Ontario Secondary School Diploma Requirements

The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) is granted, on the recommendation of the Principal of the secondary school last attended, to a student who has successfully fulfilled the following requirements:

• 30 credits, including 18 compulsory credits and 12 optional credits, 

• 2 online learning credits (included in the 30 credits above),

• 40 hours of community involvement, and,

• Completion of the literacy requirement.

Compulsory Credits (total of 18)

Students must earn the following 18 compulsory credits towards their OSSD:

• 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)*,

• 3 credits in Mathematics (at least 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12),

• 2 credits in Science,

• 1 credit in Canadian History,

• 1 credit in Canadian Geography,

• 1 credit in the Arts*,

• 1 credit in Health and Physical Education,

• 1 credit in French as a Second Language,

• 0.5 credit in Civics, and,

• 0.5 credit in Career Studies.

Plus one credit from each of the following groups:

• Group 1:  English, or French as a Second Language**, or Classical or International languages, or First Nations, Métis and Inuit languages, or Canadian and World Studies, or First Nations, Métis and Inuit Studies, or Social sciences and the Humanities, or Guidance and Career Education, or Cooperative Education***.

• Group 2:  The Arts, or Business Studies, or Health and Physical Education, or French as a Second Language**, or Cooperative Education***.

• Group 3:  Science (Grade 11 or 12), or Computer Studies, or Technological Education, or French as a Second Language**, or Cooperative Education***.

Notes:

* The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC) may be used to meet the Grade 11 or 12 English compulsory credit requirement. The Grade 11 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.

** A maximum of 2 credits in French as a Second Language may count as additional compulsory credits, 1 credit from Group 1, and 1 credit from either Group 2 or Group 3.

*** A maximum of 2 credits in cooperative education may count as additional compulsory credits, selected from any of Groups 1, 2, or 3.

Optional Credits (total of 12)

In addition to the 18 compulsory credits, students have to earn 12 optional credits in courses of their choice, selected from the full list of courses available in the school. Optional credits allow students to build an educational program that suits their individual interests and meets university, college, apprenticeship, and/or workplace requirements.

The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) is granted, on the recommendation of the Principal of the secondary school last attended, to a student who has successfully fulfilled the following requirements:

• 30 credits, including 17 compulsory credits and 13 optional credits, 

• 2 online learning credits (included in the 30 credits above),

• 40 hours of community involvement,

• Completion of the literacy requirement, and

• Completion of the financial literacy requirement as part of the Grade 10 Mathematics course (for students entering grade 10 in 2026-27 or later).

Compulsory Credits (total of 17)

Students must earn the following 17 compulsory credits towards their 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 the Arts*,

• 1 credit in Canadian Geography (Grade 9),

• 1 credit in Canadian History (Grade 10),

• 1 credit in French as a Second Language**,

• 1 credit in Health and Physical Education,

• 0.5 credit in Civics and Citizenship, 

• 0.5 credit in Career Studies, and

• 1 credit in Technological Education (Grade 9 or 10).

Plus one additional credit from a subject in the STEM-related group:

• Business Studies

• Computer Studies

• Cooperative Education

• Mathematics (in addition to the 3 compulsory credits required)

• Science (in addition to the 2 compulsory credits required)

• Technological Education (in addition to the 1 compulsory credit required)

Notes:

* The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC) may be used to meet the Grade 11 or 12 English compulsory credit requirement. The Grade 11 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.

** 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 as the compulsory credit for French as a second language.

Optional Credits (total of 13)

In addition to the 17 compulsory credits, students have to earn 13 optional credits in courses of their choice, selected from the full list of courses available in the school. Optional credits allow students to build an educational program that suits their individual interests and meets university, college, apprenticeship, and/or workplace requirements.