Where to Take the TABE Test — Testing Centers & Online Options

Where Can You Take the TABE Test?

The TABE test is not open-enrollment — you must be registered through an authorized program. Most test-takers access TABE through one of five types of locations:

• Adult Basic Education (ABE) / Adult Education Programs — State-funded programs offered through local school districts or community organizations. This is the most common access point. Search your state's Department of Education website for "adult education" or "basic skills" programs.
• Community Colleges — Many two-year colleges administer TABE for placement into developmental education or workforce training programs. Contact the testing or assessment center directly.
• Workforce Development Centers / American Job Centers — Over 2,400 American Job Centers nationwide use TABE to assess job seekers for training program eligibility. Find your nearest center at careeronestop.org.
• Correctional Facilities — TABE is the most widely used assessment in correctional education programs. If you are incarcerated, your facility's education department administers testing.
• Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies — State VR agencies use TABE to assess clients for training and employment services. Contact your state agency to request testing.

All of these sites are authorized by Data Recognition Corporation (DRC), the TABE publisher. Only DRC-authorized programs can administer and score official TABE results.

How to Find a TABE Testing Center Near You

There is no single public locator for all TABE testing sites, but three methods reliably turn up authorized locations near you:

1. Contact your state's Adult Education office. Every state has an Adult Education director under the Department of Education. Their office maintains a list of all funded ABE programs and can refer you to the nearest one. Search "[your state] adult education office" to find the contact.
2. Use the American Job Center finder. Visit careeronestop.org and enter your zip code to find the nearest American Job Center. Most Job Centers administer TABE or can refer you to a site that does.
3. Call your local community college assessment center. Even if you are not enrolling in the college, many assessment centers test non-enrolled adults for workforce programs. Ask specifically about TABE testing for non-students.

When you contact a site, ask: "Do you administer the TABE 13/14 or TABE 11/12, and do I need to be enrolled in a program to test?" Some sites require program enrollment; others offer open assessment. Once located, you can prepare with a TABE study guide before your scheduled test date.

Can You Take the TABE Test Online?

You cannot take the TABE test online from home. The TABE 13/14 is computer-delivered at authorized testing sites, but the computer must be at the testing center under proctor supervision — remote or unproctored access is not available.

Here is what "online TABE" actually means in practice:

• TABE Online (computer-adaptive) — TABE 13/14 is administered on a computer at the testing center. It adapts the difficulty based on your responses, giving a more accurate score than paper. This is now the standard format at most sites.
• TABE Paper — TABE 11/12 paper booklets are still used by some programs, particularly correctional facilities and sites without reliable internet access. Results are the same scale and scores.
• Practice tests online — Unofficial online practice, like the TABE practice test available on this site, is a legitimate way to prepare. These are not scored as official TABE results but closely replicate the question format.

If a website claims to offer an official at-home TABE exam, it is not a legitimate DRC-authorized test. Official TABE scores for program admission must come from a proctored site.

What to Bring to Your TABE Test Appointment

Requirements vary by site, but bring these items to every TABE appointment:

• Government-issued photo ID — Driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. Most sites require this to verify identity before testing.
• Any enrollment or referral paperwork — If you were referred by a program, bring the referral document or program ID number.
• Pencils (for paper tests) — If your site uses TABE 11/12 paper format, they may provide pencils or ask you to bring your own.
• A basic calculator (if permitted) — Some paper-test sites allow a basic four-function calculator for the Applied Math subtest. Confirm with your site in advance. Computer-delivered TABE 13/14 provides an on-screen calculator.

Do not bring: cell phones (must be silenced or left outside the testing room), food or drinks, notes or study materials, or electronic devices. Arrive at least 10 minutes early. If you need to reschedule, notify the site at least 24 hours in advance.