Ontario Secondary School Diploma

The following requirements must be successfully completed in order to obtain an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD):

What you need to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma depends on the year you started Grade 9.

If you started Grade 9 in 2023 or in prior years, you must earn:

• 18  compulsory credits
• 12 optional credits
• the literacy requirement
• at least 2 online learning credits

If you started Grade 9 in 2024 or in later years you must earn:

• 17 compulsory credits
• 13 optional credits
• the literacy requirement
• at least 2 online learning credits

Everyone needs 40 hours of community involvement activities (volunteering) to get their high school diploma.

If you started Grade 9 in or before Fall 2023

If you started Grade 9 in 2023 or earlier, you need the following to get your OSSD.

Compulsory credits

You need the following 18 compulsory credits to get your OSSD:

• 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)
• 3 credits in mathematics (at least 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)
• 3 credits for group 1, 2 and 3 courses (1 credit in each group)
• 2 credits in science
• 1 credit in Canadian history (Grade 10)
• 1 credit in Canadian geography (Grade 9)
• 1 credit in the arts
• 1 credit in health and physical education
• 1 credit in French as a second language
• 0.5 credit in career studies
• 0.5 credit in civics and citizenship

The following also apply to 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.

Group 1, 2 and 3 compulsory credits

Of the 18 compulsory credits, you must complete 1 from each of the following groups:

Group 1

• English (including the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course) 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

The following conditions apply to compulsory credit selections from the above 3 groups.

• In groups 1, 2, and 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 have taken 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 compulsory credit requirement for French as a second language.
• You can count a maximum of 2 credits in cooperative education as compulsory credits from any of the above 3 groups.

The Langue des signes québécoise langue seconde course is only available in French-language schools.

Optional credits

You must earn 12 optional credits 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.

If you started Grade 9 in Fall 2024 and after

If you started Grade 9 in 2024 or in later years, you need the following to get your OSSD.

Compulsory credits

You need the following 17 compulsory credits to get your OSSD:

• 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)
• 3 credits in mathematics (Grade 9, Grade 10 and 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)
• 2 credits in science
• 1 credit in technological education (Grade 9 or Grade 10)
• 1 credit in Canadian history (Grade 10)
• 1 credit in Canadian geography (Grade 9)
• 1 credit in the arts
• 1 credit in health and physical education
• 1 credit in French as a second language
• 0.5 credit in career studies
• 0.5 credit in civics and citizenship
• 1 credit from the STEM-related course group

The following apply to 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.

STEM-related course group

Of the 17 compulsory credits, you must complete 1 from the following group:

• business studies
• computer studies
• cooperative education
• mathematics (in addition to the 3 compulsory credits currently required)
• science (in addition to the 2 compulsory credits currently required)
• technological education (in addition to the 1 compulsory credit required)

Optional credits

You must earn 13 optional credits 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.

Literacy graduation 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 literacy graduation requirement. Contact your school principal to find out about these options.

Online learning graduation requirement

If you started Grade 9 in the 2020-21 school year or later, you must earn at least 2 online learning credits to get your high school diploma.

Credits earned during COVID-19

If you were in Grade 9 and learning remotely when all schools were closed (from April 2021 to June 2021), you can count 1 of the high school credits you earned towards the 2 online learning credits you need to graduate.

Opting out

If you want to opt out of the online graduation requirement you must be:

• 18 years of age or older
• 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 available from your school board.

Otherwise, your parent or guardian needs to ask for this exemption by completing the form for you.

Community involvement activities

You need to have at least 40 hours of community involvement activities (volunteering) to graduate and earn your OSSD.

You can start collecting volunteer hours in the summer before you begin Grade 9.

When looking for volunteer opportunities:

• make sure you know which activities qualify in your school board and meet the Ministry of Education’s guidelines
• check your school board’s website for:
  • eligible and ineligible activities
  • tools to help you record hours and find volunteer activities
• ask your principal or guidance counsellor for more information

If you’re under 18, ask your parents to help you plan and select your activities. Talk with your guidance counsellor or principal about other ways your school can help you earn community involvement hours.

Volunteering in your community helps you learn about civic engagement and understand your role as a citizen. By being involved in your community and serving others, you:

• develop transferable skills
• explore different sectors and potential career opportunities
• understand more about yourself and your role in society

Learn more about getting your high school volunteer hours.