OSSD Requirements Explained: Credits, the Literacy Test, 40 Hours and the New Rules

By Brendaliz Chelangat, Head of Academics · October 2026 · 10 min read

To earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) a student needs 30 credits, must meet the literacy requirement (usually by passing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, the OSSLT), and must complete 40 hours of community involvement. Students in recent cohorts also need two online learning credits (with an opt-out) and must meet a financial literacy requirement in Grade 10 mathematics. Two changes arrived in 2024 and 2025, and they apply by the year a student started Grade 9, which is why so many explanations online disagree. This guide sets out the requirements clearly and says which cohort each one applies to.

The requirements at a glance

30 credits in total, made up of compulsory and optional credits. The literacy requirement: the OSSLT, or the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC) for students who are unsuccessful. 40 hours of community involvement. Two online learning credits, unless the family opts out. For current cohorts, a financial literacy requirement tied to Grade 10 mathematics with a pass mark of 70%. One credit is earned for successfully completing a course of at least 110 scheduled hours.

Compulsory and optional credits, by cohort

Students who started Grade 9 before September 2024 need 18 compulsory credits and 12 optional credits. The compulsory credits include 4 in English (one per grade), 3 in mathematics (at least one in Grade 11 or 12), 2 in science, 1 in Canadian history, 1 in Canadian geography, 1 in the arts, 1 in health and physical education, 1 in French as a second language, 0.5 in career studies and 0.5 in civics, plus credits chosen from defined groups. For students who started Grade 9 in September 2024 or later, Ontario added a compulsory Grade 9 or 10 Technological Education credit; school boards publish this cohort's total as 17 compulsory and 13 optional credits. Because group options differ slightly between boards and private schools, use the granting school's published list for your child's cohort.

The literacy requirement: OSSLT or OSSLC

The OSSLT is set by EQAO, Ontario's Education Quality and Accountability Office, and is normally first written in Grade 10. It is completed on a digital device, in person, under supervision. Students who are not successful can retake it or, usually, take the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC), a full credit course that also satisfies the requirement. For students learning online outside Ontario, the granting school has to arrange an approved place and supervisor, so ask about it at enrolment.

40 hours of community involvement

Every student needs at least 40 hours of community involvement. The activities must be unpaid, outside scheduled class time and not part of a credit course, and they must be completed by the end of Grade 12. Hours can be collected from the summer before Grade 9. Many boards accept virtual volunteering, which helps students who live far from Ontario. Keep a log with dates, hours, the organisation and a supervisor's signature.

Two online learning credits

Ontario requires students to earn at least two of their credits through online learning, with an opt-out that parents (or students who are adults) can request. For a student whose whole programme is online, this requirement is met naturally.

The financial literacy requirement

Ontario has added a financial literacy graduation requirement built into the Grade 10 mathematics course. Students must score 70% or higher on the financial literacy component, which covers budgeting, saving for a home or other asset, and protection against fraud. Students who do not reach 70% can try once more within the Grade 10 course, with further support and credit recovery after that. It was introduced from 2025, so confirm with the granting school whether it applies to your child's cohort.

How credits from outside Ontario are counted

Students arriving from another province or country are assessed by the school, which may grant equivalent credits for previous secondary studies. This is often called PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition) for students coming from outside Ontario's system. The number of credits recognised decides how many remain. Bring report cards and course outlines for every completed secondary year.

Grade 12 courses and university admission

The diploma itself does not say which university a student can enter; the Grade 12 courses do. Most Ontario university programmes ask for six Grade 12 U or M courses including ENG4U, plus programme prerequisites such as MHF4U (Advanced Functions), MCV4U (Calculus and Vectors), SCH4U (Chemistry) or SPH4U (Physics). Plan Grade 11 with these in mind so that every prerequisite is available in time.

Sources and where to check

Ontario Ministry of Education: high school graduation requirements (ontario.ca/page/high-school-graduation-requirements) and earning your high school diploma (ontario.ca/page/earning-your-high-school-diploma). EQAO, OSSLT information (eqao.com). Financial literacy requirement: Government of Ontario news release (2023) and coverage by CTV News Toronto. School board guidance pages (for example the Waterloo Region, Ottawa-Carleton and Durham boards) for cohort credit lists. Requirements change; confirm with the school that grants the credits.

The OSSD is clear once you know which cohort your child belongs to: 30 credits, the literacy requirement, 40 community hours, two online credits and, for current cohorts, the Grade 10 financial literacy component. Plan the Grade 12 U courses around the universities your child is aiming for. Smartious teaches OSSD courses live through our Ontario partner school, an Ontario-inspected private school, for students anywhere in Canada. Book an assessment and we will map the credits your child already has.

Frequently asked questions

How many credits do you need for the OSSD?

30 credits. Students who started Grade 9 before September 2024 need 18 compulsory and 12 optional credits; for students who started in September 2024 or later, boards publish 17 compulsory and 13 optional, including a compulsory Grade 9 or 10 Technological Education credit.

What is the OSSLT and when is it written?

The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, set by EQAO, normally first written in Grade 10 on a digital device, in person, under supervision. Passing it, or completing the OSSLC course, meets the literacy requirement for the diploma.

Do online students need 40 community hours?

Yes. Every OSSD student needs 40 hours of unpaid community involvement, outside class time, completed by the end of Grade 12. Many boards accept virtual volunteering.

Is there a financial literacy test for the OSSD?

Yes, for current cohorts: a financial literacy component in Grade 10 mathematics with a pass mark of 70%, introduced from 2025. Students who fall short get a second attempt within the course and further support afterwards.

How long does one OSSD credit take?

A credit is granted for successfully completing a course of at least 110 scheduled hours. Online students often work through a credit faster or slower than a classroom timetable, depending on the course and the school.

Do I have to take two online courses?

Ontario requires two online learning credits, with an opt-out available on request. Students whose entire programme is online meet it automatically.

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