for GED^® pass rate.

Whether at a correctional facility or a rural adult education program, these units are expanding opportunity, one community – and one graduate – at a time.

Want to Learn More?
To find out more about upcoming mobile testing opportunities in your area or how your organization can help spread the word, contact the Arkansas GED^® Testing Office at                 501-682-1980 or [email protected].

Together, we are removing barriers, closing gaps, and driving opportunity forward for every Arkansan.