One component of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) graduation requirements is the accumulation of 30 credits (18 compulsory and 12 optional). A breakdown of the credits is listed below.

Compulsory credits

Students must earn the following 18 compulsory credits to get their Ontario Secondary School Diploma:

• 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

Group 1, 2 and 3 compulsory credits

Of the 18 compulsory credits, students must complete one 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 three groups:

• In groups 1, 2, and 3, a maximum of two credits in French as a second language can count as compulsory credits, one from group 1 and one from either group 2 or group 3.

  • Students who have taken Native languages in place of French as a second language in elementary school may use a Level 1 or 2 Native languages course to meet the compulsory credit requirement for French as a second language.

• A maximum of two credits in cooperative education can count as compulsory credits, selected from any of the above three groups.

• The Grade 11 English: Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Métis and Inuit Voices course may be used to meet the Grade 11 English compulsory credit requirement.

• The Grade 9 Expressions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Cultures course may be used to meet the compulsory credit requirement in the arts.

Optional credits

Students must earn 12 optional credits by successfully completing courses offered in their school’s program and course calendar.

Optional credits may include up to four credits earned through approved dual credit programs. 

One component of the Ontario Secondary School Certificate (OSSC) graduation requirements is the accumulation of 14 credits. A breakdown of the credits is listed below.

Compulsory credits (total of 7)

• 2 credits in English

• 1 credit in Canadian geography or Canadian history

• 1 credit in mathematics

• 1 credit in science

• 1 credit in health and physical education

• 1 credit in the arts or technological education

Optional credits (total of 7)

• 7 credits selected by the student from available courses.

Literacy graduation requirement

Beginning September 2022, the literacy graduation requirement is restored and students graduating in the 2022-23 school year and beyond are required to meet this requirement.

All students must meet the secondary school literacy graduation requirement to earn their high school diploma.

For most students, this means passing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT).

Students who do not successfully complete the OSSLT have other opportunities to meet the literacy graduation requirement. 

Online learning graduation requirement

Beginning with students that entered Grade 9 in the 2020-21 school year, students must earn at least two online learning credits to get their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

The online learning graduation requirement also applies to adult learners that will be entering the Ontario secondary school system starting in 2023-24 school year.

Credits earned during COVID-19

Students can count one secondary school credit that was earned during the province wide school closures (from April 2021 to June 2021) towards the two online learning credits that they need to graduate. This applies to all Grade 9 students who were learning remotely due to the province wide school closures.

Opting out

Parents who wish to opt out or exempt their child from the online graduation requirement must complete the opt-out form available below. Exemption from the online learning graduation requirements may be requested by:

• the parent or guardian of the secondary student

• students who are 18 years of age or older

• students who are 16 or 17 years of age and have withdrawn from parental control

Process to opt out:

To opt out online:

• Parents/Guardians or Students who are 18 or older may complete this online form.

To opt out in person:

• Parents/Guardians or Students who are 18 or older can download, print and sign the Opt-Out Form and take it to the school office.

• Parents/Guardians or Students who are 18 or older  can obtain an Opt-Out Form from the school office.  Sign it and return it to the school.

To opt back in

• Contact the school office by telephone