Secondary (high) school diploma or equivalency certificate of person

Status: This standard was approved as a departmental standard on May 26, 2021.

Definition

Secondary (high) school diploma or equivalency certificate refers to whether or not a person has completed a high school or secondary school diploma, graduation certificate, or equivalency certificate. Secondary school (high school) diploma or graduation certificate includes academic or vocational high school diplomas or certificates as may be obtained by graduating from a secondary school. High school equivalency certificate includes the successful completion of a high school equivalency test such as the General Educational Development (GED) test, or obtaining an Adult Basic Education (ABE) certificate where it is equivalent to the completion of secondary school.

Person refers to an individual and is the unit of analysis for most social statistics programs.

Usage

This variable is used to divide the population into those who have and those who have not completed high school (secondary school). If other educational qualifications above high school are held, this variable may also indicate the highest additional certificate, diploma or degree.

Persons who obtained trades qualifications from secondary level vocational training programs in the province of Quebec - such as the Diplôme d'études professionnelles/Diploma of Vocational Studies (DEP/DVS) - are typically included as 'apprenticeship or trades certificates.' Alternatively, they may be included as 'high school diploma or equivalency certificate.' The usage applied in the study should be specified.

Conformity to relevant internationally recognized standards

There are no relevant internationally recognized standards.

Classifications

Relation to previous version

  • Secondary (high) school diploma or equivalency certificate of person May 26, 2021 to current

    The wording of the definition of secondary (high) school diploma or equivalency certificate has been slightly modified, but the meaning is unchanged. The structure of the Classification of combinations of certificates, diplomas and degrees awarded has been slightly modified by adding the aggregate category 'With high school diploma or equivalency certificate, with postsecondary certificate or diploma below bachelor level.'

  • Secondary (high) school diploma or equivalency certificate of person April 07, 2016 to May 25, 2021

    This standard replaces the recommended standard 'Secondary (high) school diploma or equivalent of person'. The definition now specifically includes high school equivalency certificates, and provides more detail regarding what is included as a high school diploma or equivalency certificate. The standard also includes a new classification showing the completion of a high school diploma or equivalency certificate.

  • Secondary (high) school diploma or equivalent of person June 26, 2013 to April 06, 2016

    This standard was replaced by the 'Secondary (high) school diploma or equivalency certificate of person' as of April 7, 2016.

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