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Adult Upgrading

Courses designed for adult learners in a wide range of backgrounds to fit the needs of educational upgrading. Courses fill the requirements of the B.C. Adult Graduation diploma as well as various prerequisites for admission to post-secondary programs.

 

 

 

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Campus

  • Kelowna
  • Vernon
  • Penticton
  • Salmon Arm
  • Revelstoke
View schedule and campus details
Legend:
  • Full program offered
  • Partial program offered

Credential

Other

Delivery options

Full-Time, Part-Time

Tuition and fees

Free - see department for details

Program details

The Adult Upgrading (AU) department offers Adult Basic Education (ABE) courses for adult learners with a wide range of backgrounds and needs for educational upgrading. Courses provide students with basic literacy skills, prerequisites for admission to post-secondary programs, and requirements for the B.C. Adult Graduation Diploma. Support services are available for students with disabilities.


Adult Basic Education (ABE) Program
The Adult Upgrading (AU) department offers four Adult Basic Education certificate programs:

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.

While no specific academic background is required, students entering some Adult Basic Education courses may be required to complete a skills assessment if they do not meet specific course prerequisites.

Adult Basic Education prepares students for a range of further studies. Students can earn certificates at the fundamental, intermediate, advanced and provincial levels. These certificates prepare students to meet the requirements of specific College programs; check the Calendar for which admission requirements are needed for your desired program.

Start dates vary depending on where you would like to study. Some English and Math classes have continuous intakes, so you can register at any time.

Campus Start date Schedule
Kelowna Flexible

September-December, 2024

Kelowna Flexible January-April 2024.
Penticton Flexible

September-December, 2024

Penticton Flexible January-April 2024
Vernon Flexible

September-December, 2024

Vernon Flexible January-April 2024
Salmon Arm Jan. 08, 2024
Revelstoke Jan. 08, 2024
Salmon Arm Sep. 04, 2024
Revelstoke Sep. 04, 2024

Admission requirements


  • Canadian citizen, permanent resident, landed immigrant, or student authorization issued by Immigration Canada.
  • Age Requirement:
    • Applicants must: be at least 19 years of age, or 18 years of age and have been out of the public school system for at least 12 months, or have a senior secondary graduation diploma.
    • Or, any applicant not meeting these requirements must be recommended for admission by a secondary school principal or counsellor and be referred to the Adult Upgrading Underage Committee of the campus which the applicant wishes to attend. The Committee will interview the applicant who will be admitted only if recommended by the Committee and space is available.
  • All students entering any Fundamental Level English or Basic Literacy course for the first time are required to complete an individual admission interview with a Fundamental Level English instructor as a prerequisite. Prospective students should contact the Fundamental Level English instructor or the Volunteer Literacy Tutoring Program Coordinator at the receiving ¹û½´ÊÓƵ campus to arrange an admission interview before registration.
  • ABE Mathematics Courses Admission Prerequisites: 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. An interview may also be conducted to help determine the appropriate level.
  • ABE Science Courses Admission Prerequisites: 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. An interview may also be conducted to help determine the appropriate level.
  • ABE English Courses Admission Prerequisites: 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.

Program outline

Notes

See Specializations for levels available.
Hours of Study: Both day and evening classes may be offered, Monday through Friday. Adult Upgrading full-time students are those enrolled in three or more courses, or receiving 15 hours or more of instruction per week, or enrolled in a two-month Spring or Summer semester course requiring 96 hours or more of instruction.

Program specializations

Total of Four subjects required
Complete All of the following:
Two subjects required:
ENGL 070 - English 070
or both
ENGL 071 - English 071
ENGL 072 - English 072
and both
MATH 071 - Mathematics 071
MATH 072 - Mathematics 072
or both
MATH 071 - Mathematics 071
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Plus two (2) from the following list:
COST 070 - Computer Studies 070
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SOST 070 - Social Studies 070
Four subjects are required in total.
Complete All of the following:
One from list below
ENGL 080 - English 080
or both
ENGL 081 - English 081
ENGL 082 - English 082
Plus one from List A, a minimum of one and a maximum of two from List B, and (if needed) a maximum of one from List C:
Complete All of the following:
List A:
IALG 011 - Introductory Algebra 011
or both
MATH 084 - Mathematics 084
MATH 085 - Mathematics 085
or both
MATH 084 - Mathematics 084
MATH 086 - Mathematics 086
or both
MATH 084 - Mathematics 084
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MATH 011 - Pre-Calculus 11
List B:
BIOL 011 - Biology: Life Sciences 011
CHEM 011 - Chemistry 011
COST 011 - Computer Studies 011
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PHYS 011 - Physics 011
List C:
COMP 011 - Composition 011
SOST 011 - Social Studies 011
Complete All of the following:
Five subjects required
Advanced Level Mathematics or Higher
ENGL 012 - English 012
Complete at least 3 of the following:
BIOL 012 - Biology: Anatomy and Physiology 012
CHEM 012 - Chemistry 012
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COST 012 - Computer Studies 012
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GEOG 012 - Geography 012
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LAW 012 - Law 012
MATH 012 - Pre-Calculus12
PHYS 012 - Physics 012
SOST 011 - Social Studies 011
PSYC 012 - Psychology 012
Additional information

View the official Calendar details and policies
Learn more about the department
View the Tuition and fees page

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