Dual credit programs
Learn how high school students can take college courses or apprenticeship training that counts towards high school graduation.
About dual credit programs
Dual credit programs allow eligible students in high school to take college courses or Level 1 apprenticeship training that counts towards both:
- their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
- a postsecondary certificate, diploma, degree or a Certificate of Apprenticeship
High school students taking ministry-approved dual credit courses or training are supervised and supported by an instructor and the dual credit teacher at their high school, with access to a variety of supports and services from the institution.
Benefits of dual credit programs
Participating in a Dual Credit Program can help you:
- complete your high school diploma (OSSD)
- transition successfully to college or an apprenticeship program
- increase your awareness of the college and apprenticeship pathways
- plan next steps after high school
Eligibility
You may be eligible if you are:
- at risk of not graduating from high school
- enrolled in a Specialist High Skills Major
- enrolled in the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program
- returning to high school to get your diploma
- interested in exploring career pathways, including apprenticeships
- looking for help with the transition to college or an apprenticeship program
To find out if you are eligible, your first step is to contact your high school principal or guidance counsellor.
The school board, school principal or guidance department oversees which students can take a Dual Credit Program on a case-by-case basis.
Types of dual credit courses
You can choose to take a dual credit course or training from:
- a participating Ontario publicly funded college (delivered at a college)
- a college instructor and high school teacher-team (taught by a college instructor and high school teacher together)
- an approved Training Delivery Agent organization for Level 1 apprenticeship training
College-delivered dual credit courses
Students can earn up to 4 optional high school credits by completing college courses or Level 1 apprenticeship training delivered by participating publicly funded colleges.
Team-taught dual credit courses
These are college courses or Level 1 apprenticeship training that are delivered jointly by college instructors and high school teachers.
Students taking this type of dual credit course learn material from the secondary school curriculum and college or apprenticeship curriculum. Paired high school and college courses have significant content overlap.
Apprenticeship training includes the secondary school curriculum and the in-class Level 1 apprenticeship curriculum.
Typically, these programs are delivered in a 2-period block at the high school.
There is no limit on the number of compulsory or optional high school credits that students can earn through team-taught dual credit courses.
Contact your high school principal or guidance counsellor to learn about team-taught dual credit courses.
Approved training delivery agents
Students can earn up to 4 optional high school credits by taking dual credit Level 1 apprenticeship training provided by:
- a publicly funded college
- an employer or union training centre
- a career college
- a non-profit organization
- an Indigenous organization
Contact your high school principal or guidance counsellor to learn about participating colleges and approved non-college training delivery agents in your region.
Find a Dual Credit Program
Contact your guidance counsellor for details on what dual credit courses are available at your high school and to determine your eligibility.
All publicly-funded school boards with secondary schools, all Ontario colleges of applied arts and technology and some non-college Training Delivery Agents are involved in providing high school students with opportunities to earn ministry-approved dual credits.
Resources for school boards, colleges and educators
Policy and program requirements
Find program requirements and guidance for school board staff, college staff, administrators and educators who are involved in developing and delivering dual credit programs.
If you have any questions about this policy document, please contact skillsdevelopmentandapprenticeshipbranch@ontario.ca
Information for regional planning teams
Find resources and forms to help set up and run your dual credit programs, including guidelines, benchmarks and timelines.
2025–2026 dual credit resources
2025–2026 dual credit forms
Download the forms you need:
- Dual credit access request form: use this form to request or update access to the Enhanced Data Collection Solution that we use for the Dual Credit Program
- Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) level 1 form: use this form to confirm that the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development will fund in-class training for your apprentices
- Primary target group level 1 form: use this form to confirm that we will fund in-class training for your students
- Oversight level 1 form: use this to document college training delivery agent approval of your high school to offer a Dual Credit Program