Graduation

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Graduation requirements

ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL DIPLOMA (OSSD)

Students must meet specific requirements to graduate with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

Graduation Requirement Posters (Select the appropriate Grade)      Grade 12        Grade 11     Grade 9 & 10

  • Completion of 30 total credits 
  • At least 2 credits earned through online Learning
  • 40 hours of Community Involvement
  • Ontario  Secondary School Literacy
  • Financial literacy (For students that started grade 9 in 2025 or 2026)

Compulsory Credits
 18 Compulsory Credits (for students starting Grade 9 in or BEFORE Fall 2023)
  • 4 credits - English (one per grade level)
  • 3 credits - Mathematics (at least one at the senior level)
  • 2 credits - Science
  • 1 credit - Arts (music, art, or drama)
  • 1 credit - French as a second language credit
  • 1 credit - Canadian geography 
  • 1 credit - Canadian history 
  • 1 credit - Health and physical education
  • .5 credit - Career studies
  • .5 credit - Civics 
  • 1 additional credit from each of 3 groups

Group 1

  • English as a third language; French as a second language; Social Sciences and Humanities; Canadian/World Studies; 
    Guidance and Career Education; Cooperative Education; Native language; Classical or international language

Group 2

  • Arts; Business Studies; Health and Physical Education; French as a second language; Cooperative Education

Group 3

  • Science, Technological Education; Computer Studies; French as a second language; Cooperative Education

 

Notes

  • In groups 1, 2, and 3, a maximum of 2 credits in French as a second language
  • Cooperative Education can count as compulsory credits, one from group 1 and 1 from either group 2 or group 3,
    for a total of 2 credits 
 17 Compulsory Credits (for students starting Grade 9 Fall 2024 or AFTER)
  • 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

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)

 

 

Two Online Learning Credits

Online Learning Credits

  • Beginning with the cohort of students who entered Grade 9 in the 2020-2021 school year, all students must earn a minimum of two online learning credits as part of the graduation requirements for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma unless they have been opted-out or exempted.
  • Families wishing to opt-out of the mandatory online courses required for graduation must complete the "Opt-Out Form."

Exemption: Remote Learning Credit Earned in 2020-2021

  • The ministry recognizes the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, up to one secondary school credit completed by Grade 9 students in the 2020-2021 school year during the province-wide school closures (from April 2021 to June 2021) may be counted towards the graduation requirement.

Community Involvement Hours

OSSLT
  • Successful completion of the Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) or the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC)​ is required.

Financial Literacy
 
  • If you are a student who began Grade 9 in the 2025-2026 school year or later, you must earn a financial literacy graduation requirement as part of your compulsory Grade 10 Career Studies course. This requirement takes effect in the 2026-2027 school year.
  • Students complete the requirement by earning a mark of at least 70% on the financial literacy modules delivered during your Grade 10 Career Studies course. This mark will make up 5% of your final mark in Grade 10 Career Studies. You will have 2 attempts to complete the requirement.

ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE (OSSC)

Students must meet specific requirements to graduate with an Ontario Secondary School Certificate (OSSC).

  • The Ontario Secondary School Certificate (OSSC) will be granted, on request, to students who are leaving secondary school upon reaching the age of 18 without having met the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
  • To be granted an OSSC, a student must have earned a minimum of 14 credits (7 Compulsory and 7 Elective)

ONTARIO CERTIFICATE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT (COA)

Students must meet requirements to earn a Certificate of Accomplishment (COA).

  • Students who are leaving secondary school upon reaching the age of 18 without having met the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma or the Ontario Secondary School Certificate may be granted a Certificate of Accomplishment.