Grade 12 Equivalency - What does it mean?



Many of the trade descriptions in the About Trades section of apprenticesearch.com refer to entry criteria for the various trades as follows: Grade 12 or equivalent. What exactly does ‘equivalent’ mean? How can you achieve this?

You can obtain an Ontario High School Equivalency Certificate – recognized by the Ministry of Education as equivalent to a high school diploma – by enrolling in the General Educational Development (GED) Testing Program.

The program is designed for adults 19 years or older who may

  • Be unable to return to day or night school for years of study;
  • Want or need to improve their opportunities for obtaining a job, a promotion or further education beyond high school;
  • Want to feel better about themselves;
  • Want to prepare themselves for future skills and apprenticeship training.

If you are interested in learning more about the GED Testing Program, call The Centre for Skills Development & Training at 905-333-3499 or 905-878-1204, ext. 110 or visit the GED website at www.ged.on.ca. 

The Centre will likely ask you to attend a GED Orientation Session that will explain High School Equivalency, indicate requirements of candidates, including applicable fees, and outline the program and the application process. At a later point you will also complete a Competencies Profile Assessment (CPA) that will be used to evaluate your skills and experience and provide guidance in areas that may require strengthening. 

With your current skills and knowledge you may be ready to write the GED tests immediately. If not, experienced instructors will instruct and coach you in different areas based on the CPA and help you prepare to write the official GED test.

GED graduates pass a series of tests in core high school curriculum areas – writing, social studies, science, literature and the arts, and mathematics. The Ontario High School Equivalency Certificate is issued to you by the Ontario Ministry of Education and Training upon successful completion of the program.

Don’t let lack of a High School diploma prevent you from taking further skills training, obtaining an apprenticeship, or progressing in your present job…look into it now!