Writing the CAEC in Nova Scotia
The CAEC replaced the GED in Nova Scotia, and it is free for eligible residents. Here's who can write it, how to register and book, how retakes work, and what happens to your old GED scores.
Who runs the CAEC in Nova Scotia
The CAEC is run by the Adult Education Division of the Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, in partnership with CAEC Testing Services (Alberta Education). You write it on a computer at a certified testing centre. The province's candidate guidelines say testing happens at NSCC testing centres across Nova Scotia.
Pass all five tests and you can request a Nova Scotia High School Equivalency Certificate. Previously awarded GED credentials do not expire, and the province says employers can keep recognizing the GED alongside the new CAEC.
Who can write it
To write the CAEC in Nova Scotia, you must meet all of these conditions and be able to prove them:
- You currently live in Nova Scotia (proof of residency is required).
- You are 18 or older.
- You are not currently in school.
- You do not have a GED, a high school diploma, or an equivalent that the Adult Education Division recognizes.
- You are a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, a protected person, a permanent resident applicant with a work permit, or a temporary foreign worker with a permanent full-time job offer.
Each status has its own documents. For example, a temporary foreign worker needs a valid work permit plus a year-round job offer of at least 30 hours a week. Check the candidate guidelines for the full list.
How to register and book, step by step
- Check your eligibility against the list above and gather your ID and proof of status.
- Create a CAEC candidate account on the CAEC platform. Use your legal name exactly as it appears on your government ID, and select "NS" as your province.
- Flag PLAR or accommodations during registration if you need either. Accommodations and special arrangements must be approved before you book.
- Book your tests through your account. You pick the location, date and time yourself. There are no walk-ins.
- Arrive 30 minutes early with two original, unexpired IDs. The primary ID must be government-issued with your name, date of birth, photo and signature. One ID must show your current Nova Scotia address, or you need a third piece that does. Photocopies are not accepted.
- Request your certificate once you have passed all five. It is not sent automatically. Submit the Nova Scotia High School Equivalency Certificate Request Form to caec@novascotia.ca. The province says credentials are issued within six weeks.
For how other provinces handle this, see CAEC registration by province.
Fees, retakes and rescoring
Cost
Free for eligible Nova Scotia residents at a certified testing centre, as of October 2026.
Retakes
Once per calendar month per unpassed subject, up to three attempts per subject from January to December. You never need to finish all five before retaking one.
Rescoring
Writing only. Email your request within 60 days of the test. Reading, Math, Science and Social Studies scores are final.
Protect your attempts. Cancel or reschedule in your account at least 48 hours ahead. A no-show, a late arrival or missing ID counts as an attempt. You may not rewrite a subject you have already passed, on the CAEC or the GED. Fees and rules can change, so confirm with the province before you book.
The five tests
The CAEC is a digital test, offered in English and French. You book each subject on its own, so you can spread them out. You need 55% on each test to pass.
Reading
50 questions, 75 minutes
Writing
1 persuasive writing task, 75 minutes
Math
Part I: 12 questions, 30 minutes, no calculator. Part II: 30 questions, 90 minutes, calculator.
Science
35 questions, 90 minutes
Social Studies
40 questions, 90 minutes
Phones and devices stay outside the room. The test has an on-screen notepad, and a calculator for Math Part II only. Results for Reading, Math, Science and Social Studies appear in your account in about two business days. Writing takes longer. The February 2026 candidate guidelines say about 20 business days, while the province's older Testing Process sheet says four to six weeks.
Accommodations and special arrangements
Everyone gets zoom, a screen colour overlay and a highlighter or line reader without applying. For anything more, Nova Scotia uses two categories:
- Special arrangements such as a private room, noise blockers, supervised breaks or 25% extra time.
- Accommodations for a medically diagnosed condition or learning disability, such as 50% extra time. The province asks for a report from a certified professional, generally from the last three years.
Indicate your need when you register, then send the Test Accommodations Request Form and documents to caec@novascotia.ca. Requests are processed within 30 days of receiving your documents. Do not book until you are approved. A test booked before approval uses one of your three yearly attempts. A dictionary, thesaurus or translator is never allowed on Reading, Math, Science or Social Studies, and an interpreter to reword questions is never allowed on any test.
More detail in our guide to CAEC test accommodations.
Your GED scores count until May 2027
If you passed some tests in the 2002 Canadian GED series, Nova Scotia will apply them to the CAEC through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) until May 2027. A few rules:
- At most four subjects can be exempted.
- You must pass at least one CAEC test in Nova Scotia to get the certificate.
- You cannot rewrite a CAEC subject you already passed on the GED.
- Request PLAR while you register to avoid delays. The PLAR request form is on the province's CAEC page, or email caec@novascotia.ca for it.
Some Nova Scotia high school or NSCC Adult Learning Program credits can also count toward an exemption. The candidate guidelines list the approved courses.
Free prep classes in Nova Scotia
The Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning partners with Community Learning Organizations that offer fully subsidized CAEC prep classes. They operate in the Cape Breton, Metro, Northern, Southwest and Valley regions. Use the province's interactive map to find one near you, and try the official sample tests.
For help across the region, read help paying for the CAEC in Atlantic Canada and the CAEC is now live in Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia.
To study on your own, our free lessons cover all five subjects. If you want full-length timed practice, the CAEC Ready Practice Tests are in our store.
For instructors
Before a learner books, check three things: they are 18 or older and out of school, their ID shows a Nova Scotia address, and any accommodation or special arrangement is approved. Booking before approval and ID problems both cost an attempt. Learners with GED passes should apply for PLAR before May 2027.
CAEC Nova Scotia FAQ
How much does the CAEC cost in Nova Scotia?
Nothing, as of October 2026. Nova Scotia offers the CAEC free to eligible residents who write at a certified testing centre, as it did with the GED. Confirm with the province before you book.
Can I write the CAEC in Nova Scotia if I am 17?
No. The province's eligibility rules say you must be 18 or older. You also must not be in school and must not already hold a high school diploma, an equivalent the province recognizes, or a GED.
I passed some GED tests years ago. Do they still count?
Passing scores from the 2002 Canadian GED series can be applied to the CAEC through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) until May 2027. Up to four subjects can be exempted, and you must pass at least one CAEC test in Nova Scotia. You cannot rewrite a CAEC subject you already passed on the GED.
How many times can I retake a CAEC test in Nova Scotia?
You can rewrite a subject you have not passed once per calendar month, up to three attempts per subject per calendar year. A no-show, a late arrival or missing ID counts as one of those attempts.
Can I write the CAEC in French in Nova Scotia?
Yes. All five tests are offered in English and French. To book a French session, email caec@novascotia.ca.
Can I get my CAEC score reviewed?
Only the Writing test can be challenged. You must email the provincial CAEC administrator within 60 days of the test with your reasons, and you will hear back within 90 days. The other four tests are machine-scored and final.
Sources
Last checked: October 20, 2026. Contact: 1-877-466-7725 or caec@novascotia.ca.
Ready to start studying?
Work through free lessons for all five CAEC subjects, then test yourself with full-length practice tests.