Adult Education

The Adult Education (AE) program is flexible to meet the varied needs of students requiring basic skills, career training or college assistance. Students set their goals, work at their pace and receive lots of encouragement and praise.

This FREE* program supports students as they:

  • Attain their HiSET/GED
  • Transition to college or technical programs
  • Improve their employment prospects with career coaching using the Montana Career Information System

*This program is funded by the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act, Title II.


AE Orientation

Let’s Get Started!

To be part of the AE program you are required to attend an orientation that helps you in at least five important ways:

  1. Evaluation: The pretest administered during the Orientation can help you discover which subjects you need to study.
  2. Instruction: Based on your pre-test the HiSET instructor will organize your studies and guide you in your preparation for the particular HiSET tests.
  3. Practice: Your instructor can give you practice tests similar to the HiSET. These will help you get a better idea of what to expect during the HiSET tests.
  4. Readiness for the HiSET testing:  Your HiSET instructor can help you determine readiness to take and pass the official HiSET tests.
  5. Preparation for Career Training: The basic skill instruction delivered by HiSET instructors will assist you in developing skills needed to continue career training after you’ve earned your HiSET.

To schedule an appointment please contact Kris Wootan at: 406.377.9448 or abe@dawson.edu.


(High School Equivalency Test)

The GED is now HiSET in Montana.

At least two weeks in advance of a test date, we encourage you to create an account schedule and pay for a test at https://hiset.org/. Once you have created a HiSET account, contact our Chief Examiner, Sara Engle, at: sengle@dawson.edu or 406.377.9441 with additional questions.

Cost of the test:

  • Proctor fee: $3 per subtest is due on the day of the test to Dawson Community College.
  • Testing fee: $10.75 per subtest paid when scheduling online through https://hiset.org/.

The HiSET exam is made up of five subject tests:

  • Mathematics: 90 min./50 multiple choice questions.
  • Language Arts: Reading  65 min./40 multiple choice questions.
  • Language Arts: Writing  Part 1 – 75 min/50 multiple choice questions, Part 2 – 45 min/1 essay prompt.
  • Science: 80 min./50 multiple choice questions.
  • Social Studies: 70 min./50 multiple choice questions.

*DCC only offers computer-based testing.


On Test Day:

  1. Go to Room 146 in the Main Hall on the Dawson Community College campus.
  2. ALL HiSET exams begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. (test takers should arrive 10 minutes early).
  3. Test takers must show state or government identification and pay proctor Fee.

DCC’s HiSET Schedule:

  • February 21st
  • No Testing in March
  • April 17th
  • May 22nd
  • summer schedule TBA