“How do I get into a university or college?” “What do I need to get a job?” “How do I show that I’ve had a good high school education through home schooling?” These are common questions that arise when considering high school at home.
Home educated students can take many paths through high school, with differing types of final credentials. A student might consider one or several of the options presented below.
Always research the sort of credentials you will need in the future, in order to assist in planning out a high school education that will meet your individual needs and goals. Your facilitator and our high school advisor are available to assist you in planning a path forward, and choosing an option that best suits your unique education.
Potential credentials a student might consider include (click on any for more information):
- High School Portfolio
- Parent Verified & School Certified Transcript of High School Marks
- WISDOM Diploma or Certificate of High School Completion
- CLT (Classic Learning Test)
- GED (General Educational Development)
- SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test)
- ACT (American College Testing)
- Post-Secondary Entrance Exams (specific to the institution)
- Alberta High School Credits & Transcript
- Alberta High School Diploma
High School Portfolio
Portfolios continue to be a strong credential for home educated students. Having a document that says the student has acquired specific knowledge and skills is good, but a portfolio will show how that student has acquired specific knowledge and skills.
WISDOM strongly recommends that every student develop a high school portfolio. There are benefits to having a portfolio in conjunction with any other credential you pursue.
For more information on creating a portfolio, click here.
Benefits:
- Accepted by some post-secondary institutions with an interview.
- Accepted by many employers
- Offers support to any other credential obtained.
- Specific record of the individual student’s work and skills
Limitations:
- Insufficient evidence for some institutions
- Insufficient for some employers
Parent Verified & School Certified Transcript of High School Marks
A Parent Verified Transcript (or Summary of High School Marks / Home Education Record) is an official document containing a table of subjects with corresponding marks or grades of the student’s high school year, as verified by the parents.
This provides parents and students with a personal record of high school achievement which can be used with various post secondary institutions or businesses that require a transcript of high school marks.
Benefits:
- Indicates completion of High School and readiness to enter the adult world
- Specific record of the individual student’s work on a student transcript
- Accepted by some post-secondary institutions
- Accepted by many employers
Limitations:
- Insufficient evidence for some institutions
- Insufficient for some employers
WISDOM Diploma or Certificate of High School Completion
Each home education student who successfully completes high school at home will have achieved the learning outcomes as determined by the parents and approved by the WISDOM facilitator. This student qualifies to receive a WISDOM diploma or a parent authorized Certificate of High School Completion which is an official recognition of high school completion.
Benefits:
- Indicates completion of High School and readiness to enter the adult world
- Accepted by some post-secondary institutions
- Accepted by many employers
Limitations:
- Insufficient evidence for some institutions
- Insufficient for some employers
CLT (Classic Learning Test)
CLT offers assessment tests that suit traditional home educated students. Featuring passages selected from great works across a variety of disciplines, the CLT suite of assessments provide a highly accurate and rigorous measure of reasoning, aptitude, and academic formation for students from diverse educational backgrounds. The exams are taken online in two to three hours.
The CLT provides colleges and secondary schools with detailed information about student learning trends to facilitate decisions about admissions, curricula, and instruction. The CLT may be used in grades 8 and 10 to measure student progress, and in grade 12 as a final assessment. A number of post-secondary institutions offer scholarships to students who use the CLT. WISDOM students receive a special discount on CLT test fees.
Click here to view test dates and register for CLT tests
Benefits:
- Access to many colleges and universities
- Potential consideration for specific scholarships
- Provides comprehensive student assessment
- Tests are designed with homeschoolers in mind
- Tests are taken at home at a time chosen by family
- Tests are discounted for WISDOM students
Limitations:
- May not allow direct access to the program you have selected; additional research is required
GED (General Educational Development)
The GED is a High School Equivalency Diploma that requires that an individual write and pass the 5 General Educational Development (GED) tests. This can be a good option for home educated students who have followed a unique education method that are seeking to get into the trades, a polytechnic program, or those who need to have certain credentials for some college and university programs.
The 5 GED Tests include:
- Test 1: Language Arts – Writing Test (Part I and Part II)
- Test 2: Social Studies
- Test 3: Science
- Test 4: Language Arts – Reading Test:
- Test 5: Mathematics (Part I and Part II)
To receive a High School Equivalency Diploma by writing GED tests, a person must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Have been out of school for at least 10 consecutive months
- Pass all five tests in the General Educational Development (GED) test battery, with a standard score of 450 or better for each tests
- Have an Alberta Student Number
GED writing centres can be found across the province. Please click here for more information on writing centres, or visit ged.com for general information, practice tests, study materials, and test previews.
Benefits:
- Access to trade schools and college programs
- You may achieve the diploma while using supplemented home education curriculum
Limitations:
- May not allow direct access to University
- Time spent fulfilling requirements & writing provincial exams
SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test)
The purpose of the SAT is to measure a high school student's readiness for college, and to provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants. Used primarily for American colleges and universities, it is also accepted at most Canadian institutions.
Benefits:
- Access to many colleges and universities
- Potential consideration for specific scholarships
- Free digital SAT prep resources available through Khan Academy
Limitations:
- SAT tests offered in limited locations (Click here for more info)
- May not allow direct access to the program you have selected; additional research is required
ACT (American College Testing)
The ACT is the leading U.S. university admissions test, measuring what students learn in high school to determine academic readiness for university. It may be used for access to American programs, as well as over 200 additional institutions worldwide.
Benefits:
- Access to many colleges and universities
- Potential consideration for specific scholarships
Limitations:
- May not allow direct access to the program you have selected; additional research is required
Post-Secondary Entrance Exams
Many programs and post-secondary institutions have their own entrance exams for student admission. This can be a good option for home educated students who have followed a unique education suited to their needs, but do not have specific provincial course credits for admission requirements. Speak with an admissions coordinator of the institution of your choice to see if this is an option.
Benefits:
- Access to many colleges and universities
- Allows access to some institutions while having followed a unique home education program
Limitations:
- Entrance exams are specific to the institution they are taken in. These generally will not grant access to other institutions.
- May not allow direct access to the program you have selected; additional research is required.
- Not every institution has entrance exams; additional research is required.
Alberta High School Credits & Transcript
Alberta transcripts are used to enter post-secondary programs that require select
course marks. To gain Alberta high school credits in home education, students will need to participate in course challenges and/or gain waived prerequisite credits.
- Meet course requirements using your own home school program or Alberta Education materials.
- Work with the Subject Specialist or your Facilitator to achieve the requirements of the course. Evaluation is completed using portfolio, oral evaluation or a final exam to arrive at the school-based mark for each course being challenged.
- WISDOM registers the school-based mark and credits with AB Education.
- Student writes the Alberta Diploma exam, worth 30% of the final mark.
- The combined final mark and credits appear on the student’s AB Education transcript.
Alternative Option: Student can take up to 10 credits per year through a distance education provider rather than have the parent deliver the course. Click here for more information.
Benefits:
- Accepted by all universities and many colleges
- Use your own teaching methods and resources
- Receive Alberta credit for skills and knowledge
Limitations:
- Some trade or technical schools require an AB Diploma (ironically requiring less rigour but more detail)
- Home school resources often need to be supplemented
- Demonstrating achievement for AB Ed outcomes may leave less time for the student's other passions
Alberta High School Diploma
Students in home education have the option of obtaining the Alberta High School Diploma by achieving certain Alberta High School Credits. For this option, students will need to speak with their facilitator as early as possible and plan a course load so as to complete the following, with a minimum of 100 credits:
- English 30-1 or 30-2 (or Français 30-1 or 30-2)
- Social Studies 30-1 or 30-2
- Mathematics 20-1, 20-2 and Math 24
- Science 20 or 24, or Biology 20 or Chemistry 20 or Physics 20
- Physical Education 10 (at least 3 credits)
- Career and Life Management (at least 3 credits)
- 10 credits from CTS courses or Fine Arts, or second languages, or Phys Ed 20 or 30, or the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP currently not available to home educated students)
- Knowledge and Employability
- 10 credits in any additional 30-level courses.
- Write AB Diploma exams for a minimum of English 30 and Social Studies 30.
To gain Alberta high school credits in home education, students will need to participate in course challenges and/or gain waived prerequisite credits, and/or take distance education courses through a school. If the student is 19 as of September 1, you may choose the Mature Student option of challenging Diploma exams, worth 100% of the final mark.
Benefits:
- Access to trade schools and college programs
- You may achieve the diploma while using supplemented home education curriculum
- Accepted by many employers
Limitations:
- May not allow direct access to University
- Time spent fulfilling requirements & writing provincial exams