The Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) is Canada’s high school equivalency assessment for adults who did not complete their high school education.
The CAEC is an educational credential that opens doors to college, training programs, and better employment opportunities.
Why a new high school equivalency exam?
In May 2024, the CAEC (Canadian Adult Education Credential) replaced the Canadian version of the GED (General Education Development) for high school equivalency testing in most of Canada.
The new credential is a made-in-Canada, high-quality educational credential meeting industry requirements and expectations from higher learning institutions. The exam is available in English and French.
The former Canadian GED exam was outdated. It was only available in a paper format, did not meet contemporary technical standards, and contained no content related to Canada.
When GED Testing Service announced that the cost to update the exam would be substantial, Canada rejected it. So, GED Testing Service decided to withdraw the exam from Canada.
A new Canadian-made, contemporary high school equivalency exam had already been in development for several years, so Alberta, in cooperation with other provinces, decided to introduce a new exam, the CAEC, which was rolled out across Canada in May 2024.
CAEC qualification requirements
To qualify for the CAEC exam, candidates must be residents of their respective provinces or territories, not have a high school diploma or equivalent, and meet age requirements.
The exam cannot be taken in a jurisdiction different from the one where they live. Check here -> for an overview of all participating jurisdictions.
In most jurisdictions, candidates must be at least 18 years old; in some provinces, students aged 16 and 17 may take the exam as well if they meet additional requirements.
Candidates who were home-schooled must provide satisfactory proof of their homeschooling.
The CAEC program is a good fit if you don’t want to go back to school but need to provide proof of high school equivalency to an employer, educational institution, or apprenticeship program.
Most Canadian jurisdictions require CAEC candidates to have been residents for at least 6 months; please check official sources for accuracy.
For details on your province’s requirements, visit our page with links to the official websites of participating CAEC jurisdictions.
About CAEC Testing
The CAEC program helps adults without a high school diploma. Holding the credential will open new doors to employment opportunities and educational or professional training programs.
If you want to read more on wnat to expect on test day, visit our article about CAEC Test Day Procedures.
As with the former Canadian GED, candidates who successfully take the five CAEC modules (independent subtests) will receive their jurisdiction’s High School Equivalency Certificate.
You can very well prepare for the CAEC exam with a well-structured online course, such as Cansego Canadian GED Prep, but some students may perform better when accompanied by a teacher at a physical prep facility. This website lists all prep sites across the participating CAEC provinces.
CAEC key takeaways
- The CAEC exam was developed in Alberta, in close collaboration with other jurisdictions.
- The CAEC exam is fully computer-based, unlike the former Canadian GED test, which was only available in a paper-based format.
- However, there are provinces where paper-based CAEC is still available.
- The CAEC exam must be taken at an official test center in your jurisdiction. Online CAEC testing is not available.
- The CAEC comprises the same five subject areas as the former Canadian GED test: Mathematics, Reading, Writing, Social Studies, and Science.
- The five CAEC subtests are independent modules that may be taken one (or more) at a time and in any preferred order.
- The CAEC math subtest has two parts, and a calculator is permitted only in part two.
- The new CAEC exam includes Canada-specific content, whereas the former Canadian GED test did not include anything on Canada. So, please do not use GED material for your CAEC prep.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the CAEC passing score?
On each of the five CAEC sub-exams, you’ll have to answer at least 55% of the questions correctly to pass that module and earn your Canadian high school equivalency credential.
- What if I don’t pass a CAEC subtest?
If you fail one of the five modules, you only have to retake that subtest. You can retake each of the five subtests once per calendar month, up to three times per year.
- When can I access my scores?
You can access your scores after approximately two days. However, this applies only to your math, reading, social studies, and science results. Your CAEC writing module includes an essay, which will take approximately 20 days to score.
- When will I receive my High School Equivalency Certificate?
Once you have received all CAEC test scores, it will take approximately 6 to 8 weeks until you receive your CAEC diploma and official transcript.
- How do I prepare for the CAEC exam?
As stated above, some students do better under the supervision of a teacher, but if you are good at learning independently, you might be better off with a high-quality online program like Cansego CAEC Prep if you want to speed up your preparation.
- Is the GED still valid?
Across Canada, the GED diploma will remain a recognized high school equivalency credential. All GED diplomas remain valid.
- What if I already passed parts of the GED?
If you already passed some of the GED subtests, you can transfer these results toward the new CAEC exam. Your scores keep their validity until May 3, 2027.