Earn the Canadian
Adult Education Credential (CAEC)

On May 3, 2024, the new Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) Certificat canadien d’éducation des adultes (CCEA) replaced the General Education Development (GED®) high school equivalency assessment.

Available in English and French, this new credential is a high-quality, made-in-Canada education credential that meets industry standards as a replacement for the GED®.

On May 3, 2024, the new Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) replaced the General Education Development® (GED®) high school equivalency assessment.

Available in English and French, this new credential is a high-quality, made-in-Canada education credential that meets industry standards as a replacement for the GED®.

About CAEC Testing

The CAEC is for adults who do not have a high school diploma but need an education credential to open new doors to educational, training or employment opportunities. As with the GED®, Ontario candidates who successfully complete the CAEC will get an Ontario High School Equivalency Certificate.

This program might be right for you:

If you do not want to go back to high school but your employer needs proof of high school equivalency.

If you need proof of high school equivalency to find a job, pursue studies in college, or to apply for an apprenticeship.

Need help choosing between an OSSD and the CAEC?

Need help between choosing an OSSD and the CAEC?

Need help choosing between
an OSSD and the CAEC?

Test Details

The CAEC assessment includes five tests, which take approximately 7.5 hours to complete in total. 

Reading

  • 75 minutes

Science

  • 90 minutes

Writing

  • 75 minutes

Social Studies

  • 90 minutes

Mathematics
(120 minutes)

Part I: No calculator

  • 30 minutes

Part II: Calculator

  • 90 minutes

Reading
• 75 minutes

Science
• 90 minutes

Writing
• 75 minutes

Social Studies
• 90 minutes

Mathematics
(120 minutes)
Part I: No calculator
• 30 minutes

Part II: Calculator
• 90 minutes

Tests are scheduled in advance and completed on computers at official testing centres across Ontario. Those taking the CAEC assessment will have the option to book individual tests according to their schedule.

You will need a score of 55% on each of the five tests to successfully complete the CAEC and earn an Ontario High School Equivalency Certificate.

Program Cost

It costs $100 to register for all 5 CAEC tests

Eligibility

  • To register to write the CAEC assessment, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

You do not have an Ontario High School Diploma

You are 18 years or older

You have been a resident of Ontario for a minimum of 6 months

You are not currently registered with an Ontario public, Catholic, or private high school

You have not attended any high school for 1 year or more

You do not have an Ontario High School Diploma

You are not currently registered with an Ontario public, Catholic, or private high school

You are 18 years or older

You have not attended any high school for 1 year or more

You have been a resident of Ontario for a minimum of 6 months  

How to Register

1

Confirm you meet the eligibility criteria

2

Create an account on the CAEC portal

3

Enter your basic personal information

4

Upload your supporting documentation

Provide two forms of valid government-issued identification (ID), two primary or a primary and a secondary. The primary form of ID must be government-issued and non-expired. It must also include your name, date of birth, Ontario address, photo and signature.

Primary forms of ID


  • Passport
  • Driver’s license or Learner’s permit
  • Canadian military identification card
  • Federal/provincial/territorial issued identification card
  • Federal/provincial/territorial Correctional Services identification
  • Indian Status card
  • Canadian citizenship card
  • Canadian permanent resident card

Secondary forms of ID


Additional documentation


Out of school proof

Students who are 18 years old must provide Out of School Proof (Date of Leaving Letter) or a Homeschool Letter from your local school board.

5

Pay the registration fee

6

Submit your registration

Your registration will be reviewed by our team. Once approved, you’ll be provided with more information on how to schedule your tests. If you have any questions, please Contact Us

Related Links

Resources exist to help you prepare for the CAEC.

Preparation Opportunities

The following learning centres may be able to help you prepare for the CAEC test.

Mississauga, ON

North Bay, ON

Ready to take the next step?

 

Ready to take
the next step?

Ready to take the next step?

FAQ

The GED® continues to be a recognized credential. If you have previously passed the 5 GED® test subjects, your credential remains valid. If you completed some of the 5 GED® test subjects, the CAEC will accept successfully completed GED® test subjects in place of the associated CAEC test subjects until May 2027. 


If you have any questions about your previous GED® assessment, please email ged@tvo.org.

It can take up to two weeks to process registrations.

Once your registration with us is approved, and test sessions are available, you'll receive an email with more information on how to schedule your test(s).

Yes. CAEC tests are computer-based and are completed in person at official testing centres.

Test scheduling is not yet available. Once test sessions are available and your registration is approved, you will receive an email with instructions.

Review the test outcomes, which outline the knowledge and skills needed to successfully pass each test, and practice with a sample test, available in each subject.

You will need a score of 55% on each of the five tests to successfully complete the CAEC and earn the Ontario High School Equivalency Certificate. 

You are only required to re-write the tests on which you did not receive a passing score. The cost to re-write a test is $100.

You can rewrite each test once per calendar month, and up to a maximum of 3 times per calendar year.

You’ll be able to view your scores for Reading, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies tests within approximately 2 business days. You’ll be able to view your score for the Writing test within approximately 20 business days.

Once all test scores have been received, it usually takes 6 – 8 weeks for your official transcript and Ontario High School Equivalency Certificate to be sent to you.

You may be granted accommodations to write the CAEC tests depending on your learning needs. Accommodations may include:

  • Extended writing time
  • Private writing space
  • Additional breaks
  • Screen colour overlay
  • Input assistance
  • Sign language translator
  • Speech-to-text
  • Large print
  • Scribe
  • Braille


The following accommodations are available for every computer-based CAEC test and do not require you to submit an accommodations request.

  • Audio (text-to-speech)
  • Screen Text Highlighter/Line Reader
  • Text Size Magnification
  • Line Reader
  • Reader

When you register for the CAEC assessment, you can request accommodations and provide supporting documentation. All accommodation requests are reviewed.