Career and Pathways Planning
Graduation Requirements
| Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) |
Ontario Secondary School Certificate
(OSSC)
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Certificate of Accomplishment
(CA)
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To earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), students must obtain:
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The Ontario Secondary School Certificate is granted to students who complete a minimum of 14 credits, 7 compulsory credits, and 7 optional credits.
Students are not required to pass the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Requirement or the 40 hours of community service.
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Students who leave secondary school and do not meet the Ontario Secondary School Diploma criteria may be granted a Certificate of Achievement. This certificate can be useful for students who intend to take additional training courses or who are entering the world of work.
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Community Involvement Hours
Community involvement is designed to equip students with the opportunity to actively participate in supporting and enhancing their communities. They will gain awareness and understanding about civic duty and have the opportunity to build and reflect on themselves.
Students can begin accumulating their 40 hours in the summertime before grade 9.
Looking for community involvement opportunities?
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Check with your school for a list of eligible and ineligible activities, as well as resources to help record hours and find volunteer activities.
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Visit the Ontario Volunteer Centre Network to find opportunities through a centre in their community.
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Ask your principal or guidance counselor for more information
Post-Secondary Education & Career Planning
College and University Programs
Research programs at Ontario’s colleges and universities at OntarioColleges.ca and Ontario Universities’ Info.
Students interested in applying to a college or university out of province are encouraged to talk with their guidance counselor. The application process and requirements for fees, due dates, and supplemental information for out of province educational institutions vary by institution.
Interested in Apprenticeship?
Find information about how to start an apprenticeship.
Employment Options provides a full range of employment services, including job search strategies.
Find out more information at Community Living Ontario for students with intellectual disabilities to explore ideas for their future after high school.
Applying to College and University?
Students in secondary school are provided with support for their college or university application. Students will apply to college or university through these websites.
The Ontario University Application Centre (OUAC) has information and resources to apply to university.
Apply to College through the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS).
Scholarships, Awards, Bursaries, and Loans
Planning for post-secondary education begins prior to your graduation. Students should research future destinations but also investigate financial assistance.
The Scholarship and Bursary Guide will prepare students for scholarships, awards, and bursaries! There is an extensive list of scholarships and financial assistance opportunities by field of study and post-secondary institutions.
Students can also visit the Ontario School Counsellors’ Association (OSCA) website.
The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) can provide financial aid, including government grants and loans to students who qualify. Students can apply once they have confirmed their acceptance to post-secondary education.
myBlueprint & Individual Program Planning (IPP)
myBlueprint is a career planning program that is user-friendly, interactive and allows students to plan and select high school courses, track progress toward graduation, and explore occupations and opportunities for students after high school. Students can also build their own personal portfolio using the myBlueprint tool.
myBlueprint provides students in all pathways with an opportunity to:
- Showcase their plans, growth, and progress
- Explore career opportunities
- Research and explore post-secondary opportunities
What does it offer?
myBlueprint Features:
- 6 unique assessment for self-exploration and discovery
- Plan courses and track progress
- Explore post-secondary opportunities
- Learn about career choices
- Learn to budget and track money
How do I log in to myBlueprint?
Instructions for students to access myBlueprint from an iPad and computer. Parents can also set up an account using the steps outlined in Getting Started Guide for Family.
Please contact your Guidance Counsellor for further information.