SOWELA Technical Community College is proud to administer the High School Equivalency Assessment (HiSET) and offers testing for computer-based and paper-based HiSET exams. In the state of Louisiana an examinee below the age of 19 must obtain an authorization form in order to sit for the HiSET exam. Please contact the Literacy Council of Southwest Louisiana for more information on obtaining this form.
Contact Information: Lake Charles & Sulphur: (337) 494-7000 DeRidder: (337) 375-7794 Jennings: (337) 602-8438 Email:
info@literacyswla.org SOWELA Main Campus (Lake Charles) Scheduling
Computer-Based Testing
- Computer-based testing is given on Mondays and Wednesdays.
- To schedule the exam and view testing times visit the HiSET website by clicking the following link: HiSET - Test Takers.
Paper-Based Testing
- Paper-Based testing is offered the last Wednesday in every month.
- Scheduled testing times may be found on the HiSET website by clicking the following link: HiSET - Test Takers.
NOTE: The SOWELA Main Campus does not register individuals for HiSET Testing.
SOWELA Morgan Smith Site (Jennings) Scheduling
The Morgan Smith site only offers paper-based HiSET testing on the last Thursday of every month.
- To schedule the exam and view testing times visit the HiSET website by clicking the following link: HiSET - Test Takers.
NOTE: The SOWELA Morgan Smith site does not register individuals for HiSET Testing.
Score Reports/Certificates of Completion
SOWELA’s Testing Center does not send score reports in the in mail. Score reports are retrieved via your HiSET account. Official score reports are sent to designated institutions for free by contacting ETS Customer Service.
Passing Test Scores
A score of at least 8 out of 20 is required to pass each multiple choice section A score of 2 out of 10 is required to pass the essay section Successful completion of each test section is indicated by a scaled score of 45 out of 100
Official Test Score Release
Computer-based testing
- 6 to 10 business days for the Language Arts – Writing section (essay section)
- 3 to 5 business days for Multiple Choice Sections
Paper-based testing
- Additional time is needed for the scoring company to receive used answer sheets
- Used answer sheets are mailed the same day or the next business day
More information about HiSET test score release is found on the HiSET website under the
Scores Overview section
HiSET Test Taker BulletinContact Information
Please contact the following locations for assistance regarding HiSET.
SOWELA Main Campus Testing Center Sycamore Building 3824 Sen. J. Bennett Johnston Avenue Lake Charles, LA 70615 Phone: (337) 421-6580 Email:
testing@sowela.edu SOWELA Morgan Smith Site 2110 North Sherman Street Jennings, LA 70546 Phone: (337) 824-4811 Email:
testing@sowela.edu The Literacy Council of Southwest Louisiana Ms. Tommeka Semien – Director 809 Kirby Street Lake Charles, LA 70601 Phone: (337) 494-7000 or (337) 602-8438 Email:
tsemien@literacyswla.org Website:
https://www.literacyswla.org/ (opens new window)