{"id":201,"date":"2026-05-06T13:57:32","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T13:57:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ontariovirtualacademy.org\/?page_id=201"},"modified":"2026-05-06T13:57:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T13:57:32","slug":"ontario-ministry-requirements","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ontariovirtualacademy.org\/?page_id=201","title":{"rendered":"Ontario Ministry Requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/page\/earning-your-high-school-diploma\">Reference<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What do you need to graduate?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you started Grade 9 in 2023 or earlier, you need the following to get your OSSD:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>18 compulsory credits<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Students must earn the following compulsory credits from a Ministry-Inspected Institution to obtain the Ontario Secondary School Diploma:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)*<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>3 credits in mathematics (1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2 credits in science<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 credit in Canadian history<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 credit in Canadian geography<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 credit in the arts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 credit in\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/hpe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">health and physical education<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 credit in\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.edu.gov.on.ca\/eng\/amenagement\/FLS.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">French as a second language<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>0.5 credit in career studies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>0.5 credit in civics<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plus one credit from each of the following groups:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Group 1:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>English (Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course) or\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.edu.gov.on.ca\/eng\/amenagement\/FLS.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">French as a second language<\/a>**<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.edu.gov.on.ca\/eng\/curriculum\/secondary\/nativelang.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Native language<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a classical or an international language<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>social sciences and the humanities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Canadian and world studies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>guidance and career education<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.edu.gov.on.ca\/morestudentsuccess\/coop.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cooperative education<\/a>***<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Group 2:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/hpe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">health and physical education<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the arts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>business studies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.edu.gov.on.ca\/eng\/amenagement\/FLS.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">French as a second language<\/a>**<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.edu.gov.on.ca\/morestudentsuccess\/coop.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cooperative education<\/a>***<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Group 3:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>science (Grade\u00a011 or\u00a012)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>technological education<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.edu.gov.on.ca\/eng\/amenagement\/FLS.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">French as a second language<\/a>**<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>computer studies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.edu.gov.on.ca\/morestudentsuccess\/coop.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cooperative education<\/a>***<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to the compulsory credits, students must complete:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>12 optional credits\u2020<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eqao.com\/en\/assessments\/OSSLT\/students\/Pages\/students.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">provincial literacy requirement<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a minimum of\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.edu.gov.on.ca\/extra\/eng\/ppm\/124a.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">40 hours of community involvement activities<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you started Grade 9 in 2024 or in later years, you need the following to get your OSSD:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>17 compulsory credits<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Students must earn the following compulsory credits to obtain the Ontario Secondary School Diploma:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)*<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>3 credits in mathematics (1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2 credits in science<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 credit in technological education (Grade 9 or Grade 10)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 credit in Canadian history<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 credit in Canadian geography<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 credit in the arts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 credit in\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/hpe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">health and physical education<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 credit in\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.edu.gov.on.ca\/eng\/amenagement\/FLS.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">French as a second language<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>0.5 credit in career studies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>0.5 credit in civics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 credit from the STEM-related course group<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>STEM-related course group:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of the 17 compulsory&nbsp;credits, you must complete 1 from the following&nbsp;group:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>business studies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>computer studies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>cooperative education<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>mathematics (in addition to the 3 compulsory credits currently required)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>science (in addition to the 2 compulsory credits currently required)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>technological education (in addition to the 1 compulsory credit required)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to the compulsory credits, students must complete:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>13 optional credits\u2020<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eqao.com\/en\/assessments\/OSSLT\/students\/Pages\/students.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">provincial literacy requirement<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a minimum of\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.edu.gov.on.ca\/extra\/eng\/ppm\/124a.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">40 hours of community involvement activities<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>40 Hours of Community involvement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The community involvement requirement is designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop awareness and understanding about civic responsibility. They 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Students can start accumulating hours in the summer before entering Grade 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tips for students looking for volunteer opportunities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check your school board\u2019s website for resources to help you record hours and find volunteer activities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Visit the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ovcn.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ontario Volunteer Centre Network<\/a>\u00a0to find opportunities through a centre in your community.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make sure you know which activities qualify for the community involvement requirement. Students under eighteen\u00a0years old can consult with their parents to plan and select their community involvement activities, according to\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.edu.gov.on.ca\/extra\/eng\/ppm\/124a.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ministry guidelines<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ask your principal for more information.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*A maximum of 3 credits in English as a second language (ESL) or English literacy development (ELD) may be counted towards the 4&nbsp;compulsory credits in English, but the fourth must be a credit earned for a Grade&nbsp;12 compulsory English&nbsp;course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">**In groups 1, 2, and 3, a maximum of 2 credits in French as a second language can count as compulsory credits, one from group&nbsp;1 and one from either group&nbsp;2 or group 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">***A maximum of 2 credits in cooperative education can count as compulsory&nbsp;credits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2020The optional credits may include up to 4 credits earned through approved dual credit courses.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reference What do you need to graduate? If you started Grade 9 in 2023 or earlier, you need the following to get your OSSD: 18 compulsory credits Students must earn the following compulsory credits from a Ministry-Inspected Institution to obtain the Ontario Secondary School Diploma: Plus one credit from each of the following groups: Group [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-201","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontariovirtualacademy.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/201","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontariovirtualacademy.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontariovirtualacademy.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontariovirtualacademy.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontariovirtualacademy.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=201"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ontariovirtualacademy.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/201\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":202,"href":"https:\/\/ontariovirtualacademy.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/201\/revisions\/202"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontariovirtualacademy.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=201"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}