Ontario Secondary School Diploma

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

  • 30 credits including
  • 18 compulsory credits
  • 12 optional credits
  • 40 hours of community involvement
  • successful completion of the EQAO Ontario Secondary School literacy Test (OSSLT)

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

  • 4 credits in English ( 1 per grade)
  • 3 credits in Math
  • 2 credits is 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:

  • English or French as a second language
  • a native language
  • a classical or international language
  • social sciences and the humanities
  • Canadian and world studies
  • guidance and career education
  • cooperative education

Group 2:

  • health and physical education
  • the arts
  • business studies
  • French as a second language
  • cooperative education

Group 3:

  • science (grade 11 or 12)
  • technological education
  • French as a second language
  • computer studies
  • cooperative education

Notes:

*A maximum of 3 credits in English as a second language (ESL) o, 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

* Up to 4 of the optional credits may be earned through approved dual credit courses.

 

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 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  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.