Out-of-Province Students

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the difference between a prerequisite and a prerequisite waiver?
  A prerequisite is a course that must be completed before a student can proceed to the next level in a subject area. If a student has not attended an Ontario curriculum high school before, they will need to complete a Prerequisite Waiver Application. Our Guidance Team will review the student’s academic documentation to determine if they have covered topics similar to those included in the Ontario curriculum in the selected subject area. If approved, a student may be granted a waiver to enrol in their chosen course.  
• When is an Equivalent Credit Assessment required?
  Students who plan to earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma and wish to receive credits for courses that they completed at a high school in another province or territory must submit an Equivalent Credit Assessment Application. This process allows our Guidance Team to appropriately place students into the Ontario education system as seamlessly as possible without having students repeat prerequisite material. Once an Equivalent Credit Assessment has been completed, the expectation is that all remaining OSSD requirements will be fulfilled through an Ontario high school.

  Without an Equivalent Credit Assessment, any courses that a student has previously completed at a school in their home province or territory will not count toward the OSSD. 

• How long does it take to process a Prerequisite Waiver Application or Equivalent Credit Assessment Application?
  We want to make sure that our students can get started on their courses as soon as possible, so we guarantee that Prerequisite Waiver Applications will be reviewed within 3–5 business days and Equivalent Credit Assessment Applications will be processed within 5–7 business days. 
• Can a student moving to another province or territory continue to earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma at Virtual High School?
  Absolutely! Our courses are fully accessible online, and all of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma requirements can be completed in any province or territory. 
• Is the Ontario Secondary School Diploma an alternative to the CEGEP program in Quebec?
  Yes, the OSSD is recognized at colleges and universities across Canada and around the world, so it is an excellent alternative for Quebec students looking for an option outside CEGEP. 

  Students who wish to have their Quebec credits count toward their OSSD should submit an Equivalent Credit Assessment to our Guidance Team prior to registering. 

• Are there additional fees for out-of-province students?
  All Canadian students are charged the same tuition rate for our courses.

  There are a few additional services which some students may require depending on their circumstances. Additional fees may apply in the following scenarios:

  • Equivalent Credit Assessments
  • Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) account creation
  • Post-secondary document requests
  • Courier fees for document transfers
  • Course transfers
  • Course extensions

  We do our best to make sure that we provide the most cost-effective solutions for our students wherever possible.