Every Ontario high school student now has to earn 2 online credits before graduation, and most students treat this as a rule to get through rather than a decision to make. That is a missed opportunity, especially now that Ontario’s new exam rules are putting more weight on how a credit is assessed. Which two courses you choose can strengthen a weak average, unlock a missing prerequisite, or open up a subject your own school cannot offer. This guide covers who the mandatory e-learning rule applies to, how the opt-out process works, and how to pick your two credits so they actually work in your favour.

Who Has to Complete the Mandatory E-Learning Requirement

The mandatory e-learning credits Ontario rule applies to any student who entered Grade 9 in the 2020 to 2021 school year or later. If that is you, 2 of the 30 credits needed for your OSSD must be completed online through an approved provider. Adult learners are included too: anyone who began secondary school in the 2023 to 2024 school year or after is subject to the same requirement, regardless of age. Students who started Grade 9 before the 2020 to 2021 school year are not bound by the rule. There is one narrow exception on the credit side: up to one credit completed by Grade 9 students during the province wide school closures between April and June 2021 can be counted toward the two credit requirement, but this only applies to that specific cohort and time window, not to remote or blended learning credits earned at any other point.

How the Opt-Out Process Works

Not every student is expected to complete the requirement as written. Parents or guardians can request that their child be exempted, and students who are 18 or older can request an exemption for themselves. There is no need to prove hardship in the way people often assume. A school principal simply needs to approve the request, and it is added to the student’s record. That said, opting out removes a genuine planning tool from your toolkit, so it is worth thinking through the strategic upside before deciding to skip it altogether.

Choosing Your Two Credits Strategically

This is where most students leave value on the table. The e-learning graduation requirement Ontario sets is flexible on subject choice, which means your two credits can be aimed at whatever will help your transcript most.

Use One as a Mark Upgrade

If your average in a core subject needs work, use one of your online credits as a mark upgrade. OES offers course upgrades built for exactly this, and English is the most common choice here, since ENG4U carries weight for nearly every university program and a self-paced online format gives you more time to revise essays and polish your work before the proctored exam.

Fill a Missing Prerequisite

If you are missing a prerequisite for a program you want, fill that gap online instead of waiting a full semester for a spot to open at your own school.

• Engineering and computer science: MHF4U and MCV4U are the two most common gaps for these programs.
• Business and social science: MDM4U is a popular alternative math credit for applicants who need a quantitative course without the calculus stream.

Solve an Access Problem

If your school cannot offer a course you need, taking it online through a Ministry-inspected school solves the access problem outright. This is especially common for SBI4U and SCH4U, since both are critical prerequisites for health sciences, nursing, kinesiology, and pre-med pathways, and not every school runs a full slate of Grade 12 sciences every semester.

Explore an Elective

Students who are genuinely undecided on electives can also use their two credits to explore a subject before committing a full in-person semester to it. That is a reasonable use of the requirement too, as long as the course still counts toward something on your transcript.

Why the Easiest Option Is Not Always the Smart Option

Students often ask about the easiest e-learning credits available, usually meaning the course with the lightest workload. That instinct makes sense when time is tight, but it overlooks the bigger picture. A credit chosen purely for ease does nothing extra for your transcript. A credit chosen strategically, as a mark upgrade, a prerequisite fill, or an access solution, does the same amount of work while also moving you closer to your actual goal. The two credits are mandatory either way, so the only real decision is whether they work for you or simply get out of your way.

The Exam Advantage on Your Transcript

One detail students rarely hear about is how much a proctored exam matters under the current rules. As oversight of online credits tightens across the province, universities and colleges are paying closer attention to how a credit was assessed, not just what mark appears on the transcript. A course that ends in a proctored final exam carries more weight than one assessed entirely through unsupervised coursework, because it demonstrates that the mark reflects the student’s own understanding under exam conditions. OES courses already include proctored final exams, so students’ credits meet that standard by design, which matters just as much for your mandatory two credits as it does for any other course on your transcript.

FAQs about the Mandatory E-Learning Courses

Do I have to complete my e-learning credits before a specific grade?

No. The requirement simply needs to be completed at some point before graduation, so many students plan it around a semester with more flexibility.

Can I take both required online credits through the same provider?

Yes, as long as the provider is Ministry-inspected and holds a BSID, your credits will be recognized by Ontario public high schools, universities, and colleges, including through OUAC and OCAS applications.

What happens if I do not complete the requirement and do not opt out?

You will not receive your OSSD until the two credits, or an approved exemption, are on file.

Ready to Choose Your Two Credits?

Treat your mandatory two credits as a tool, not a checkbox. Whether you need a mark upgrade, a missing prerequisite, or access to a course your school does not run, an Ontario online high school with Ontario Certified Teachers and proctored exams can make both required credits count toward your actual goals. Book a free 15 minute academic guidance meeting to map out which two courses make the most sense for your transcript.