b) Candidates who are 17 years of age will be granted an age exception approval under the following conditions:

1. 1) A candidate previously enrolled in a public or private high school must provide a withdrawal letter from the candidate's former high school.

   1. A) Withdrawal letters must:

      1. i) Be on school letterhead.
      2. ii) Be physically or digitally signed by a school official.
      3. iii) Include the candidate's full name.
      4. iv) Include the candidate's date of birth.
      5. v) Include the formal withdrawal date or last date of attendance.
   2. B) Transcripts are not acceptable as proof of withdrawal unless the transcript includes the elements required in the withdrawal letter.

2. 2) If a withdrawal letter cannot be provided by the former high school, or the candidate was otherwise not enrolled in high school prior to the candidate's HSE test date, the candidate must provide documentation from the local school district or Regional Office of Education serving the candidate's area of residence indicating the candidate is not currently enrolled, or required to be enrolled, in a public or private high school in the candidate's local school district. The withdrawal letter must:

   1. A) Be on organizational letterhead.
   2. B) Be physically or digitally signed by staff of the local school district or Regional Office of Education.
   3. C) Include the candidate's full name.
   4. D) Include the candidate's date of birth.
   5. E) Include the date the letter was provided.
   6. F) Indicate the candidate is not currently enrolled nor required to be enrolled in a high school in their area of residence.

3. 3) A homeschooled candidate must provide documentation either from the local school district or Regional Office of Education serving the candidate's area of residence indicating the candidate is not currently enrolled, or required to be enrolled, in a public or private high school in the candidate's local school district or from the relevant homeschooling association or program stating the candidate's program has been completed.

   1. A) Documentation from the local school district or Regional Office of Education must:

      1. i) Be on organizational letterhead.
      2. ii) Be physically or digitally signed by staff of the local school district or Regional Office of Education.
      3. iii) Include the candidate's full name.
      4. iv) Include the candidate's date of birth.

   2. B) Documentation from the homeschooling association must:

      1. i) Include the date the letter was written.
      2. ii) Be physically or digitally signed from staff at the relevant homeschooling association or program responsible for the candidate's home schooling. Digital signatures must include a time-stamp.
      3. iii) Include the candidate's full name.
      4. iv) Include the candidate's date of birth.

4. 4) A candidate is a student participating in a competency-based high school graduation requirements pilot program authorized by the Illinois State Board of Education. Documentation must be received directly from the program and must:

   1. A) Be on school letterhead.
   2. B) Be physically or digitally signed by a school official.
   3. C) Include the candidate's full name.
   4. D) Include the candidate's date of birth.
   5. E) Include the testing vendor identification number.
   6. F) Indicate the candidate is currently enrolled in the program and request the candidate be allowed to test.

c) Candidates who are 16 years of age will be granted an age exception approval under the following conditions:

1. 1) A candidate is currently enrolled in the Illinois National Guard's Lincoln's Challenge Academy. Documentation must be received directly from Lincoln's Challenge Academy and must:

   1. A) Be on Lincoln's Challenge Academy letterhead.
   2. B) Include the candidate's full name.
   3. C) Include the candidate's date of birth.
   4. D) Include the testing vendor identification number.

2. 2) A candidate is a student participating in a qualified alternative learning opportunities program (105 ILCS 5/13B) offering academic, behavioral, and social/emotional interventions designed to increase the candidate's academic achievement or a regional safe schools program (105 ILCS 5/13A) serving expulsion-eligible and suspension-eligible students authorized by the Illinois State Board of Education. Documentation must be received directly from the program and must:

   1. A) Be on school letterhead.
   2. B) Be physically or digitally signed by a school official.
   3. C) Include the candidate's full name.
   4. D) Include the candidate's date of birth.
   5. E) Indicate the candidate is currently enrolled in the program and request the candidate be allowed to test.
3. 3) A candidate has received a court order mandating testing as part of a court-ordered rehabilitation requirement. The court order should include the candidate's full name and clearly indicate the candidate must complete a high school equivalency exam. The ROE with jurisdiction over the candidate will coordinate with ICCB for approval. ICCB must approve clearance for testing.

d) Candidates are required to provide valid government-issued photo identification on all testing days and for all transcript reviews when using the Transcript-Based Alternative Method of Credentialing in Section 1507.200.

1. 1) Photo identification must display the candidate's full name, matching the name used for exam registration, address, date of birth, and photograph. The candidate will not be allowed to test without a valid government-issued photo identification and will not be eligible for a refund for the cost of testing. ICCB will determine acceptable forms of photo identification and list them on ICCB's HSE website and in the ICCB Adult Education Provider Manual.
2. 2) Restricted identifications, including military ID, cannot be used during check-in for the online-proctored testing.
3. 3) If the candidate's photo identification does not indicate a valid Illinois address, the candidate must provide additional documentation to prove residency as specified by ICCB.