The Canadian GED exam was terminated in early 2024. The paper-based assessment did not reflect anything typical about Canada and was technically outdated.
Canada developed its own high school equivalency exam, the Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC), which covers Canadian geography, economy, history, and traditions and values.
The CAEC assessment, like the GED, provides adults who never had the chance to complete their high school curriculum with the opportunity to acquire an educational credential that is equivalent to a common Canadian high school diploma.
The Canadian CAEC exam comprises five modular sub-exams that can be taken in any order and, if desired, one at a time. The exam is entirely computer-based and available in most of Canada’s jurisdictions.
Holding a Canadian Adult Education Credential has so many advantages! Not only will your income potential increase dramatically, but you can also attend college, since your CAEC has the same value as a traditional high school diploma.
Five separate CAEC exams
The Canadian-made CAEC exam contains five independent subtests that come with predominantly multiple-choice questions. Only writing the CAEC essay is not multiple-choice.
The five CAEC sub-exams address topics from the academic subject fields of Mathematics, Language Writing, Language Reading, Science, and Social Studies. The tests can be written in any order.
PEI CAEC qualification requirements
In Prince Edward Island, the Canadian CAEC test is free for residents, and when writing the exam, proof of Prince Edward Island residency is required.
Additionally, candidates are required to:
- be at least 18 years of age or older
- be Canadian citizens or permanent residents
- nor already have a high school diploma or equivalent
- have been officially withdrawn from the public school system for at least 10 months
Though fully computer-based, the CAEC assessment is not available online. Applicants are required to take the exam at one of their jurisdiction’s official CAEC testing facilities.
Preparing for the CAEC test with a good online course is perfectly fine—one of the best and most affordable online courses is the CAEC program designed by Cansego.
For students who prefer to learn under an instructor’s guidance, we have listed the CAEC prep sites in PEI here:
CAEC Prep Sites in PEI (cities by alphabet)
CAEC candidates must first take the free Official CAEC Practice Test. To register for the official practice test, call Holland College at 1-800-446-5265 (Adult Education Option).
To register for the practice test at Holland College in Charlottetown and East, call (902) 566-9628. In Summerside and West, call (902) 888-6495.
Alberton
Holland College West Prince Campus
509 Church St – Alberton – PE C0B 1B0 – Ph: (902) 853.0024
Charlottetown
Holland College Prince of Wales Campus (Montgomery Hall)
305 Kent St – Charlottetown – PE C1A 1P5 – Ph: (902) 566.9362
Atlantic Technology Centre Adult Upgrading Program
90 University Ave – Ste 212 – Charlottetown – PE C1A 7N8 – Ph: (902) 368.4650
Institute of Advanced Learning
55 Grafton St – Charlottetown – PE C1A 1K8 – Ph: (902) 368.2828
Georgetown
Holland College Georgetown Centre
117 Kent St – Georgetown – PE C0A 1L0 – Ph: (902) 566.9362
Mount Stewart
Abegweit First Nation
31 Kitpu St – Mount Stewart – PE C0A 1T0 – Ph: (902) 676.2353 ext. 102
Scotchfort
Holland College Scotchfort Centre (Chapel Building)
24 Redstone Dr – Scotchfort – PE C0A 1T0 – Ph: (902) 676.2043
Summerside
Holland College Waterfront Campus
98 Water St – Summerside – PE C1N 4K2 – Ph: (902) 888.6495
Institute of Advanced Learning Summerside Campus
10 Slemon Park Dr – Summerside – PE C0B 2A0 – Ph: (902) 436.9889
Wellington
Collège de l’Île
8 Mill Rd – Wellington – PE C0B 2E0 – Ph: (902) 854.3010 ext. 250
CAEC – a challenging exam
The new Canadian high school equivalency exam (CAEC) is a challenging assessment. The exam measures your knowledge at a level that compares to what high school seniors are expected to know after four years of education.
Please refrain from using old GED study materials when preparing for the Canadian Adult Education Credential! The former Canadian GED exam included no specific content about Canada.
The new CAEC exam, however, covers a range of Canadian-specific topics, including history, economics, geography, and culture. To reach passing scores on the CAEC exam, decent preparation is absolutely required.
CAEC Test Sites in PEI (cities by alphabet)
The five CAEC subtests must be taken in person at designated testing centres on a computer. Holland College offers CAEC testing at multiple sites:
Alberton
Holland College – 509 Church St – Alberton – Ph: (902) 566.9628
Charlottetown
Holland College – 305 Kent St – Charlottetown – Ph: (902) 566.9628 (Montgomery Hall)
Workplace Learning PEI Inc – 40 Enman Crescent (Rm 222) – Charlottetown – Ph: (902) 368.6280
Summerside
Holland College – 98 Water St – Summerside – Ph: (902) 566.9628
CAEC inquiries
For general inquiries, please contact:
Province of Prince Edward Island CAEC Testing Program-PEI CAEC Administrator
Post-secondary & Continuing Education, Atlantic Technology Centre
176 Great George St, Ste 212, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4K9, Ph: (902) 368.4650
Department of Workforce, Advanced Learning, and Population
105 Rochford Street, Shaw Building, 5th Floor North, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8, Ph: (902) 368.4250