Yes! Ontario eSecondary (OES) is inspected by the Ontario Ministry of Education and is authorized to grant credits towards the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), which are the same credits earned by students in bricks and mortar public and private schools in the Province of Ontario. Our Ministry BSID# is 667186.

You can validate this from the following two locations:

1. Ontario eSecondary School 2020-2021 accreditation report (valid for two years)
2. Ministry update secondary private school list (search the BSID# within the excel sheet link provided)

Students can proceed through their courses as quickly or as slowly as they desire within the twelve-month timeframe we allot per registration. There are no module schedules or due dates to follow – students decide when to hand in their assignments and when to take their tests to meet any personal deadlines they might have.  However OES recommends that student’s login to the learning platform 2-3 times a week to check for updates or to continue with their course progress (please see school course calendar for more information) — failure to do so will result in an absence for every week no log in’s are present.

If a student finds themselves needing to go over the twelve-month timeline they have the option to pay for course extensions (see below for more details). The course outline indicates that the course will take 110 hours and highlights the breakdown of each unit. Please keep in mind that the 110 hours reflects the number of hours a student may spend on the lessons and does not include additional time students may take to complete assignments or prepare for tests or examinations.

At Ontario eSecondary, we recognize that students learn at different paces and therefore, the rate of progress through the course is based on the students’ completion of the lessons and assessments, which equate to the 110 hours, not the amount of time they spend online.

All unit tests and final exams at Ontario eSecondary (OES) are closed-book and completed online under the supervision of an appropriate Proctor. Proctoring can be organized through one of the following two options:

Option 1: In-Person Proctoring (Arranged by the student)

The student may arrange their own proctor to meet with them in person for the purpose of invigilating the test or exam. This is written at a time, place and location that is most comfortable and safe for the student.

The student must apply to write the test or final exam a minimum of 48-72 hours prior to the proposed date by having the proctor complete the OES Proctor Form which is available in your course.

In order to be approved, any in-person exam proctor must meet all of the following criteria:

• Must not be related to the student in any way
• Must not be a student at any level
• Must not be a tutor
• Must have a university degree or college designation

Who can this be? Some examples include:

• A high school teacher, librarian or guidance counsellor (or anyone else at the school)
• A neighbour, co-worker or manager at work
• A professor, counsellor, social worker or colleague
• Anyone who meets the requirements above

If the proctor is approved, the proctor will be provided with detailed test or exam instructions via email. The approved proctor and student may then proceed with the test or final exam as scheduled. Once the test or final exam has been written, the proctor must send the test or exam back to the teacher as a scanned, clearly legible document. This document must be returned to the course instructor promptly following the exam. A student’s final grade is not released until this document has been submitted.

If a student chooses a proctor who charges a fee for their services, the student is responsible for those or any other expenses.

Option 2: Online Proctoring (Arranged through OES for students of OES only)

Students may use the Ontario eSecondary (OES) online proctoring service with an Ontario Certified Teacher (OCT). This service is particularly helpful for students who are unable to find an in-person proctor or require last-minute test or exam arrangements. OES strongly recommends scheduling the test or exam at least two days in advance to allow for proper teacher communication.

To schedule a proctor for a test or exam, students must do the following:

1. Find an available time slot for your test or final exam and book it — learn more here
2. Pay the necessary fee
3. Complete the Assessment Information Form (will be made available after payment is complete)

For this proctoring option, students must have the following (all are mandatory):

• A webcam
• A microphone
• A laptop or desktop computer
• Printer (present at the time of the assessment)
• Scanner or Scanner app (via App Store or Play Store)
• Government-issued photo ID

Upon completion of the test or exam, the student’s exam video will be reviewed to verify that all procedures were properly followed. The student will then scan the test or exam with the proctor live and email it directly to the proctor’s email address.

As a Ministry of Education inspected private high school, all universities and colleges in Ontario will accept the credits you earn through Ontario eSecondary School. If you have questions about how the grade will be viewed by a specific university or college, we suggest you speak with them and/or the department you intend on applying too.