Dual Credits

Dual Credits

Dual credit programs are programs approved by the Ministry of Education that allow students, while they are still in secondary school, to take a college or apprenticeship course that counts towards both their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and a postsecondary certificate, diploma, degree, or a Certificate of Apprenticeship.

Dual credit programs are intended to assist secondary school students in completing their OSSD and making a successful transition to college and/or apprenticeship programs.

Who are Dual Credit Programs for?

Dual Credit Programs are aimed at students who:

  • Are currently exhibiting the potential to be successful in a college setting and have faced challenges in completing the requirements for graduation. This group includes first-generation students, students lacking confidence in pursuing post-secondary, disengaged and underachieving students who have the potential to succeed but are at risk of not graduating, and students who left school before graduating. These students are the primary focus of dual credit programs;

Eligible students should meet the following criteria:

  • 16 years of age or older and will commit to attending college each week
  • can potentially graduate within 1 or 2 years, but have not yet graduated
  • have the potential to successfully complete a college course
  • benefit from college and career exploration
  • students who are disengaged and/or underachieving.
  • Students in Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs;
  • Students in the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP).

How does it work?

Students attend classes at Loyalist College one morning a week for approximately 15 weeks. Upon successful completion of the college-delivered course, students earn both a college and secondary school credit which will count towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (elective credit).

Which colleges offer Dual Credits?

Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board partner with Loyalist College.

Please note: These courses do not require tuition fees or apprenticeship classroom fees for their classes/training. In addition, because students will be travelling to the college one morning a week, transportation will be provided.

The Dual Credits Program is offered at:

School Within a College (SWAC)

Beginning September 2023, students will benefit from a new and exciting innovation to the “college-delivered” dual credit model, where secondary school students attend both high school and college courses at Loyalist College. In this School Within A College (SWAC) model, students remain HPEDSB students and graduate from their home school.

Prospective candidates are 17-20 years old who are within range of earning an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with the potential to succeed, with teacher support, in a college environment. Academic programming at SWAC will consist of a combination of college credits, compulsory course completion, credit recovery, experiential learning and personalized workshops delivered by the college in areas like mental health and wellness, student success mentoring, career-life planning and breaking down financial barriers for post-secondary education.

Transportation to and from the college will be provided free of cost for the student and funded through the Ministry’s School College Work Initiative (SCWI).

To learn more, contact the secondary school Guidance team.