High School Transitions & Upgrading

How to Upgrade or Finish High School

You may consider taking high school equivalencies or upgrading if you:

• Want to improve your grade in a high school course to meet admission requirements for the post-secondary program you want to take
• Didn’t finish high school
• Finished high school years ago and would benefit from a refresher course or two
• Received your education outside of Alberta (use our search tool to find equivalencies across Canada) 

Choose the Program That’s Best for You

There are two upgrading options for adult students in Alberta:

1. Adult basic education courses support the development of literacy and numeracy, and map to grades K-9 competencies. 
2. Academic upgrading courses help students increase their grades in certain high school classes, or finish their diploma (or an equivalent), so they can meet post-secondary entrance requirements.

Where to Take Basic Education Courses

Adult basic education courses to help adult students work towards post-secondary admission are available at these Alberta institutions:

• Blue Quills First Nations University
• Bow Valley College
• Lakeland College
• Lethbridge College
• Maskwacis Cultural College
• Medicine Hat College
• NorQuest College
• Northern Lakes College
• Northwestern Polytechnic
• Old Sun Community College

Non-credit, part-time, informal learning options that can help you build literacy and other essential learning skills are also offered by Community Adult Learning Programs throughout Alberta.

How to Take Academic Upgrading Courses

You can choose how and when you prefer to take academic upgrading courses and programs.

• At your post-secondary institution or technical training provider
• Continuing education programming at your local school board

Post-Secondary Institutions Offering Academic Upgrading Programs 

Academic upgrading options are provided by 21 post-secondary institutions/organizations in Alberta:

• Blue Quills First Nations University
• Bow Valley College
• Keyano College
• Lakeland College
• Lethbridge College
• MacEwan University
• Maskwacis Cultural College
• Medicine Hat College
• Metro Continuing Education, Edmonton Public Schools
• Mount Royal University
• NorQuest College
• Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)
• Northern Lakes College
• Northwestern Polytechnic
• Old Sun Community College
• Portage College
• Red Deer Polytechnic
• Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
• St Mary’s University
• University of Calgary
• Yellowhead Tribal College

Confirm Your Learning is Transferable

Before you sign up for a program or course, make sure it’s transferable to your new post-secondary program of study by:

• Using the Transfer Alberta Search tool
• Contacting the post-secondary institution you want to attend