Earn post-secondary credits while you’re still in high school.
Dual Credits let you take college or apprenticeship courses while you’re still in high school - at no cost to you.
They are designed to help you:
- Try post-secondary learning before you graduate.
- Explore career options in a post-secondary setting.
Earn credits that count towards high school and towards an apprenticeship certificate or a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree.
What does the program look like?
There are three Dual Credit options, depending on your goals and interests:
Option 1: College-Delivered Dual Credits
This program lets students in Grades 11 or 12 earn a high school credit and a college credit at the same time. It’s a great way to explore college programs and career options before you graduate.
Students in this program:
- Take a college course at no cost.
- Learn in state‑of‑the‑art college facilities.
- Experience college‑level learning, expectations and environments.
- Explore career and program options before making post‑secondary decisions.
YRDSB partners with local colleges to offer dual credit courses in a wide range of areas, including:
- arts and culture
- business
- construction
- energy
- environment
- and more
Option 2: Accelerated Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) Dual Credits
Get a head start on an apprenticeship.
This program is designed for students in their last semester of high school who are interested in a skilled trade. Through this option, students can:
- Earn high school credits.
- Register as an apprentice.
- Complete all or part of their Level One Apprenticeship schooling.
- Earn hours/competencies towards their apprenticeship.
Learn more about Accelerated OYAP Dual Credits to see if this pathway is right for you.
Option 3: School Within a College
The School Within a College (SWAC) program gives students the opportunity to complete their high school diploma, earn college-level credits and learn in an adult learning environment in a college setting.
This program is delivered in partnership with Seneca Polytechnic for students who face challenges in graduating and who have the potential to succeed in college.
Participating students attend Seneca Polytechnic: King Campus throughout the semester and earn high school credits and dual credits that can count towards first year college courses.
Learn more about School Within a College.
What are the benefits?
Students who participate in a dual credit program:
- Experience college or apprenticeship training while still in high school.
- Earn high school and post-secondary credits that count towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma and may count towards a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree or an apprenticeship certification.
- Learn in state‑of‑the‑art college facilities and experience a college environment?
- Explore different career pathways.
- Learn more about the post-secondary experience.
For students in a Specialist High Skills Major program, some dual credit courses may qualify as credit towards your specific sector. Review the SHSM Dual Credit Chart.
College-Delivered Dual Credits
Who are College-Delivered Dual Credits for?
Dual Credits are open to students in Grades 11 and 12 who are considering a post-secondary pathway.
Dual Credits may be a good fit if you want to:
- Experience a college campus, course and learning environment.
- Explore a career path or clarify your interests.
- Get a head start on post-secondary credits or apprenticeship training.
You don’t need to have everything figured out. Dual Credits are designed to help you make more informed decisions about what comes next.
Where are College-Delivered Dual Credits offered?
Dual Credits are offered at all YRDSB secondary schools through partnerships with local colleges.
Visit each college’s Dual Credit page to explore available courses and offerings:.
- Centennial College Dual Credits
- George Brown College Dual Credits
- Georgian College Dual Credits
- Humber College Dual Credits
- Seneca College Dual Credits
How and when do I apply for College-Delivered Dual Credits?
To apply for dual credits:
- Speak with your guidance counselor to review options and requirements.
- Complete the online application form.
- Check your Gapps email account for important messages and next steps to the application process.
Learn more about the requirements for Accelerated OYAP Dual Credits.
Information on the orientation dates and times are usually available a week or two before the semester starts. This information is shared by the colleges and will be passed on to the dual credit students.
For more information
Speak with your Guidance Counsellor or visit the Ontario Government Dual Credit webpage.
Learn more about the Accelerated Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program.
Learn more about School Within a College.
Learn more about the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program.
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