Adult Upgrading
Start where you are. Learn your way.
What's Adult Upgrading?
Adult Upgrading helps you complete or improve high school-level courses so you can move forward—into college, skilled trades, university transfer or a new career. Our programs and courses are offered throughout the year at all of our campuses.
Benefits of Adult Upgrading
- Tuition-free and no application fee
- Support for school supplies, partial travel costs, and unsubsidized childcare through the Adult Upgrading Grant
- Flexible course formats and schedules
- Supportive faculty and learning environment
- Conditional and guaranteed admission options — finish a required course and secure your spot in an OC program
How it works, step-by-step
1. Apply online (it’s free!)
2. Complete the skills assessment (we'll notify you about this via email)
Pre-requisites must have been completed in the last 5 years. If this is not the case, you will need to take a skills assessment.
Students can complete upgrading skills assessments in 2-3 hours.
Practice Math skills assessment
3. Choose your courses
4. Attend your way: in person or online in real time
5. Get in-person help anytime at a campus Learner Lab
6. Continue your education into an OC program
Program at a glance
Certificates/Diploma
Fundamental Level Certificate
This level is for students wishing to improve their basic skills or to prepare for the Intermediate Level program.
Intermediate Level Certificate
This level prepares students for the Advanced Level program or for entry into post-secondary programs that have an admission requirement of Grade 10 or equivalent.
Advanced Level Certificate
This level prepares students for the Provincial Level and, with completion of English 012, for entry into many post-secondary programs that have an admission requirement of Grade 12 or equivalent.
Provincial Level Diploma
This is the highest level of the Adult Basic Education program and requires rigorous study. The Provincial Level prepares students for admission to post-secondary programs. The student who completes this level is eligible for a British Columbia Adult Graduation Diploma. Students should consult an Educational Advisor and carefully select their courses if they plan further study at the post-secondary level.
English courses available in Fall 2025/Winter 2026
Students must have completed the prerequisites for English courses within the five years prior to the start date for the ABE English course in which they wish to register. Any student not meeting this requirement will be required to write the AU English skills assessment. An interview may also be conducted to help determine the appropriate level.
Fundamental
- English 40 (41/42)
- English 50 (51/52)
- English 60 (61/62)
Intermediate
- English 70 (71/72)
Advanced
- English 80 (81/82)
Provincial
- English 12
Science courses available in Fall 2025/Winter 2026
Students must have completed the prerequisites for English and Math courses within the five years prior to the start date for the ABE Science course in which they wish to register. Any student not meeting this requirement will be required to write the AU English and Math skills assessment.
- Biology 11 and Biology 12
- Chemistry 11 and Chemistry 12
- Physics 11 and Physics 12
Math courses available in Fall 2025/Winter 2026
Students must have completed the prerequisites for Math courses within the five years prior to the start date for the ABE mathematics course in which they wish to register. Any student not meeting this requirement will be required to write a mathematics skills assessment to determine their readiness to enter their desired course.
Self-paced courses:
Fundamental
- Math 40 (41/42)
- Math 50 (51/52)
- Math 60 (61/62)
Intermediate/Developmental
- Math 70 (71/72)
- Math 80 (84/85)
Instructor-led courses:
Developmental (equivalent to Math 080 - Instructor led)
- Introductory Algebra 11
Advanced
- Math 11
Provincial
- Math 12
The Adult Upgrading program is tuition-free
There’s no cost to apply or attend. Students may qualify for additional support through the Adult Upgrading Grant, which helps with:
- Books and supplies
- Patial transportation costs
- Unsubsidized childcare costs
FAQ
We offer courses in subjects including english, math, biology, chemistry, and physics. These courses can help you meet the admission requirements for college and university programs.
Yes! You can take as many or as few courses as you need. Many students take one course to meet a specific requirement or upgrade a skill.
That’s okay—and you're not alone. Our instructors and advisors are here to support you every step of the way. We’ll help you build confidence and feel comfortable getting back into learning.
With our new Multi-Access Delivery Model, you can choose to join your classes in person or live online—whatever works best for your life. Either way, the course content and support are the same.
The Learner Lab is an on-campus instructional space where you can get extra help with your coursework or complete your coursework. It’s staffed by instructors who are there to answer questions, explain assignments, and help you stay on track. Learner Labs are available at all four of our campuses (Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon and Salmon Arm).
There’s no tuition or application fee, and many students qualify for the Adult Upgrading Grant (AUG), which can help cover the cost of books, supplies, partial transportation and even childcare.
Our advising team can help you figure out which courses are right for your goals—whether you’re planning to move into a trades program, apply to university, or explore a new career path.
Please contact an education advisor or visit the Registrar's Office for registration assistance.
Everyone. Our students come from all age groups and backgrounds—some are parents, some are working full-time, and many are returning to education later in life. Everyone is welcome.
Many students continue into OC programs like Health Care Assistant, Early Childhood Education, Business, Culinary, Trades, and more. In fact, 90 per cent of our Adult Upgrading students go on to other OC programs. In fact, we offer conditional and guaranteed admission options — finish a required course and secure your spot in an OC program!
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