One component of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) graduation requirement is the accumulation of 30 credits. A breakdown of the credits is listed below.

Students Who Entered Grade 9 in 2023 or Earlier

Compulsory Credits

Students must earn the following 18 compulsory credits in order to obtain the 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 French as a second language
  • 1 credit in Canadian history
  • 1 credit in Canadian geography
  • 1 credit in the arts
  • 1 credit in health and physical education
  • 0.5 credits in civics
  • 0.5 credits in career studies

Plus

3 credits for group 1, 2 and 3 courses (1 credit in each group)

  • 1 additional credit from Group 1 in:
    • English, or a third language
    • Social sciences and the humanities
    • Canadian and world studies
    • Guidance and career education
    • Co-operative education*
  • 1 additional credit from Group 2 in:
    • Health and physical education
    • The arts
    • Business studies
    • Co-operative education*
  • 1 additional credit from Group 3 in:
    • Science (Grade 11 or 12)
    • Technological education (Grades 9-12)
    • Co-operative education*

* a maximum of 2.0 credits in co-operative education can count as compulsory credits

Optional Credits

In addition to the 18 compulsory credits, students must earn 12 optional credits selected from the courses listed as available in the school course calendar.

Students Who Entered Grade 9 in 2024 Onward

A Guide to earning your OSSD

Compulsory Credits

Students must earn the following 17 compulsory credits in order to obtain the OSSD:

  • 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)
  • 3 credits in mathematics:
    • 1 credit in Grade 9
    • 1 credit in Grade 10
    • 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12
  • 2 credits in science
  • 1 credit in Canadian geography (Grade 9)
  • 1 credit in Canadian history (Grade 10)
  • 1 credit in the arts
  • 1 credit in health and physical education
  • 1 credit in French as a second language
  • 1 credit in Technological Education (Grade 9 or 10)
  • 1 credit in STEM-Related Course Group
    • Business Studies, Computer Studies, Cooperative Education, Mathematics*, Science*, Technological Education*
      • *In addition to compulsory credit(s) required
  • 0.5 credit in civics
  • 0.5 credit in career studies

Optional Credits

In addition to the 17 compulsory credits, students must earn 13 optional credits selected from the courses listed as available in the school course calendar.

Complete 40 hours of community involvement activities

The Provincial Literacy Requirement

  • Meet the provincial secondary school literacy diploma requirement through successful completion of either the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) or the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC).

Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement

  • Meet the provincial secondary school financial literacy requirement, as part of your compulsory Grade 10 math course.
  • Based on cumulative Financial learning from Grade 1-9

Online Learning Graduation Requirement

The Ontario Ministry of Education introduced an online learning graduation requirement for students receiving an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

Students receiving an OSSD must:

  • Complete two online credits of the total 30 credits required for their OSSD

Which Students Does This Requirement Include?

This new requirement applies to:

  • Students who started Grade 9 on or after September 1, 2020

Online Courses and Credits

How are online courses delivered?

  • Online courses or credits are delivered using the internet
    • Online courses are also sometimes called eLearning courses
  • They do not require students to be physically present in a school
    • Exceptions to this include:
      • Examinations or final evaluations
  • Students may attend a school for access to:
    • Internet connectivity
    • Learning devices
    • School-based supports

How can I tell what online courses are available?

  • Schools will communicate the online courses that are available
    • This may take place through the course calendar and course selection process

How To Opt-Out

Parents or caregivers of students can choose to opt-out of the online learning graduation requirement.

If your child started Grade 9 on or after September 1, 2020 and you wish to opt them out of the online graduation requirement:

School-Day Form

PDF Form