About the credential

The Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) high school equivalency assessment is for adults who:

  • do not have a high school diploma
  • need an education credential to open new doors to educational, training or employment opportunities

It shows that you have high school-level knowledge and skills, without having completed a formal secondary school program.

The CAEC is available in English and French. It replaced the General Education Development (GED) Testing Program.

The CAEC assessment is composed of 5 tests:

  • writing
  • reading
  • mathematics
  • social studies
  • science

You need a score of 55% on each of the 5 tests to pass the CAEC and get an Ontario High School Equivalency Certificate.

The TVO Independent Learning Centre (ILC) is the only provider of the CAEC testing program in Ontario. Learn more on their website.

Eligibility

You must be a resident of Ontario and at least 18 years old.

If you are 18, you must provide a ‘date of leaving letter’ from the last high school you attended. If you were home schooled, you must provide proof that you were home schooled.

This program might be good for you if you:

  • are currently working and need to show your employer a proof of high school equivalency but do not want to go back to high school
  • need a proof of high school equivalency to find a job or pursue studies in college or apprenticeship

Program cost

It costs $100 to register for the test.

Additional support

Financial assistance may be available if you receive Ontario Works. Please ask your Ontario Works caseworker.

How to register

Visit the TVO CAEC website to register for the test.

More options for learning as an adult

Adult learners continue to have access to existing adult learning pathways in Ontario.

The Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for Mature Students is a process that can help you complete your Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) more quickly. It evaluates your prior learning to grant you credits. The assessment is free, and you can access it through the adult and continuing education department at your school board. Contact your local school board to learn more.

The Academic Career Entrance (ACE) program helps you upgrade your skills and knowledge to meet admission requirements for:

  • Ontario college programs
  • registering as an apprentice

Ontario colleges offer the ACE program. Learn about Academic Career Entrance.

Most postsecondary institutions offer mature student admission pathways. Visit college and university websites to learn about admission options for mature students.

GED credentials and credits

While the General Education Development (GED) is no longer available in Canada, it continues to be a recognized credential. If you already passed:

  • all 5 GED test subjects, your credential remains valid
  • some of the 5 GED test subjects, the CAEC will accept them in place of the associated CAEC test subjects until May 2027

If you need information about your previous GED assessment, please contact caec@tvo.org.