That single sentence, quoted directly from Lowe's, should reset expectations for anyone assuming a job offer waits at the finish line. What you get instead is a real, employer-built credential and a network — and the certifications hold value well beyond Lowe's. OSHA-10 and EPA-608 in particular are recognized across the industry, so the training keeps its worth even if your path eventually takes you elsewhere. If you are weighing the trades specifically, our guide on going to trade school with a GED covers the wider landscape.
The honest answer depends on where in the funnel you are. To get hired at entry level: no — cashier and stocker postings list basic reading, writing, and arithmetic, not a diploma or GED, which is exactly what makes the whole funnel work (you get hired first, then build the credential while earning). To move into supervisory or advancement roles: often yes — Head Cashier and many advancement paths list a diploma or GED. To enroll in Track to the Trades itself: Lowe's does not publicly state a requirement, so you can start the trade courses without one. But to enter the registered apprenticeship that comes after, you almost always need a high school diploma or GED, a minimum age of 18, and (for trades like electrical and plumbing) a math aptitude test.
So the credential is not a wall blocking you from starting — it is the gate further down the road, right where the paid, registered apprenticeship and the real trade wage live. Among employed U.S. workers in 2024, just 6.1% did not hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and the occupation group with the highest share of workers holding a high school diploma or associate degree was installation, maintenance, and repair, at 78.3% — the exact category most of Lowe's seven trade paths fall under. In this field the credential is not a formality; it is standard. Our guide on whether you need a GED for construction trades goes deeper on the apprenticeship requirements.
Get hired at Lowe's. No GED needed, and part-time counts toward eligibility for the education benefit — so even a part-time start gets you in the door for everything that follows.
Finish your high school credential. Use the 100% debt-free Guild and Penn Foster route to complete a diploma — or, if speed matters more, prep for the GED separately on your own timeline, then return to Lowe's other benefits.
Enroll in Track to the Trades. Pick one of the seven paths, work through the self-paced courses around your shift, and walk away with industry credentials and a contractor-network connection.
Move into a registered apprenticeship. This is where the diploma or GED requirement shows up again, along with age and aptitude requirements. Clear that gate, and you step into a paid, structured path toward a real trade career.
If the diploma-completion route feels slower than you want, or you would rather knock out a test than a multi-month course, the GED is your faster lane to the exact same credential tier. Twigera built its entire course around that situation — adults who left school years ago and need a direct path back without sitting in a classroom or relearning everything from scratch. It covers all four GED subjects in one course, uses an adaptive practice engine that targets your specific weak spots, gives you credentialed teachers seven days a week and full-length practice exams, and reports a 94% pass rate among students who complete it.
Twigera does not compete with Lowe's benefit. If the funded Penn Foster diploma path fits your timeline and goals, take it — it costs you nothing. Twigera exists for the moment when speed matters more: when you need that credential fast to hit an apprenticeship deadline, a job requirement, or just your own momentum. A free GED diagnostic test is the fastest way to see how close you already are. Either way, the only wrong move is leaving the credential unfinished.
Lowe's covers 100% of tuition for high school completion through Penn Foster and Guild, letting associates earn a diploma debt-free. Direct GED coverage is not officially confirmed, but this gives employees a path to the same credential level. Track to the Trades gives current associates a tuition-free pre-apprenticeship across seven skilled trades, though Lowe's makes clear it does not guarantee a job. You do not need a GED to start in an entry-level role, but moving into skilled trades and registered apprenticeships usually requires a diploma or GED. Start with the opportunity in front of you, complete your credential, then take the next step — and if you want the fastest path to that credential, a structured GED prep program is the quicker on-ramp.
