Ontario Secondary School Diploma Program
Principal’s Message
More than ever, the value of a Secondary School Diploma is recognized by employers and post-secondary institutions. Having your OSSD can help you become more employable or get into a post-secondary training or apprenticeship program. If you have not completed your diploma requirements or you need specific secondary credit courses for post-secondary or apprenticeship training goals, we can help you on the pathway to meet your goals.
Our Adult Education Staff will Help With
- Assessing your high school transcript to determine what credits are still required to graduate
- PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition) applications and assessments (“maturity credits”)
- Pathways counselling and community referrals
- Out-of-province or out-of-country transcript assessment
- Pre-requisites for college, university or apprenticeship programs
What to Expect: Secondary Correspondence Self Study Courses
- The Centres for Employment & Learning offer a wide variety of Independent Study courses that may be applied towards an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Currently, we offer more than 75 courses.
- Independent Study Courses allow students to work at their own pace. Students are able to decide when and where to study and have the added flexibility of starting and finishing a course at any time of year.
- Our teachers are available in-person or online to support you if you are having challenges with the course material.
- You need to be prepared to set aside regular time for the completion of course work. It is suggested that you aim for 1-2 lessons per week.
Who can take Independent Study Courses?
- You are 18 years or older and are out of school.
- You are a secondary student and have written approval from the Principal of your current school.
How do I get started: The Registration Process
- Once you submit the registration form ("Register Here" button below) you will be contacted to determine the steps and courses you require to take to achieve your Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).
- You will be asked to provide the following documents:
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- Copy of your transcript
- Piece of ID to show your legal name, date of birth, and current mailing address
- If you were born outside of Canada, please provide documents to show your status in Canada (e.g. Canadian Citizenship card, Canadian Passport, Permanent Resident Card, Employment Permit)
- Copies of IEP’s or other documentation related to any special accommodations that may be required
- For LINC/ESL Students: proof to verify CLB 6 completed in all four skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing
Course Brochure:
- Click on the link below to see the list of courses that we offer.
Tips for Completing Correspondence Self-study Courses:
- Label your lessons: Please put your name, course code, lesson # at the top of your document.
Example: John Smith ENG4C Lesson #1 (the lesson # is on the top right corner of every page) - You only need to answer Key Questions. We suggest you do the support questions and check the answers at the back of the book to see if you are understanding the lesson. You do not submit the support questions.
- Submit all the key questions for a lesson in one document.
For example, if a lesson has 3 Key questions, you must submit all 3 key questions in the same document.
Key Question # 1a - Email or bring your completed lesson to your site.
An important note about Plagiarism:
The work you submit needs to be your own. Plagiarism will not be tolerated.
Plagiarism is when you copy someone else’s ideas or work and claim it as your own. You cannot copy work directly off the internet into your lessons. If you look up material on the internet, you must quote it or put it in your own words and cite where the information came from.
Below are some links that might be helpful. If you have questions about this, please ask your teacher or the site coordinator.
The CEL is the Adult and Continuing Education branch of the Avon Maitland District School Board and operates with the BSID# 993263
Each year, hundreds of adults in Huron and Perth Counties are working on secondary school credits through our Centres. For many, it is the realization of a lifetime goal; for others a necessary step towards success in the workforce. The Centre for Employment & Learning credit courses require dedication and hard work. The rewards are priceless! Contact your closest Centre to get started today.
