The CAEC in Ontario
Who runs the test, who can write it, what it costs and how to register with TVO ILC. Checked against official Ontario sources.
Who runs the CAEC in Ontario
The Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) replaced the GED in Ontario on May 3, 2024. The Government of Ontario names the TVO Independent Learning Centre (TVO ILC) as the only provider of CAEC testing in the province. Everything runs through TVO ILC: your account, your fee, your test bookings and any accommodation request.
You write the tests on a computer at an official testing centre. TVO ILC lists test centres in more than 40 communities, from Toronto and Ottawa to Moosonee and Weagamow Lake, and some locations offer evening and weekend hours. See the current list of test locations before you book.
Who can write the CAEC in Ontario
TVO ILC lists these conditions. You need to meet all of them.
Age
You are 18 or older. If you are 18, you also need a date of leaving letter from the last high school you attended, or proof of homeschooling.
Residency
You have lived in Ontario for at least 6 months.
No OSSD
You do not already have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
Not in high school
You are not currently enrolled in an Ontario public, Catholic or private high school.
How to register, step by step
- Check that you meet the eligibility rules above.
- Create an account on the TVO ILC CAEC portal and enter your personal information.
- Upload two valid government-issued IDs (two primary, or one primary and one secondary). The primary ID must be non-expired and show your name, date of birth, Ontario address, photo and signature.
- Pay the registration fee.
- Submit your registration for review. TVO ILC says this can take up to 20 business days, so register well before you hope to test.
- Once you are approved, book your tests. You can cancel or reschedule up to three days before a test date.
Comparing provinces? Our CAEC registration by province guide covers the rest of Canada.
Fees and retakes
Registration
$100, covering all five tests.
Rewrites
$100, paid through your portal. You rewrite only the tests you did not pass.
Fees are as of October 2026, and TVO ILC says all fees and payments are non-refundable. TVO ILC says the rewrite fee opens in your portal one month after a non-passing score. You can write each subject test once per calendar month, with a maximum of three attempts per calendar year for each test. Under the national CAEC Test Administration Guide, Reading, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies are machine-scored and those scores are final. You can ask for a Writing test to be rescored within 90 days of your results. The guide lists a $30 fee and says the rescored result becomes final, even if it is lower. TVO ILC's CAEC page does not describe how to request this, so ask TVO ILC directly.
If the fee is a barrier, read how to get help paying for the CAEC in Ontario, including what to ask an Ontario Works caseworker.
The test format in Ontario
The five tests take about 7.5 hours in total. Testing sites do not offer all five in one day, so plan for at least two test days. You can write in English or French. For French testing, TVO ILC asks you to contact caec@tvo.org. You need 55% on each test to pass.
Reading
50 questions, 75 minutes
Writing
One persuasive task, 75 minutes, scored out of 9
Mathematics
Part I: 12 questions, 30 minutes, no calculator. Part II: 30 questions, 90 minutes, calculator allowed.
Science
35 questions, 90 minutes
Social Studies
40 questions, 90 minutes
Results for Reading, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies take about 2 business days. Writing takes about 20 business days. Your certificate and transcript are mailed automatically, a minimum of 4 weeks after you finish all five tests.
Accommodations in Ontario
Accommodations TVO ILC lists include extra time, supervised stop-the-clock breaks, a reader or scribe, and braille. To ask for one, log in to the CAEC portal, open "Accommodations Request", upload your documents and submit. You cannot schedule a test until a CAEC team member has reviewed your request, so do this early. The national CAEC Test Administration Guide allows up to 60 days for a decision after all documents are received.
Accepted documents are an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or psycho-educational report from an Ontario school, or a signed, dated letter on letterhead from a qualified professional (such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, doctor or therapist) that explains your needs and how they affect testing. For a temporary condition, the letter should include a recovery timeline. Details are on TVO ILC's accommodations page.
Our guide to CAEC test accommodations explains how accommodations work across Canada.
GED results and the May 2027 cut-off
A GED credential you already earned stays valid. If you passed some GED subjects but never finished, Ontario accepts those passed subjects in place of the matching CAEC tests until May 2027. The national CAEC Test Administration Guide caps this credit at four of the five tests, so you will write at least one CAEC test. It also says the GED policy will be re-evaluated before December 2027. Until a new rule is announced, plan as if your GED passes stop counting after May 2027.
If this is you, count back from May 2027. Registration review alone can take up to 20 business days, and Writing results take about 20 business days more.
Free prep and what the CAEC is for
Ontario's free Get SET program (Skills, Education and Training, formerly Literacy and Basic Skills) helps adults 18 and over whose reading, writing or math skills are below the Grade 12 level. TVO ILC also keeps a list of CAEC preparation centres and links to a sample test in each subject. Our free lessons cover all five tests, topic by topic.
Ontario says the CAEC is for people who need proof of high school equivalency to find a job or pursue college or apprenticeship studies. TVO ILC's own comparison says a CAEC lets you apply directly to a workplace, and it tells you to check the admission requirements of any program before choosing between the CAEC and an OSSD. Read our CAEC vs OSSD comparison before you decide.
For instructors
Working in a Get SET (LBS) program or school board adult education? Our practitioner's guide to CAEC prep in Get SET programs covers OALCF goal paths, intake and building CAEC prep into a learner plan. Remind learners that registration review can take up to 20 business days and that accommodation requests must be reviewed before they can book.
CAEC Ontario FAQ
Who runs the CAEC in Ontario?
The TVO Independent Learning Centre (TVO ILC) is the only provider of CAEC testing in Ontario. You register, book tests and request accommodations through its CAEC portal.
How much does the CAEC cost in Ontario?
As of October 2026, registration is $100 and covers all five tests. TVO ILC lists the cost to rewrite as $100. TVO ILC says all fees are non-refundable. Confirm current fees with TVO ILC before you pay.
Can I take the CAEC online in Ontario?
No. TVO ILC says the tests are completed on computers at official testing centres across Ontario. The tests are computer-based, but you write them in person.
Can I write the CAEC in Ontario if I am 18?
Yes, as long as you meet the other conditions. If you are 18, you must also provide a date of leaving letter from the last high school you attended, or proof of homeschooling.
How often can I retake a CAEC test in Ontario?
You can write each subject test once per calendar month, with a maximum of three attempts per calendar year for each test. After a third unsuccessful attempt in a year, you wait until the next calendar year. You only rewrite the tests you did not pass, and TVO ILC lists the rewrite cost as $100.
Do my old GED test results still count in Ontario?
A completed GED credential stays valid. Ontario accepts GED test subjects you passed in place of the matching CAEC tests until May 2027, but you still have to write at least one CAEC test. If you are relying on partial GED results, plan to finish before May 2027.
How long until I get my results?
TVO ILC says Reading, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies results take about 2 business days and Writing takes about 20 business days. Your certificate and transcript are mailed a minimum of 4 weeks after all five tests are complete.
Last checked: October 20, 2026
Sources
- TVO ILC: Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC)
- TVO ILC: CAEC accommodations
- TVO ILC: CAEC test locations
- TVO ILC: CAEC preparation centres
- TVO ILC: OSSD vs CAEC
- Government of Ontario: Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC)
- Government of Ontario: Get SET (Skills, Education and Training)
- CAEC Test Administration Guide (CAEC testing service, Alberta Education and Childcare, 2026), sections 3.2, 3.7, 4.4 and 5.3
CAEC Ready is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with TVO, TVO ILC or the Government of Ontario. Fees, dates and rules change, so confirm current details with TVO ILC before you register.
Ready to start preparing?
Work through the free lessons, then test yourself with full, timed CAEC practice tests from our store.