Learn what you need to earn your Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

We changed two of the requirements for students graduating in the 2024-2025 school year. Graduating students: are not required to complete the literacy graduation requirement,must complete a minimum of 20 hours of community involvement (reduced from 40 hours)

What you need to graduate

If you started Grade 9 in 2024 or in later years, you need the following to get your OSSD.

Compulsory credits

You need the following 17 compulsory credits to get your OSSD:

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

The following apply to compulsory credit selections.

You can use the Grade 11 English: Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Métis and Inuit Voices course to meet the Grade 11 English compulsory credit requirement.

You can use the Grade 9 Expressions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Cultures course to meet the compulsory credit requirement in the arts.

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)

Optional credits

You must earn 13 optional credits by successfully completing courses from your school’s program and course calendar.

Optional credits may include up to 4 credits earned through approved dual credit programs.

Online learning graduation requirement

If you started Grade 9 in the 2020–2021 school year or later, you must earn at least 2 online learning credits to get your high school diploma.

Adult learners: If you entered the secondary school system starting in the 2023–2024 school year or later, this requirement also applies to you.