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​​​​​​​SHSM iconFAQs​

  1. ​​​​​​​​Why should I join SHSM? 

  2. What are the program components?

  3. How is SHSM completion recognized?

  4. How do I join SHSM?

  5. Who is eligible for SHSM?

  6. I am not in grade 11 or 12 yet.  How can I plan for SHSM?

  7. I am going into grade 12. Can I still join SHSM?

  8. Won’t it be hard to fit in all of the required courses, especially Coop?

  9. Can I join SHSM even if I am unsure that I will complete all the requirements?

  10. What if my career plans change after I’m in SHSM?

  11. What if I change my mind and don’t want to complete my SHSM?

  12. If something happens, can I return for an extra semester and complete my SHSM after I graduate?

  13. Is there any cost to the student?

  14. If I earn a required certification for my volunteering or job, can I count it toward my SHSM?

  15. Will activities only happen during the regular school day?

  16. Does SHSM help my college or university applications?

  17. Are there any scholarships for SHSM students?

  18. What about Dual Credits and OYAP? Should I consider them too?​


Students in SHSM programs are involved in courses and experiences that match and develop their skills and interests. They are engaged and motivated to succeed because they can easily connect their present-day learning to their postsecondary and career goals. Participants have many opportunities to:

  • explore, identify and refine their goals;
  • develop specialized knowledge and skills;
  • participate in enhanced experiential learning activities;
  • earn industry-recognized certifications;
  • make real-life connections and gain valuable work experience through Cooperative Education.
All SHSM programs have the same five main components:
  • ​a bundle of 8 or 9 grade 11 and 12 credits that provide sector-focused knowledge and skills, including four major credits, two or three other credits such as English and math, and two credits of related Cooperative Education
  • six or seven certifications or training programs, including Standard First Aid, CPR Level C with AED, and WHMIS
  • experiential learning and career exploration activities in the sector
  • reach ahead experiences connected with students’ postsecondary pathways
  • sector-partnered contextualized experiences, such as Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship (ICE) training and math literacy or coding activities
Students who complete the SHSM components while completing their diploma requirements receive:
  • ​a special Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with an embossed red “Specialist High Skills Major” seal;
  • a SHSM Record documenting their achievement of the required components for inclusion in their Ontario Student Record (OSR); and
  • formal recognition on their Ontario Student Transcript (OST).
See your guidance counselor or the SHSM lead teacher.

Students must be in grade 11 or 12 to participate. To ensure that SHSM is a good match for you, attend an information session or talk to your Guidance counsellor and SHSM lead teacher.

Younger students are encouraged to explore their options and plan ahead.
In Grade 8,
  • ​pursue your interests inside and outside of school;
  • use MyBlueprint to begin planning your high school courses and experiences; and 
  • attend Information Night to consult with guidance counsellors and teachers.
In Grade 9,
  • ​take courses that align with your interests, goals, skills, and abilities;
  • explore your options and update your High School Planner in MyBlueprint; and
  • talk to your guidance counsellor about taking a Grade 11 major credit while in Grade 10, if prerequisites allow.
In Grade 10,
  • ​explore SHSM opportunities in your Career Studies course;
  • use MyBlueprint to research and plan for your post-secondary goals;
  • talk to your guidance counsellor about your course selections for Grade 11, including your plan for taking major credits and Coop; and
  • complete your school’s SHSM Registration Form.
Possibly, if you have enough of the required courses and plan to complete the rest in Grade 12. SHSM is designed as a two-year program, so you’ll need to commit to completing all of the requirements in just one year.

With proper planning, students can fulfill all the SHSM components while also meeting their graduation requirements and the entrance requirements for their college or university destination. The bundle of SHSM credits also counts towards the thirty credits needed for a diploma, not as extras, and some SHSM credits, such as English and math, are needed for a diploma already.  As for Coop, students who plan to pursue university studies are advised to complete their cooperative education credits in Grade 11, in order to confirm career interests and accommodate the courses needed in Grade 12 to meet university admission requirements; summer co-op is also an option, starting the summer after Grade 10.  Students should plan how to achieve all their goals in myBlueprint. 

All students in major credit courses can register for SHSM in grade 11. Even if you do not end up completing all the requirements, you will benefit from the certification training, field trips and other learning experiences in that year. If you don’t have a plan to complete all of your requirements by the beginning of grade 12, you will receive a SHSM Record of all your completed requirements and be withdrawn.

You are not locked in. Let your guidance counsellor know that your goals have changed. If a SHSM program exists related to your new plan, you may be able to switch; in certain cases, some courses and certifications may be used toward your new program requirements.

The SHSM program exists to help students identify, explore and refine their goals, allowing them to discover what they like, and just as importantly, what they don’t like, about a possible career path. Students can opt out of the program if their goals or plans change without any negative impact on their records or prospects for graduation.



If something happens, can I return for an extra semester and complete my SHSM after I graduate?
Yes, this may be possible. While the special SHSM diploma can only be granted in a student’s graduating year, a graduate’s subsequent completion of the requirements will still be recognized on the SHSM Record and Ontario Student Transcript.



Is there any cost to the student?
​The cost of completing the program components – including certification training and field trips for experiential learning, career exploration, and reach ahead experiences – will be covered by the SHSM program. Some additional optional activities may be available for a nominal cost. A deposit to reserve a space in a training workshop may be required but will be refunded upon the student’s participation in the training.



If I earn a required certification for my volunteering or job, can I count it toward my SHSM?
Yes, certifications acquired outside of the program may be recognized for SHSM purposes; documentation should be provided to your guidance counsellor, who will add the certification to your SHSM Record.

For the most part yes, but some components of the program may extend beyond the school day; however, ample notice will be provided for your planning purposes. Considerable time and expense are incurred in arranging these opportunities and it is important that students and parents recognize the commitment required; it is imperative that students make every effort to attend these activities or risk withdrawal from the program.

Students identify themselves as SHSM participants on their OCAS and OUAC applications when they apply to college or university. Universities do not factor SHSM into the calculation of admission averages; however, many universities have opportunities for supplemental applications, where students are able to describe how their SHSM experience has prepared them for post-secondary. The SHSM designation and associated certifications and training can also be an advantage when applying for career-related summer employment and university co-op placements or college practicums.

Yes, many colleges and universities recognize the importance of the Specialist High Skills Major designation  and offer scholarships, bursaries and other perks for SHSM graduates. Students are encouraged to search "SHSM" on the websites of their prospective schools. 

Yes. Dual credits allow a student to take a college course (at Loyalist College or St Lawrence College) and earn a high school credit towards their diploma, as well as the college credit. SHSM students are automatically eligible to take dual credits, and certain dual credits also count as major credits for SHSM. Talk to your guidance counsellor for more information.  The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) supports students in sectors such as Construction, Hospitality & Tourism, Non-profit, and Transportation. Certain Coop placements make students eligible to become OYAP participants. Talk to your Coop teacher for more information.

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