About dual credit programs

Dual credit programs allow eligible secondary students to take college and Indigenous Institute courses, or Level 1 apprenticeship training that count towards both:

  • their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
  • a postsecondary certificate, diploma, degree or a Certificate of Apprenticeship

The dual credit program is designed to help secondary students graduate and support their transition to college, apprenticeship or other postsecondary pathways.

Starting in 2026–2027, the Ministry of Education is flowing all funding for the dual credit programs directly to each individual school board through core education funding.

Dual credit program partners

School boards and postsecondary organizations work in partnership to deliver dual credit programs.

Learn more about partnership requirements and roles.

Terms used in this guide

Postsecondary — refers to publicly funded colleges, training delivery agents and Indigenous Institutes, but not universities.

Training delivery agents (TDAs) — refers to an institution, agency or organization approved by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) to provide the in-class training component of an apprenticeship program. For the dual credit program, this includes publicly funded colleges and non-college training delivery agents (NCTDAs) such as Indigenous Institutes, union training centres, non-profit organizations, employers, and career colleges.

Professor — refers to educators delivering dual credit courses.

Instructor —  refers to those delivering Level 1 apprenticeship training.

Indigenous Institutes — refers to Indigenous governed and operated institutions that provide opportunities for students to start and complete postsecondary education credentials in a flexible, personalized and culturally responsive learning environment. Dual credit program students can take dual credit courses provided by an Indigenous Institute either:

Regional planning teams — refers to regional partnerships across Ontario between school boards and postsecondary partners to plan and deliver dual credit programs, activities and forums. There are 13 English-language and 3 French-language regional planning teams.

Enhanced Data Collection Solution (EDCS) — refers to the data collection tool used to collect and monitor program level financial and student data for the dual credit program.

What’s in this guide

This guide outlines the requirements for running dual credit programs. It explains how programs are structured, who is eligible, how to work with partners and what school boards must report. 

Student eligibility

Learn which students can participate in dual credit programs, including the primary target group (students who are disengaged and at risk of not graduating), Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) students, Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) students and adult students. 

Core program requirements

Learn about mandatory requirements for partnership, staffing, funding, privacy and information sharing. This section outlines roles and responsibilities for school boards and postsecondary partners. 

Dual credit program types and delivery models

Learn about types of dual credits and approved delivery models, including:

  • postsecondary-delivered dual credits
  • team-taught dual credits
  • Level 1 apprenticeship in-class training
  • programs delivered in secondary schools with TDA oversight
  • SWAPSI (School Within a Postsecondary Institution)
  • summer and night school
  • online and adult dual credits

Find information about credit rules, educator roles and evaluation expectations. 

Program planning responsibilities

Learn about planning responsibilities for school boards and administrators, including student supervision considerations, partnership coordination, selecting trades and courses, and requirements related to Skilled Trades Ontario (STO) and Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD).

Assessment and recording

Find out how to record achievement for students in postsecondary-delivered, team-taught, and apprenticeship dual credits. This section includes Ontario Student Transcript (OST) and Ontario Student Record (OSR) requirements, mid-term reporting, withdrawal rules and how to record course codes and credits. 

Activities and forums for pathways awareness

Learn how school boards and postsecondary partners can offer pathway-exploration activities for students, teachers and families. Understand the parameters for student activities and professional forums for educators. 

Resources

Find links to more tools and documents, including selection criteria, information for students, teacher responsibilities, funding benchmarks and course-code request forms.

Contact us

Email  skillsdevelopmentandapprenticeshipbranch@ontario.ca if you have any questions about this policy document.