Overview
Career education and financial literacy equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to explore career opportunities and manage money effectively. This multidisciplinary subject helps students envision fulfilling careers and make informed decisions to guide their learning pathways and career plans in the real world.
Through career education, students foster self-awareness, discover real-world career options and appreciate the diverse range of careers and how each contributes meaningfully to communities and society. To develop financial literacy, students learn about money management, saving, responsible spending, budgeting, credit and debit use, banking, goal setting and planning for the future. By developing decision-making skills in career education and financial literacy, students support their overall well-being and self-awareness and make informed decisions that align with their goals, interests and aspirations.
The draft grades 7 to 9 career education and financial literacy curriculum is a new course that builds on content covered in the K to 6 physical education and wellness curriculum. It also expands on content currently included in the health and life skills grades 7 to 9 program of studies.
In kindergarten to Grade 6, career education and financial literacy development are part of the multidisciplinary physical education and wellness curriculum.
Find out what is next for K to 12 curriculum renewal.
Learn more (updated June 2026)
- Read the K to 6 curriculum and draft 7 to 9 curriculum on new new LearnAlberta
- Download the K to 6 curriculum fact sheets
- Download the draft 7 to 9 curriculum fact sheet
Draft 7 to 9 career education and financial literacy
Draft 7 to 9 career education and financial literacy curriculum was released in June 2025 for field testing. Field testing is an optional phase of the curriculum renewal process. It is designed to gather early feedback on selected parts of the draft curriculum and to support system readiness for future piloting and implementation. Field testing occurred between January and March 2026. Content selected for field testing focused on areas that are new, moved from one grade level to another or required additional supports for learning and teaching.
Current and new curriculum comparison
The following table shows how elements of career education and financial literacy in the current program of studies (7 to 9 health and life skills and senior high school career and life management) both published in 2002, compare to elements in the draft 7 to 9 career education and financial literacy curriculum. The comparisons provide examples and do not represent all the changes that were made.
| Current programs of study (2002) | New curriculum (2026) examples | |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum/ disciplinary knowledge and skills | Career education and financial literacy development are integrated into the health and life skills 7-9 program of studies and are not addressed as distinct disciplines. Learning about career education is generally addressed, with few specific outcomes per grade. | There is a strong emphasis on career education and financial literacy in grades 7 to 9 in a stand-alone curriculum. Purposeful career education provides clear learning expectations for each grade. |
| Career exploration | Student exploration of careers is integrated into the general outcome of Life Learning Choices for grades 7 to 9. | Purposeful career exploration is an organizing idea for grades 7 to 9. |
| Career opportunities | Students learn about volunteerism to develop their interests and career goals. | Students learn about volunteering, work-integrated learning experiences, work-related experiences and entrepreneurship opportunities to strengthen their readiness for the future. |
| Financial literacy | Financial literacy is primarily addressed in high school, embedded in career and life management (CALM). | Clear expectations for students to learn about financial literacy are in every grade, 7 to 9, as part of a specific organizing idea with clear progressions. |
Snapshot by grade
Note: In kindergarten to Grade 6, career education and financial literacy development are part of the multidisciplinary physical education and wellness curriculum, which was implemented in 2022.
View the K to 6 Physical education and wellness curriculum on new LearnAlberta.
- Draft 7 to 9 career education and financial literacy curriculum was updated following completion of field testing, in advance of optional classroom piloting in the 2026/27 school year.
- Classroom piloting of draft 7 to 9 career education and financial literacy will occur in the 2026/2027 school year, providing school boards an opportunity to pilot curriculum and provide feedback for final refinements.
- The recommended hours of instruction for draft 7 to 9 career education and financial literacy curriculum is 50 hours per year.
- View the draft 7 to 9 career education and financial literacy curriculum on new LearnAlberta.
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Kindergarten- Recognize Canadian coins and bills by colour, size, images and denominations.
- Understand that money is used to buy things (goods and services).
- Explore the value of different Canadian coins and bills.
- Learn that money can be exchanged for items in daily life.
- Identify personal strengths and talents.
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Grade 1- Identify and sort Canadian money: coins, bills, debit and credit cards.
- Understand that money can be earned, saved, spent, shared, or borrowed.
- Learn about goods and services and how money is exchanged for them.
- Begin to distinguish between needs and wants.
- Describe personal strengths and abilities.
- Recognize how individual and group characteristics are unique and valued.
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Grade 2- Make decisions about spending, saving and sharing money.
- Understand that money is limited and choices have trade-offs.
- Practice money-related decision making in real-life contexts.
- Begin to distinguish between needs and wants and how it impacts spending money.
- Learn the difference between paid work and volunteer work.
- Examine ways individuals can positively contribute to communities through various roles.
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Grade 3- Develop good money habits: budgeting, saving, donating.
- Set and work toward short and long-term financial goals.
- Describe strategies that support responsible financial management.
- Learn about banking practices like savings accounts.
- Examine the requirements, purposes and expectations of a variety of roles and occupations.
- Learn how roles can connect to specific life and career stages.
- Opportunities to develop talents, attributes, strengths, self-regulation and resilience.
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Grade 4- Examine factors influencing spending: price, quality, needs vs. wants.
- Understand currency and digital money (credit, debit, prepaid).
- Identify banking tools: online banking, interest, e-transfers.
- Explore career roles and how they vary across cultures and communities.
- Understand how volunteering builds confidence and skills related to work.
- Learn strategies that support perseverance and resilience.
- Identify ways volunteering can contribute to a sense of belonging.
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Grade 5- Create and manage budgets for personal or group activities.
- Differentiate between short-term and long-term financial goals.
- Examine components of a budget.
- Explore consumer choices and what influences them.
- Reflect upon opportunities to make meaningful contributions to the community.
- Develop perseverance, resilience and reflect upon life experiences and learning opportunities.
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Grade 6- Investigate borrowing and investing: risks, benefits, and decision-making.
- Understand factors influencing financial decisions: marketing, trends, budgeting.
- Learn about investment options: stocks, real estate, digital currencies.
- Explore career readiness through independence and personal development.
- Relate personal skills and interests to various life roles.
- Plan for potential volunteerism opportunities in the school and community.
- Apply goal setting and motivation strategies to support lifelong learning.
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Grade 7- Explore goals, interests and aspirations.
- Examine factors that influence career development.
- Learn how transferable skills for careers are developed over time.
- Identify post-secondary pathways that prepare individuals for careers.
- Understand labour market influences on employment.
- Develop an understanding of employment income, deductions and taxation.
- Consider how spending, saving and budgeting decisions affect financial security.
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Grade 8- Explore how personal experiences and access to opportunities can shape career choices.
- Analyze the dynamic nature of the labour market.
- Consider how post-secondary pathways, labour market realities and finances shape education and career planning.
- Identify costs related to post-secondary pathways and forms of financial assistance available.
- Examine income, taxation systems and total compensation.
- Understand the role taxes play in supporting society.
- Learn about saving, investments and risk.
- Analyze costs, calculate interest and compare saving and investing strategies to achieve financial security.
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Grade 9- Create a resume to communicate skills and experiences in professional contexts.
- Analyze how labour market trends, including automation and globalization, influence career opportunities and industry change.
- Evaluate how post-secondary pathways, labour market realities and finances shape career planning.
- Investigate a variety of government programs and benefits.
- Learn to identify elements of a T4 slip and calculate the effect of common tax credits.
- Describe how employment income, taxes and deductions are interconnected.
- Understand responsible borrowing options and debt management strategies.