Advanced Education and Training

The Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) is a high-quality, made-in-Canada education credential that replaces the General Educational Development, or GED® in Canada. Employers, post-secondary institutions, and others can count on the CAEC as a reliable indicator of Canadian adults’ level of educational achievement.

The CAEC replaces the GED® as the basis for the Manitoba High School Equivalency Certificate. GED testing was discontinued in Manitoba and across Canada effective May 3, 2024.

The CAEC is designed for adults who do not have a high school diploma, but need an education credential for further education, employment, or as an academic achievement indicator. In Manitoba, successful CAEC test-takers may receive a High School Equivalency Certificate (not a diploma).

CAEC is a distinct academic achievement indicator and cannot be used towards a high school diploma in Manitoba. Adults in Manitoba who wish to complete a high school diploma can visit an Adult Learning Centre (ALC). For more information on ALCs, please visit It’s Never Too Late to Return to Learning.

The CAEC is tailored to the needs of Canadian adults and is reflective of diverse cultures and perspectives. It is available in English and French and consists of tests on Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.

Here is an overview of how many questions each test includes and how much time test takers have to complete each test.

Watch the Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) video for more information on how tests are structured and graded.

The CAEC Preparation Page is a collection of materials that support CAEC preparation including online resources and learning modules. These materials are currently available in English. Work is ongoing to develop learning materials in French. Test takers can click here to access online study materials and courses. CAEC provides learners with the information they will need to successfully pass the test for each subject. The test outcomes for each subject are posted here.

Each subject in CAEC has a sample test that test takers can use to check their readiness and preparation for tests. Test takers can also review a diagram that explains how to navigate the assessment and describes tools that may be helpful during the test.

To take the CAEC in Manitoba, you must:

• be a resident of Manitoba.
• have not completed high school or received the GED certificate.
• be at least 19 years old.

Acceptable identification to establish a candidate’s residency in Manitoba must include the candidate’s name that matches the CAEC account and proof of residency. Examples of acceptable residency identification include:

• Government issued identification or document that includes the candidate’s name & address in Manitoba
• Manitoba Health care card
• Utility bill* with the candidate’s name & address in Manitoba
• Credit Card Statement* with the candidate’s name & address in Manitoba

*Note: Utility bills and credit card statements used to establish residency must be approved by the Manitoba CAEC office. Email all@gov.mb.ca or call (204) 945-8247 to arrange for approval. Documents must be dated within 60 days of the test session, presented in paper format, (i.e., printed e-statements), and contain the test candidate’s name and current address.

• Homeschoolers who have completed the Grade 12 requirements for Manitoba, as indicated by Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning.
• Individuals with a conditional acceptance on letterhead to a post-secondary training or educational institution.
• Individuals with an offer of employment, from a Manitoba employer, that is conditional upon obtaining a high school equivalency certificate.

Complete and submit the Age Exemption Request form.

CAEC testing centres are located in Winnipeg, Brandon, Thompson, and The Pas. Testing in French is available in Winnipeg. Testing may be located at other sites through special arrangements with Adult Learning and Literacy.

Tests are held monthly according to local demand. Use the Manitoba CAEC Planning Calendar to plan your test sessions.

Dates may change based on demand for testing. Actual dates, times and locations for Manitoba are available to candidates when booking a test.

Begin by reading all sections of the CAEC Testing in Manitoba page.

• Complete the forms carefully to ensure all information is included. Incomplete forms may delay your testing date(s).
• Registrations for test sessions close (5) business days before the test session.

Test fees are charged per individual subject, so you only pay for the tests you schedule. The fee is $15 per subject and is non-refundable. Payment must be made online using a credit card (Visa, Mastercard) or Visa debit card.

There are no refunds for missed tests.

Each retest also requires a $15 fee payment

You can reschedule or cancel your test(s) through your CAEC account. There are no refunds issued for rescheduled or cancelled tests. If you reschedule or cancel a test at least five days before the scheduled test date, a test credit will be applied to your CAEC account to use at another test date or test subject.

• If the rescheduling is due to circumstances that cannot be forecasted in advance, like medical or bereavement reasons, you must contact the ALL office for a review. You may be required to provide appropriate documentation to support your request.

If the test session you want is full, you can contact Adult Learning and Literacy by email all@gov.mb.ca or by telephone (204) 945-8247 to be placed on a waitlist. If there is sufficient demand, ALL may open additional testing sessions to accommodate candidates on the waitlist.

If a registered candidate reschedules or cancels their test spot before the 5-day buffer, the spot will be available for booking in the CAEC system.

For English Reading, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, the test results will be available in your CAEC account after two (2) business days from the time of the test.

Results for English Writing will be available in your CAEC account after 20 business days.

The minimum standard score to pass a CAEC test is 55%. Results are given as a code to indicate a percentage range. A code of ES or MS means that you have passed a subject test.

Test result codes with the percentage range:

• ES – Exceeds minimum standard – 80 to 100%
• MS – Meets minimum standard – 55 to 79%
• AS – Approaching minimum standard – 40 to 54%
• DMS – Does not meet minimum standard – 0 to 39%

Test takers who receive an ES or an MS on each of the five tests will receive a Manitoba High School Equivalency Certificate.

You can rewrite a test only if your test result shows a code of AS or DMS which does not meet the minimum standard of 55%. You cannot retake a CAEC test once you have passed it.

A test may be rewritten after 30 days. Candidates who are unsuccessful after a third attempt must wait until the next calendar year (January to December) to take a test.

A fee payment of $15.00 is required for each retest.

When you successfully complete all five (5) CAEC tests, you will receive a Manitoba High School Equivalency Certificate and two (2) copies of your CAEC transcript.

• If you want to order additional copies of your transcript, you can complete and submit the CAEC Test Taker Service Request Form. You will have to pay a fee of $31.50.

If you need to prove to an employer that you have your High School Equivalency Certificate, complete the Credential Verification Form. This is available free-of-charge.

• All candidates must provide two (2) pieces of valid identification to write a CAEC test. The identification is used to establish a candidate’s identity and their residency in Manitoba.
• At least one piece of ID must be government issued with a recent photo. Both pieces of ID must include the candidate’s name that matches the CAEC account and have a valid date (i.e., not expired).

Acceptable photo identification to establish a candidate’s identity must be government issued and include a recent photograph, date of birth, address, and signature. Examples of acceptable identification include:

• a valid passport
• a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit
• a Canadian military ID
• a Federal/Provincial/Territorial ID
• a Federal/Provincial/Territorial correctional services ID
• a Secure certificate of Indian Status
• a Metis Status card
• a Canadian citizenship or permanent residency card
• a Manitoba identification card, or the enhanced identification card offered through Manitoba Public Insurance agents
• a Manitoba firearms license

If your name has changed and is different from the name on the CAEC account, you will need to provide government documentation of the name change. Please contact Adult Learning and Literacy by email all@gov.mb.ca or by telephone (204) 945-8247 for additional information.

Features and tools that are embedded in the digital assessment platform and available to all candidates for all CAEC tests include:

• Screen colour overlay
• Screen text highlighter
• Line reader
• Zoom feature

Requests for special arrangements, accommodations, and special versions must be made in advance – You are responsible for requesting special arrangements and accommodations with documentation before taking a test. Complete the Special Request and Accommodations Form to request a telephone appointment to discuss the special arrangements and accommodations you need. You may be required to provide medical documentation.

• Special arrangements are environmental conditions that make a candidate feel more comfortable when writing a test are available such as privacy screens, ambient noise, noise blockers, extended writing time, additional breaks, or other (availability may vary by location)
• Accommodations are related to a medically diagnosed condition or extenuating circumstances such as input assistance/scribe, reader, Braille format, or other.

The following supports are not permitted under any circumstance:

• use of a calculator on Part I of the Mathematics test
• use of a dictionary, thesaurus, or translator for the English–Reading, Social Studies, Mathematics, and Science tests

No personal items are allowed at the test station. Supplies such as scrap paper and pencils are provided to all candidates. Physical calculators are provided for Part 2 of the Mathematics test.

Any personal items including cell phones, water bottles, and bags must be placed in a designated area during the test session.

All electronic devices and wireless connectivity including cell phones, smart devices, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth must be turned off during testing and must be available for inspection by Manitoba CAEC staff.

Yes, the GED® credential will continue to be recognized as valid. In addition to recognizing the new CAEC, employers can continue to recognize the GED® for individuals who have attained that credential.

Yes, if you completed the GED® in Manitoba, you can request a copy of your transcript. You will have to pay a fee of $31.50. If you need to prove to an employer that you have your High School Equivalency Certificate, complete the Credential Verification Form. This is available free-of-charge.

Manitobans who have passed some of the GED® tests from 2002 to 2024 can request to have the tests recognized toward CAEC until May 2027. Use the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition Form to request recognition of your successful GED® tests. You will need to take the CAEC tests only for the subjects you are missing.

To qualify for the Manitoba High School Equivalency Certificate, you will need to pass all five (5) of the subject tests. High school credits are not replacements for CAEC subject tests.

When you successfully complete all five (5) subjects using a combination of your GED and CAEC results, you will qualify for a Manitoba High School Equivalency Certificate.

For general questions regarding CAEC, please contact Adult Learning and Literacy by email all@gov.mb.ca or by telephone (204) 945-8247.