GED In Canada changes to CAEC in May 2024

The GED test 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, the Canadian five-subtest GED® exam ends. It will be replaced by a new Canadian-made program, CAEC, the Canadian Adult Education Credential.

Canadian GED To CAED – Summary

• The GED test in Canada will be replaced by the CAEC on May 3, 2024, for adult high school equivalency testing.
• GED scores are transferable to the CAEC for three years, so GED scores count until May 3, 2027.
• In some provinces, GED testing will be available until May 3; in other provinces, GED testing stops 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 will be offering this new pathway for adult learners in the spring of 2024.

GED Test Scores Remain Valid

The transition will have 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.

Expectations are that the transition will be seamless and will cause no disruptions in the career trajectories or educational perspectives of adult learners.

The CAED 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 quite similar to the GED with Canadian content, and it allows students to earn a Canadian HSE (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 rolled out in most Canadian provinces and territories 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.

Now, the discontinuation of the GED program in Canada marks 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 will be offered in a paper-formatted version as well.

The CAEC program will be offered in English and French. It covers the same subject fields as the GED test: Language, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science.

It will, however, also introduce new content reflecting Indigenous perspectives and Canada’s diversity, which will ensure 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 will be delivered on a user-friendly online platform, and the exam will be offered in English and French. The CAEC exam measures a candidate’s knowledge in these subject fields:

• English or French Language Arts. Part I: Reading & Part II: Writing
• Mathematics Part I (Without Calculator) & Part II (With Calculator)
• Social Studies
• Science

Onsego CAED Online Classes

Onsego will continue providing online preparation classes for Canadian students who are preparing for the new CAED test.

Our current GED program will be adjusted to align with the CAED requirements. Current and future students are supported by our instructions to ensure a seamless transition.

Why A New Canadian Program?

GED Testing Service, the U.S.-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 was available, which included five subtests and was offered only at testing centers. In the U.S., the GED exam is offered exclusively on a computer and can be written online or at testing centers.

So, Canada decided to design its own High School Equivalency Test, the Canadian Adult Education Credential, or CAEC. This new exam will become available across Canada in 2024.

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 will come into effect in all Canadian provinces and territories. Alberta, New Brunswick, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan have already announced their plans, and the rest will do so soon.

The price level still has to be decided, but Manitoba already announced that the tests will cost $75 for the full battery, and testing schedules and locations will also be announced rather soon.

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.

CAEC Availability

Quebec still needs to announce plans for phasing out the GED test.

British Columbia already stopped providing the GED exam in 2014 when it replaced it with another HSE (high school equivalency) exam.

Saskatchewan announced it will replace the GED exam with the Canadian Adult Education Credential program in the spring of 2024.

Alberta has announced that the GED exam will no longer be available after May 3, 2024. By that date, Albertans must have completed their testing.

New Brunswick announced it will introduce the new Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) program and terminate the GED exam in May 2024.

Ontario announced that from Jan. 31, 2024, registration for the GED exam will no longer be possible, that GED test dates must be scheduled before March 31, and that all exams need to be completed by April 15.

Northwest Territories announced that GED testing will be available until March 31, 2024. In May 2024, the Canadian Adult Education Credential program will be introduced.

Prince Edward Island will launch the new Canadian-made CAEC program in the spring of 2024 to replace the GED for high school equivalency testing.

Expectations are that all provinces and territories will soon announce their plans, introduction dates, and requirements.

Empowering Canadian Adult Learners

For Canadians aged 25 and over who were not in the position to complete their high school curriculum, earning their High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma Certificate will significantly enhance their educational and professional options and increase their earning potential.

As Canada bids farewell to GED testing and welcomes the CAEC program, adult learners can benefit from the tremendous 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 will provide a made-in-Canada, high-quality education degree that meets industry standards and expectations to replace the GED test. Post-secondary education institutions, government agencies, and employers can be sure the CAEC credential is a trustworthy assessment of the educational achievement level.