The GED in Canada has changed to CAEC. The Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC), like the GED, allows adults who didn’t complete their high school curriculum to earn a high school equivalency diploma.
This diploma has the same value as a common high school diploma. On May 3, 2024, the Canadian five-subtest GED exam has ended. It was replaced by a new Canadian-made program, the Canadian Adult Education Credential, or CAEC (pronounced as ‘cake’).
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Please note that Onsego offers an accredited program that quickly prepares you for the CAEC exam, but we do not offer the CAEC exam!
Canadian GED To CAEC – Summary
- On May 3, 2024, the GED test in Canada was replaced by the CAEC for adult high school equivalency testing.
- GED scores are transferable to the CAEC for three years, so until May 3, 2027.
- In some jurisdictions, GED testing was available until May 3; in other provinces, GED testing stopped earlier.
- Onsego continues to provide online prep classes for the CAEC exam, adjusting its content to meet new requirements.
- All Canadian GED prep and test centers in participating jurisdictions are offering this new pathway for adult learners.
- To register for the exam, candidates must create an account on Vretta.com.
- Onsego provides top-notch CAEC online classes but not the actual exam.
GED Test Scores Remain Valid
The transition has no effect on earlier GED results. Students who passed portions of the GED exam can transfer these results to the new CAEC program.
Students who have already passed some parts of the GED test can have their results applied towards the new CAEC for a maximum of three years, and schools and employers will recognize both the CAEC and GED as equivalent education certificates.
Students who have successfully taken the CAEC subtests will receive their province’s high school equivalent diploma.
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Expectations are that the transition will continue to be seamless and cause no disruptions in the career trajectories or educational perspectives of adult learners.
The CAEC credential is recognized by institutions of higher education and employers in the same way as a high school diploma or a GED certificate.
What Is CAEC?
CAEC, the Canadian Adult Education Credential, is similar to the GED but with more Canadian content. It allows students to earn a Canadian High School Equivalency diploma, which has the same value as a common high school degree.
So, this is a significant shift for Canadians looking to earn a high school equivalency diploma. The new program will be effective in most Canadian provinces and territories starting in June.
CAEC Test Vs GED Test
For many years, the GED test has been an important cornerstone for Canadian adult learners seeking a second chance to earn a secondary education degree.
The discontinuation of the GED program in Canada has marked an important opportunity for innovation and growth. The Canadian GED test was only available in a paper-based version, and the digital CAEC initiative is filling this gap, though the exam is offered in a paper-formatted version as well.
The CAEC program is offered in English and French. It covers the same subject fields as the GED test: Language Reading, Language Writing, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science.
However, the CAEC program has also introduced new content reflecting Indigenous perspectives and Canada’s diversity, which ensures a more inclusive and comprehensive curriculum.
What’s On The CAEC?
The CAEC (Canadian Adult Education Credential) is developed with input from institutions of higher education, employers, and governmental agencies. The program is tailored to the needs and requirements of Canadian employers and the expectations and demands of colleges and universities. The CAEC program reflects diverse perspectives and Canadian cultures.
The CAEC is delivered on a user-friendly online platform, and the exam is offered in English and French. The CAEC exam measures a candidate’s knowledge in these subject fields:
- English or French Language Arts Reading
- English or French Language Arts Writing
- Mathematics Part I (Without Calculator) & Part II (With Calculator)
- Social Studies
- Science
Onsego CAEC Online Classes
Onsego continues providing online preparation classes for Canadian students preparing for the new CAEC test.
Our current GED program is adjusted to align with the CAEC requirements. Current and future students can be sure to receive our dedicated support for success on the new Canadian Adult Education Credential.
Why A New Canadian Program?
GED Testing Service®, the US-based designer and publisher of the GED exam, decided it will no longer offer the GED test in Canada starting in Spring 2024, raising concerns about how Canadian adults can earn a high school-equivalent educational credential.
In Canada, only the 2002 version of the exam, which included five subtests, was available, and it was offered only at testing centers. In the US, the GED exam is offered exclusively on a computer and can be written online or at testing centers in most states.
So, Canada decided to design its own High School Equivalency Test, the Canadian Adult Education Credential, or CAEC. This new exam is now available across Canada in a computer-based format and, in some jurisdictions, op paper as well.
The Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) project has been in the making for quite a few years, and now that the GED Testing Service decided to stop offering the exam in Canada, the new program has been introduced.
Where Is The CAEC Available?
The CAEC has come into effect in most Canadian provinces and territories. Alberta, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan have already announced their implementation.
In some jurisdictions, the price level still has to be decided, but the price will be (more or less) the same as for the earlier GED test. Manitoba, for example, already announced that the tests cost $75 for the full battery.
Again, students who have already passed some parts of the GED test can have their results applied towards the new CAEC for a maximum of three years, and schools and employers will recognize both the CAEC and GED as equivalent education certificates. So, GED results are valid until May 2027.
The CAEC exam is NOT available in British Columbia, Quebec, Nunavut, and Yukon.
CAEC Availability
Quebec still needs to announce plans to implement the made-in-Canada CAEC assessment.
British Columbia stopped offering the GED exam in 2014 and replaced it with the Adult Dogwood Graduation program. B.C. will probably stay with its successful adult secondary graduation program but may implement the CAEC as well,
Yukon follows B.C.’s example and does not use the CAEC exam.
Saskatchewan announced it has replaced the GED exam with the Canadian Adult Education Credential program. The Saskatchewan CAEC website will be updated soon, and it will be listed on the national CAEC website as well.
Alberta has announced that the GED exam will no longer be available after May 3, 2024. Albertans must have completed their GED testing by that date. Alberta was the first to offer the new CAEC exam.
New Brunswick announced it has introduced the new Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) program.
Nunavut will not participate in the CAEC program,
Ontario announced that registration for the CAEC is now possible.
Northwest Territories announced that GED testing will be available until March 31, 2024. The Canadian Adult Education Credential program was introduced.
Prince Edward Island launched the new Canadian-made CAEC program in mid-September 2024, replacing the GED for high school equivalency testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Onsego offers online prep classes, not the CAEC test. The test is provided by the CAEC organization and administrated by your province.
To schedule the CAEC test, you need to create an account on the CAEC website and schedule your CAEC test. Onsego is not involved in this process.
Empowering Canadian Adult Learners
For Canadian adult learners who were not in the position to complete their high school curriculum, earning their High School Equivalency Diploma will significantly enhance their educational and professional options and increase their earning potential.
As Canada bid farewell to GED testing and welcomed the CAEC program, adult learners can benefit from the potential the new program offers them.
With proper preparation and the right support, individuals who, for whatever reason, could not finish high school can seize this fantastic opportunity to turn their lives around and become better-educated members of society and improve their lives.
The new CAEC program provides a made-in-Canada, high-quality education degree that meets industry standards and expectations. Post-secondary education institutions, government agencies, and employers can be sure the CAEC credential is a trustworthy assessment of the educational achievement level.