The CAEC Is Now Live in Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia

What actually changed

Nothing about the credential itself changed, and that is the good news. The CAEC is still the same five subject tests, Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science, and passing all five still earns you a Canadian High School Equivalency Certificate. What changed is simply access: more provinces have stood up their testing services, so more people can book a seat close to home.

For learners in Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia, that means you no longer have to wonder whether the exam applies to you. It does, and the path from studying to registering to testing is now open.

Where the CAEC is offered in 2026

As of mid-2026, the CAEC is available in most of the country. The provinces and territories that have implemented it include:

• Ontario
• Alberta
• Manitoba
• Saskatchewan
• Nova Scotia
• New Brunswick
• Prince Edward Island
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Northwest Territories

A few places have chosen a different route. British Columbia uses its own Adult Graduation Diploma (the “Dogwood”) and is not adopting the CAEC, and Yukon follows B.C.’s approach. Quebec and Nunavut have not introduced the CAEC either. If you live in one of these regions, your route to a high school equivalency looks different, so check with your local education authority for the right path.

Have old GED credits? The clock matters

Here is the part that is easy to miss. If you passed some, but not all, of the GED tests before the switch, those results can be recognized toward your CAEC, so you do not have to start over. But that recognition window is not open forever: it closes in May 2027.

That gives you time, but not unlimited time. If you are sitting on partial GED credits, the smart move is to confirm how the recognition process works in your province and finish the remaining subjects well before the deadline. We walk through the details in our guide to the May 2027 GED deadline.

How to register now that it is available

The general steps are the same across provinces, even though the exact provider and fees differ:

1. Create a candidate account with your province’s authorized CAEC provider.
2. Choose which subject tests to book. You can take them one at a time or as a full battery.
3. Pay the applicable fee, which varies by province, and pick a date and location or an online-proctored slot.
4. Confirm any ID and accommodation requirements before test day.

For a province-by-province breakdown of where and how to sign up, see our CAEC registration guide, and check current pricing in CAEC fees by province.