Adult education and high school upgrading

Is this guide for you?

This page is for adult newcomers (19+) who want to upgrade their education inside Canada — finish high school, brush up on reading or math, get ready for college, or earn a Canadian-recognised credential. It is not the same as getting a foreign degree recognised — for that, see our credential recognition guide. And if you mostly need to work on your English or French, see free ESL and LINC classes through your local settlement agency.

The four pathways at a glance

Pathway 1 — Get SET (Skills, Education and Training)

Get SET is the new name for Ontario's Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) program — rebranded November 20, 2025. The program itself didn't change. It helps adults strengthen reading, writing, math, digital, and interpersonal skills so they can move on to a job, more schooling, an apprenticeship, or finishing high school.

To be eligible, you need to be:

• An Ontario resident, 19 or older (some providers will accept 18+)
• Assessed at intake as having literacy or numeracy skills below the end of Grade 12
• Able to speak the language of instruction well enough to learn (this requirement does not apply to Deaf learners)

Get SET is delivered through four cultural streams, and you can choose the one that fits you best:

• Anglophone — instruction in English
• Francophone — instruction in French (e.g., Collège Boréal)
• Indigenous — culturally appropriate programming, often through Friendship Centres or Indigenous-led organizations
• Deaf — instruction in American Sign Language (ASL) or Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ)

Cost: Get SET is free. Many providers can also help with childcare, transit, and other supports while you study.

What to expect

• Intake assessment — a friendly conversation and a short test to see where you're starting
• Individual learning plan — built around your goal (job, college, apprenticeship, or high school)
• Continuous intake — most providers let you start any time of year
• Flexible schedule — daytime, evening, or online classes are common

Pathway 2 — Finish your OSSD as a mature student

The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) is the official high school diploma of Ontario. As an adult, you can earn the same diploma through your local public school board's adult education or continuing education department — usually free for Ontario residents.

Mature students (18+, out of high school for at least one year) can have up to 16 of the 30 required credits granted through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR), based on your past education and life and work experience. You then complete the remaining credits through online, evening, or daytime adult classes. Many adults finish in 12 to 18 months.

Mature students can also skip the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) by passing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC), which counts as a Grade 12 English credit at the same time.

To start, contact the continuing education office of the public or Catholic school board in your city — Lakehead Public, Thunder Bay Catholic, Rainbow District (Sudbury), Algoma District (Sault Ste. Marie), District School Board Ontario North East (Timmins), or Near North (North Bay).

Pathway 3 — The CAEC test (replaces the GED)

The GED no longer exists in Ontario. As of May 3, 2024, the General Education Development (GED) test was replaced across Canada by the Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC).

The CAEC is a made-in-Canada test, available in English and French, that covers five subjects:

• Reading
• Writing
• Mathematics
• Social Studies
• Science

You need 55% on each of the five tests to pass and receive an Ontario High School Equivalency Certificate. In Ontario, the test is administered by the TVO Independent Learning Centre (TVO ILC) — they are the only provider.

Cost: $100 for the full test, or $20 per subject. Financial assistance may be available if you receive Ontario Works — ask your caseworker. If you already passed some GED tests before May 2024, those scores can count toward the CAEC until May 2027.

Free preparation classes for the CAEC are offered through Get SET providers and many public libraries.

Pathway 4 — College ACE program

The Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) certificate is offered at every community college in Northern Ontario. It is recognised as a Grade 12 equivalent by all Ontario community colleges, by the Ministry of Labour for apprenticeships, and by a growing number of employers — and many learners say it feels more practical than going back through a regular high school program.

You typically take:

• A required English/communications course
• A math course
• Plus two more courses (sciences, computers, self-management) chosen for your career goal

ACE programs are usually free for unemployed or under-employed adults through Better Jobs Ontario and other Employment Ontario funding. Some colleges also cover childcare, transit, and books for qualifying students.

Where to learn in Northern Ontario

City	Provider	What they offer
Thunder Bay	Confederation College	Get SET (Academic Upgrading) + ACE certificate
Thunder Bay	Lakehead Public & Thunder Bay Catholic boards	Adult OSSD credits
Sudbury	Cambrian College	Free ACE program + Academic Upgrading (continuous intake)
Sudbury	Collège Boréal (21 boul. Lasalle)	AFB (LBS in French) + ACE en français
Sault Ste. Marie	Sault College	Get SET + ACE certificate (start dates Jan / May / Sept)
Timmins	Northern College (130 Spruce St S)	Get SET + ACE certificate
Timmins	Timmins Native Friendship Centre	Get SET (Indigenous stream) + ACE
North Bay	Canadore College	ACE study option + Academic Upgrading

For a full list of providers, the Ministry maintains the Get SET / LBS service provider directory. University-bound learners can also explore mature student admission at Lakehead University (Thunder Bay and Orillia) — you don't need an OSSD if you're 19+, have been out of school for two years, and can show your readiness through the Admissions Profile.

Local services across Northern Ontario

Verified ESL and LINC providers from settlement.org and 211 Ontario directories — useful starting points before or alongside Get SET / ACE programs. Confirm hours and eligibility before visiting.

Thunder Bay

• Thunder Bay Multicultural Association — LINC Program — 17 Court Street North, Thunder Bay. 807-345-0551 or toll-free 1-866-831-1144. Free Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada; CLB-aligned classes for permanent residents and protected persons. Language assessment required first.
• Lakehead Adult Education Centre (LAEC) — 125 Lillie Street South, Thunder Bay. 807-625-5145 or toll-free 1-877-625-5145. ESL for daily life and employment plus adult high-school credits and distance education.

Greater Sudbury

• Collège Boréal — LINC / CLIC — 21 LaSalle Boulevard West, Sudbury. 705-560-6673. Federally-funded language training (LINC in English, CLIC in French) for permanent residents and protected persons.
• Cambrian College — English as a Second Language — 1400 Barrydowne Road, Sudbury. 705-566-8101. ESL certificate program and academic English (EAP) with rolling intakes (Sept, Nov, Jan, Mar, May, Jul).

Sault Ste. Marie

• Sault Community Career Centre — LINC Program — 503 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie. 705-759-0909. IRCC-funded LINC classes, CLB language assessment, and newcomer orientation.

North Bay

• Northeastern Ontario Multicultural Centre — LINC Program — North Bay (contact NOMC for class location). 705-495-8931. Primary IRCC-funded LINC provider in the Nipissing region; also handles ESL/FSL referrals.
• Le Centre de formation du Nipissing — 176 Lakeshore Drive, Unit 14, North Bay. 705-472-6673. Francophone adult literacy, essential skills, and French-language workshops — useful referral for francophone newcomers.

Timmins

• NOMC — Timmins Office Language Support — 85 Pine Street South, Suite #105, Timmins. 705-221-8622 or toll-free 1-877-495-8931. Language assessment referrals and settlement-related language support for newcomers across Cochrane, Timiskaming, Nipissing, and Parry Sound districts.

How long does it take?

It depends on where you're starting and how many hours per week you can commit:

• Get SET — open-ended, flexible. Months, not years.
• OSSD as a mature student — typically 12 to 18 months part-time, faster if you have lots of credits granted through PLAR.
• CAEC test — as fast as you're ready. Some adults prep for a few weeks, some for a few months.
• College ACE — usually one to two semesters (about 8 to 16 months) full-time.

Common pitfalls newcomers run into

• "I need an OSSD before I can apply to college." Not true — every Ontario college accepts mature student applications (19+) without an OSSD, often with a short assessment.
• "I'll just do the GED." The GED no longer exists in Ontario. The CAEC replaced it on May 3, 2024.
• "Adult education must cost a lot." Get SET is free, the OSSD through a school board is free for residents, and ACE is usually free for unemployed adults.
• "My English isn't good enough yet." Start with free LINC or ESL first, then move to Get SET — they're often offered by the same agencies.

Sources & references: Local services cross-referenced with settlement.org (OCASI's Ontario newcomer directory) and 211 Ontario. Confirm current hours and intake before visiting.

Last reviewed: April 2026. Adult education programs and fees occasionally change — confirm details with the Ontario adult learning page, the TVO ILC CAEC page, or the provider directly before enrolling.