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How do I earn a Secondary School Diploma?

Diploma Requirements
If you started Grade 9 in 2023 or in prior years, an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) requires the completion of:

The 18 compulsory credits are:

  • 4 English, one per grade level
  • 1 French as a Second Language
  • 3 Mathematics, at least one in Grade 11 or 12
  • 2 Science
  • 1 Canadian Geography
  • 1 Canadian History
  • 1 Arts (dance, drama, media, music, visual arts)
  • 1 Health and Physical Education
  • 0.5 Civics and Citizenship
  • 0.5 Career Studies

...Plus one credit from each of the following groups:

 

Group 1:

  • English (including the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course) or French as a second language
  • Native languages
  • First Nations, Métis, and Inuit studies
  • Classical Studies and International Languages
  • Social Sciences and the Humanities
  • Canadian and World Studies
  • Guidance and Career Education
  • Cooperative Education
  • American Sign Language as a Second Language

Group 2

  • Health and Physical Education
  • The Arts
  • Business Studies
  • French as a Second Language
  • Cooperative Education
  • American Sign Language as a Second Language

Group 3:

  • Science (Grade 11 or 12)
  • Technological Education
  • French as a Second Language
  • Computer Studies
  • Cooperative Education
  • American Sign Language as a Second Language

The following conditions apply to compulsory credit selections from the above three groups:

  • In groups 1, 2, and 3, a maximum of two 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.
    • 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 to meet the compulsory credit requirement for French as a second language.
  • A maximum of two credits in cooperative education can count as compulsory credits, selected from any of the above three groups.
  • The Grade 11 English: 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

If you started Grade 9 in 2024 or in later years, an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) requires the completion of:

The 17 compulsory credits are:

  • 4 English, one per grade level
  • 1 French as a Second Language
  • 3 Mathematics, at least one in Grade 11 or 12
  • 2 Science
  • 1 Canadian Geography
  • 1 Canadian History
  • 1 Technology (Grade 9 or 10)
  • 1 Arts (dance, drama, media, music, visual arts)
  • 1 Health and Physical Education
  • 0.5 Civics and Citizenship
  • 0.5 Career Studies
  • 1 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)