Academic upgrading if you are 20 or older

Overview

Finishing or upgrading your high school education can open the door to new opportunities. If you are 20 years of age or older you are considered an adult learner, and there are upgrading providers across the province who can help you reach your goals.

Whether you want to earn your high school diploma a little later in life, or you are looking to meet the admission requirements for post-secondary education, you have options. You can upgrade in a classroom setting, or through distance and online learning.

International students may also consider upgrading after having their education assessed by the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS).

Learning foundations

Pre-high school education classes and programs for adults can help you:

• return to learning
• add skills to get a job or improve your life
• prepare for other learning opportunities, like academic upgrading
• learn English as a Second Language

Read more about learning foundations options, including how to find them.

High school diploma

The Alberta High School Diploma is the most common credential earned by high school students. A diploma is often a basic expectation when applying for jobs and post-secondary study.

Graduation requirements

Students working towards an Alberta High School Diploma are required to earn at least 100 credits in a high school setting and must complete several mandatory courses. More specific graduation requirements are detailed in Alberta Education's Guide to Education.

Challenging a diploma exam

Diploma exams are worth 30% of a student's grade in a grade 12 course. Students who have already completed a course but want to improve their diploma exam score may rewrite the diploma exam. Adults may write a diploma exam for a course without taking instruction in the course at all and count their exam mark as 100% of the course mark.

Equivalency diploma

Students who are at least 18 years of age or older on September 1 of the current school year, and have been out of high school for at least 10 consecutive months, may earn an Alberta High School Equivalency Diploma. There are two ways to earn an equivalency diploma.

Earning an equivalency diploma by gathering credits

Like the Alberta High School Diploma, students who gather 100 school credits are eligible for an equivalency diploma. However, students working towards an equivalency diploma may earn credit for adult education taken outside of high school, for life experience and for maturity. At least 60 credits must be earned through classroom instruction, which must include specific courses.

Once a student has earned enough credits to graduate, they may apply to the principal of their local high school, who will forward their documentation to Alberta Education. More information about gathering credits is available in Alberta Education's Guide to Education.

Earning an equivalency diploma through General Education Development (GED) tests

Students can earn an equivalency diploma by passing five GED tests:

• English Language Arts – Reading
• English Language Arts – Writing
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies

You do not have to complete high school courses to write the GED tests. There are GED test writing centres across Alberta. Some testing centres also offer GED test preparation classes. Read more about writing the GED tests, and find a testing centre near you.

Using an equivalency diploma for post-secondary admission

It is important to carefully review the admission requirements of the post-secondary program you are interested in attending. Admission requirements can be found on the institution’s website.

You may also wish to speak with an advisor at the post-secondary institution for more information about admission requirements.

Upgrading courses or marks

If you do not meet the entrance requirements for a post-secondary program that interests you, either because you’re missing specific high school courses or your marks aren’t high enough, you can either:

1. Retake specific high school courses and/or diploma exams to improve your grades. Your new grade will be the highest classroom mark blended with the highest diploma exam mark.
2. Challenge a diploma exam if you’re over 19 and want to earn credit in a course without taking the course. Your diploma exam mark will be the mark for the entire course.
3. Take only the high school courses you need for post-secondary entrance, without necessarily finishing a diploma. Speak with an advisor at your post-secondary institution to determine what courses you need in order to be admitted to your program.

Funding for upgrading

You’re responsible for the cost of your education. Upgrading costs vary by program and institution. However, courses generally cost:

• $500 to $600 in tuition fees
• $200 to $300 in textbook and other fees

When planning a budget, consider other costs, such as:

• parking or bus fees
• babysitting or daycare if you have children

While you cannot get student loans for upgrading, other financial assistance may be available for upgrading  depending on your circumstances. Research your local and distance learning options to find the best option for you.

You may also benefit from asking your upgrading provider about other funding options that may be available to you.

Where to upgrade

Upgrading providers across Alberta offer several different ways for students to complete their high school education:

• Some courses can be applied towards an Alberta High School Diploma or Alberta High School Equivalency Diploma.
• Some courses are available online or by distance learning, while others are offered in a classroom.
• Some post-secondary institutions are testing centres where students can write the GED tests to earn an equivalency diploma.

The following table outlines which options are available at various upgrading providers across Alberta.