Students are required to complete 30 course credits to be eligible for Ontario High School Diploma(OSSD). This includes 18 compulsory and 12 elective credits. 40 hours of community involvement and passing Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) are other requirements of the OSSD. International and out of province students will require credit equivalency assessment for their high school work and earned credits in their own country or province. The TSA Principal will assess students’ transcript and school records to determine the number of credits granted and how many more credits needed to be eligible for OSSD. The maximum number of course credits to be transferred is 24 out of 30.
Our students who want to apply for Canadian universities will be offered six Ontario “4U” and “4M” courses. These course codes are explained in the “Courses” page. Receiving 4U and 4M courses will also give great advantages when students apply for international universities. These are recognized by reputable universities and colleges all over the world.
What you need to graduate
To earn a high school diploma in Ontario, students must:
Students must earn the following 18 compulsory credits to get their Ontario Secondary School Diploma:
Group 1, 2 and 3 compulsory credits
Of the 18 compulsory credits, students must complete one from each of the following groups:
Group 1:
Group 2:
Group 3:
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.
English as a second language (ESL) and English literacy development (ELD)
Students who are English language learners may count up to three credits in ESL or ELD towards the four compulsory credits in English.
The fourth credit must be a Grade 12 compulsory English course.
Students must earn 12 optional credits by successfully completing courses offered in their school’s program and course calendar.
Optional credits may include up to four credits earned through approved dual credit programs.
All students must meet the secondary school literacy graduation requirement to earn their high school diploma.
For most students, this means passing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT).
Students who do not successfully complete the OSSLT have other opportunities to meet the literacy graduation requirement. Students can contact their school principal to find out about these options.
Beginning with students that entered Grade 9 in the 2020-21 school year, students must earn at least two online learning credits to get their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
The online learning graduation requirement also applies to adult learners that will be entering the Ontario secondary school system starting in 2023-24 school year.
Students working towards their OSSD should make sure they meet the community involvement graduation requirement of 40 hours in time for their graduating year.
Students can start accumulating their community involvement hours in the summer before entering Grade 9.
Students who are looking for community involvement opportunities should:
If approved by your school’s principal, students may count the following towards their community involvement hours:
The community involvement requirement is designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop awareness and understanding about civic responsibility. Students can actively participate in supporting and strengthening their communities. It also provides the opportunity for students to learn more about themselves and possible career opportunities.