An Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) is not only important, it is critical for your future. Whether you aspire to attend a post-secondary college or university, apprentice in a trade, integrate into the community, directly enter the workplace, or even, start your own business, the choice to earn an OSSD promises greater success.
While many online high schools offer credits towards the OSSD, TVO ILC is one of the only online high schools authorized by the Ontario Ministry of Education to grant credits and the Ontario Secondary School Diploma itself. Earn your degree with the flexibility your life demands, and you’ll have everything you need to confidently progress towards your goals on whichever educational pathway you choose.
Earn a High School Diploma and Change Your Life
An Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) is not only important, it is critical for your future. Whether you aspire to attend a post-secondary college or university, apprentice in a trade, integrate into the community, directly enter the workplace, or even, start your own business, the choice to earn an OSSD promises greater success.
While many online high schools offer credits towards the OSSD, TVO ILC is one of the only online high schools authorized by the Ontario Ministry of Education to grant credits and the Ontario Secondary School Diploma itself. Earn your degree with the flexibility your life demands, and you’ll have everything you need to confidently progress towards your goals on whichever educational pathway you choose.
It’s proven! An OSSD can positively:
Increase your job options and opportunities
Contribute to your future income
Enhance understanding of your community, your country and the world
Inspire and impact the next generation
Increase your job options and opportunities
Contribute to your future income
Enhance understanding of your community, your country and the world
Inspire and impact the next generation
Diploma Requirements
Choose the year when you first started Grade 9 to see the requirements that apply to you.
If you started Grade 9 in 2024-2025 or later and wish to earn your OSSD, you must:
Earn at least 30 credits including 17 compulsory Footnote one1 and 13 optional credits
Complete a minimum 40 hours community involvement
Meet the literacy requirement
Complete the online learning requirement (earn at least 2 online courses)
Earn the financial literacy graduation requirement (starting in September 2026)
1
Earn 17 compulsory credits
Earn 17 compulsory credits
4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)
The Grade 11 course “English: Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Métis and Innuit Voices” may be used to meet the Grade 11 compulsory English credit.
For English language learners, up to 3 credits in English as a second language (ESL) or English Literacy Development (ELD) may count towards the 4 compulsory credits in English. The fourth credit must be a Grade 12 compulsory English course.
3 credits in mathematics (Grade 9, Grade 10, and 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)
The Grade 9 course, “Expressions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Cultures” may be used as the compulsory arts credit
1 credit in health and physical education
1 credit in French as a second language
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
0.5 credit in career studies
0.5 credit in civics and citizenship
1 credit from the STEM-related course 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)
Note:
1. To meet individual student needs, principals may replace up to 3 of the 17 compulsory credits from the remainder of those that meet the compulsory credit requirements (substitutions).
You need to complete at least 40 hours of community involvement activities (volunteering) to earn the OSSD.
3
Meet the Secondary School Literacy Graduation Requirement
Meet the Secondary School Literacy Graduation Requirement
The Literacy Requirement is based on the reading and writing expectations across all subjects up to the end of Grade 9 and ensures students have the reading and writing skills to be successful in school, at work, and in daily life.
For most students, passing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is the standard means for meeting the Literacy Requirement.
Homeschooled students (under 18 years of age) must arrange to take the test at their local/home school.
4
Complete the Online Learning Requirement
Complete the Online Learning Requirement
If you started Grade 9 in the 2020–2021 school year or later, you must earn at least two 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.
5
Complete the Financial Literacy Requirement
Complete the Financial Literacy Requirement
Starting in 2026-2027 academic year, students who began Grade 9 in 2025-2026 school year or later must meet the financial literacy graduation requirement to earn the OSSD.
Students will complete this requirement as part of their compulsory Grade 10 Career Studies course.
Requirements
If you started Grade 9 between 2000 and 2023-2024 and wish to earn your OSSD, you must:
Earn at least 30 credits including 18 compulsory credits Footnote one1 and 12 optional credits
Complete a minimum 40 hours community involvement
Meet the Literacy Requirement
Complete the online learning requirement if you started Grade 9 after 2020
1
Earn 18 compulsory credits
Earn 18 compulsory credits
4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)
The Grade 11 course “English: Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Métis and Innuit Voices” may be used to meet the Grade 11 compulsory English credit.
For English language learners, up to 3 credits in English as a second language (ESL) or English Literacy Development (ELD) may count towards the 4 compulsory credits in English. The fourth credit must be a Grade 12 compulsory English course.
3 credits in mathematics (at least 1 credit in grade 11 or 12)
2 credits in science
1 credit in Canadian history (Grade 10)
1 credit in Canadian geography (Grade 9)
1 credit in the arts
The Grade 9 course, “Expressions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Cultures” may be used as the compulsory arts credit
1 credit in health and physical education
1 credit in French as a second language
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
0.5 credit in career studies
0.5 credit in civics and citizenship
Including one credit from each of the following groups
Group 1
English (including the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course)
1. To meet individual student needs, principals may replace up to 3 of the 18 compulsory credits from the remainder of those that meet the compulsory credit requirements (substitutions).
2. A maximum of 2 credits in French as a second language may be used as compulsory credits (1 credit from Group 1, and 1 credit from either Group 2 or 3).
3. Cooperative education: A maximum of 2 credits may be used as compulsory credits from any of Groups 1, 2 or 3.
You need to complete at least 40 hours of community involvement activities (volunteering) to earn the OSSD.
3
Meet the Secondary School Literacy Graduation Requirement
Meet the Secondary School Literacy Graduation Requirement
The Literacy Requirement is based on the reading and writing expectations across all subjects up to the end of Grade 9 and ensures students have the reading and writing skills to be successful in school, at work, and in daily life.
For most students, passing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is the standard means for meeting the Literacy Requirement.
Homeschooled students (under 18 years of age) must arrange to take the test at their local/home school.
4
Complete the Online Learning Requirement
Complete the Online Learning Requirement
If you started Grade 9 in the 2020–2021 school year or later, you must earn at least two 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.
Requirements
If you began high school before 1999 (but did not graduate) and wish to earn your OSSD, you must:
Earn 16 compulsory credits
Earn 14 elective credits
1
Earn 16 compulsory credits
Earn 16 compulsory credits
English/francais (5 credits, at least 2 in the Senior Division Footnote one1 )
