Alberta Distance Learning Centre offers an adult upgrading program, so students can complete the courses required for either an Alberta High School Diploma or the High School Equivalency Diploma at home, without quitting their jobs. Alberta Distance Learning Centre offers all of the courses required for both the Alberta High School Diploma and the High School Equivalency Diploma.  Our high school credit upgrading courses can be completed online or by distance learning.

Our counsellors can help students decide when distance learning and online courses are a good option.  Our academic counsellors can also help students determine the courses necessary to graduate. Graduation Requirements and a planning chart are available on the Alberta Distance Learning Centre website. An academic counsellor can be phoned toll-free from inside Canada by dialing 1-866-774-5333. 

Many adults are taking our courses because they are changing careers, are completing high school, or are taking courses again to improve their marks.

Students who have been out of school two or more years are strongly encouraged to write Mathematics and English Placement Exercises before registering in Math or English courses or before registering in courses requiring strong Math or English skills.  We recommend that students who are needing to upgrade their courses and completed any of the following courses complete a Placement Exercise:

• Math 16, Math 26
• Math 10, Math 20, Math 30
• Math 13, Math 23, Math 33
• Math 10 Pure, Math 20 Pure
• Math 10 Applied, Math 20 Applied
• English 16, English 26, English 36
• English 13, English 23, English 33
• English 10, English 20, English 30 

Free Placement Exercises are on our website, from which they can be printed then completed and faxed to 780-674-4712 or mailed to ADLC for evaluation.

Adult students are able to register in courses for which they can demonstrate they have the skills required to be successful.  The Elementary School courses (Grades 1 to 6) Alberta Distance Learning Centre offers are designed for Elementary School children, not for mature adult students.  Adults may consider the topics and illustrations covered in our Elementary School courses to be juvenile.

Students planning to attend a college or university must contact the college or university they are considering to determine the high school courses required.  Links to many of the major colleges and universitiesin Canada are on our Canadian Colleges and Universities page.

Alberta students wanting to learn what they need to take to graduate may need to obtain a transcript or a statement of courses and marks. Obtaining either a transcript or a statement of courses and marks is easier when students know their Alberta Student Number (Alberta Education ID number).  Students can obtain their Alberta Student Number on the Learner Registry pages of Alberta Education's website. When on the Learner Registry page, students can click on Look Up ASN to access their Alberta Student Number.

When students have their Alberta Student Numbers, they can go to the Request Documents pageof Alberta Education's website. The Request Documents page outlines the cost of an official transcript and has order forms that can be printed from the web site, completed, and faxed or mailed to the Transcripts Unit of Alberta Education. A statement of courses and marks can be requested also. Although a statement of courses and marks is not an official transcript and is not acceptable to apply to colleges and universities, the statement of courses and marks shows all courses and credits completed. The statement of courses and marks is free and can be used to plan how to complete your High School Diploma. To print a request form for a statement of courses and marks, click here.

The high school requirements for graduation changed several times between the late 1980s and the early 1990s. Students who started high school in or before the 1993-1994 school year should contact our high school counsellor for graduation requirements. A counsellor can be phoned toll-free from inside Canada at 1-866-774-5333.

Because adult students often have a pressing combination of job and families duties, we recommend registering in only one or two courses at a time.  Students obtaining public funding may find the funding agency restricts the registration time to a 5-month period.  Completing two 5-credit courses in 5 months would require students to spend about 20 hours a week on their studies.  Students completing one 5-credit course in 5 months would need to devote about 10 hours a week to their studies.

Alberta Diplomas

Two types of diplomas are available to mature students: the Alberta High School Diploma and the High School Equivalency Diploma. The Alberta High School Diploma is more academic and more readily accepted by post-secondary institutions than the High School Equivalency Diploma.

The High School Equivalency Diploma can be obtained in two ways. First, a combination of High School credits, credits for maturity and life experiences, and credits for adult education to complete the requirements for the High School Equivalency Diploma. A student may receive up to 15 credits for maturity, 5 credits for extensive travel, and 5 credits for extensive personal studies toward the High School Equivalency Diploma. Credits for maturity, travel, personal studies, and adult education courses cannot be applied toward the regular Alberta High School Diploma. Requirements for the High School Equivalency Diploma can be found on the Alberta Education website.

Second, the High School Equivalency Diploma can be obtained by passing the General Educational Development (GED) exam. Information about the GED exam format, the kinds of the questions on the GED exams, and GED writing centers can be found on the Alberta Education website.

Passing the GED exam is a fast way to complete a High School Equivalency Diploma. Colleges, universities, and technical institutes generally require specific High School courses and competitive grades in those courses. The GED does not require High School courses, so it is usually not acceptable for entrance to Alberta colleges, universities, or technical institutes. Any students thinking of completing the GED as a way of entering a post-secondary institution must check with the college or university they are wanting to attend to determine if the GED is acceptable.

Some students needing to complete High School to geta new job or a promotion choose to complete the High School Equivalency Diploma because completing the Equivalency Diploma is usually a little faster than completing the Alberta High School Diploma.