• Ontario Ministry-Inspected • OSSD Official Credits • Certified Instructors • Evening & Weekend Sessions • Flexible Scheduling • Small Class Sizes • Ontario Ministry-Inspected • OSSD Official Credits • Certified Instructors • Evening & Weekend Sessions • Flexible Scheduling • Small Class Sizes

OSSD Diploma

Two Pathways, One Diploma

What you need to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) depends on the year you started Grade 9. Students who started Grade 9 in 2023 or earlier follow one set of requirements, while students who started in 2024 or later follow an updated set. Every student, regardless of pathway, needs 40 hours of community involvement to graduate.

Credit Requirements

18/17

Compulsory Credits (by pathway)

12/13

Optional Credits (by pathway)

Hours of Community Involvement

Online Learning Credits

Choose Your Pathway

When Did You Start Grade 9?

Select your cohort below to see the exact credits you need to earn your OSSD.

OSSD Credit Requirements

English

1 credit per grade (9–12)

Mathematics

At least 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12

Group 1, 2 & 3 Courses

1 credit from each group – see below

Science

Canadian History

Grade 10

Canadian Geography

Grade 9

The Arts

Health & Physical Education

French as a Second Language

0.5

Career Studies

0.5

Civics & Citizenship

OSSD Credit Requirements - 2024 or Later

English

1 credit per grade (9–12)

Mathematics

Grades 9, Grade 10, and 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12

Science

Technological Education

Grade 9 or Grade 10

Canadian History

Grade 10

Canadian Geography

Grade 9

The Arts

Health & Physical Education

French as a Second Language

0.5

Career Studies

0.5

Civics & Citizenship

STEM-Related Course

1 credit from the STEM group – see below

Notes on Compulsory Credit Selections

You can use the Grade 11 English: Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Métis and Inuit Voices course to meet the Grade 11 English compulsory credit requirement.
You can use the Grade 9 Expressions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Cultures course to meet the compulsory credit requirement in the Arts.
English language learners may count up to 3 credits in ESL or ELD towards the 4 compulsory English credits. Your fourth credit must be a Grade 12 compulsory English course.

Group 1

English (incl. OSSLC) or French as a Second Language
Native languages
First Nations, Métis, and Inuit studies
Classical studies and international languages
Social sciences and the humanities
Canadian and world studies
Guidance and career education
Cooperative education
American Sign Language as a second language
Langue des signes québécoise langue seconde

Group 2

Health and physical education
The arts
Business studies
French as a second language
Cooperative education
American Sign Language as a second language
Langue des signes québécoise langue seconde

Group 3

Science (Grade 11 or 12)
Technological education
French as a second language
Computer studies
Cooperative education
American Sign Language as a second language
Langue des signes québécoise langue seconde

Conditions for Groups 1, 2 & 3

You can count a maximum of 2 credits in French as a second language as compulsory credits — 1 from Group 1 and 1 from either Group 2 or Group 3.
If you took Native languages in place of French as a second language in elementary school, you may use a Level 1 or 2 Native languages course to meet the FSL compulsory credit requirement.
You can count a maximum of 2 credits in cooperative education as compulsory credits from any of the 3 groups.
The Langue des signes québécoise langue seconde course is only available in French-language schools.

Optional Credits

Earned by successfully completing courses from your school's program and course calendar. Optional credits may include up to 4 credits earned through approved dual credit programs.

Graduation Requirement

Literacy Requirement

You must meet the literacy graduation requirement to earn your high school diploma. For most students, this means passing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). If you do not pass the OSSLT, there are other ways to meet the requirement, such as taking the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OLC4O).

Graduation Requirement

Online Learning Requirement

If you started Grade 9 in the 2020–2021 school year or later, you must earn at least 2 online learning credits to get your high school diploma.

Opting Out

✓ You are 18 years of age or older, or
✓ You are 16 or 17 years of age and have withdrawn from your parent or guardian's control.
✓ If you meet this requirement, you can complete the exemption form yourself. Otherwise, your parent or guardian needs to request the exemption by completing the form for you.

Hours of Community Involvement

Volunteer Hours

Community Involvement Activities

Every student needs at least 40 hours of community involvement activities (volunteering) to graduate and earn their OSSD. You can start collecting volunteer hours in the summer before you begin Grade 9.

✓ Make sure you know which activities qualify and meet the Ministry of Education's guidelines.
✓ Check with your Guidance Counsellor for eligible and ineligible activities.
✓ Your Guidance Counsellor also has tools to help you record hours and find volunteer activities.

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