Graduation Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma Requirements

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

30 credits including 18 compulsory credits and 12 optional credits*
40 hours of community involvement
Successful completion of the EQAO Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) or the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OLC)

Compulsory credits

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

4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)*
3 credits in Mathematics (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 Career Studies
0.5 credit in Civics

Plus one credit from each of the following groups:

Group 1: 1 additional credit in English, or French as a Second Language,** or a Native language, or a Classical or an International language, or Social Sciences and the Humanities, or Canadian and World Studies, or Guidance and Career Education, or Cooperative Education***
Group 2: 1 additional credit in Health and Physical Education, or the Arts, or Business Studies, or French as a Second Language,** or Cooperative Education***
Group 3: 1 additional credit in Science (Grade 11 or 12), or Technological Education, or French as a Second Language,** or Computer Studies, or Cooperative Education***

* A maximum of 3 credits in English as a second language (ESL) or English Literacy Development (ELD) may be counted towards the 4 compulsory credits in English, but the fourth must be a credit earned for a Grade 12 compulsory English course.

** In groups 1, 2 and 3, a maximum of 2 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.

*** A maximum of 2 credits in Cooperative Education can count as compulsory credits.

The 12 optional credits may include up to 4 credits earned through approved dual credit courses.

Optional Courses

In addition to the compulsory credits, 12 optional credits are required. Elective credits are selected by the student based on individual interests and goals. Parents, counsellors, teachers and administrators can help the student make a wise selection.

Community Involvement

As part of the diploma requirements, each student must make a positive contribution to the well-being of the community. The community involvement consists of student self-directed activities of at least 40 hours which must be completed before graduation. The activities must occur outside normal instructional hours.

The purpose of the community involvement is to promote community values by:

helping students understand how they can make a positive difference in their environment
having students demonstrate their integrity
having students contribute to their community
increasing student awareness of community needs
discovering the role students can play in making their communities better places in which to live and work
developing a positive self-image and a greater sense of identity in the community
providing a possibility for exploring career opportunities

Since September 1999, all students in Ontario have been required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement as part of the secondary school diploma requirements.

Please NOTE: Students with special needs may be permitted accommodations provided they have an Individual Education Plan (IEP).

Certificate Requirements

The Ontario Secondary School Certificate

The Ontario Secondary School Certificate will be granted on request to students who leave school before earning the Ontario Secondary School Diploma provided that they have earned a minimum of 14 credits distributed as follows:

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 The provisions for making substitutions for compulsory credits also apply to the Ontario Secondary School Certificate.

The Certificate of Accomplishment

Students who leave school before fulfilling the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma or the Ontario Secondary School Certificate may be granted a Certificate of Accomplishment. The Certificate of Accomplishment may be a useful means of recognizing achievement for students who plan to take certain adaptive programs, or other kinds of additional training, or who plan to find employment after leaving school.

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