Ontario high school guide
How to Get Your 40 Volunteer Hours in Ontario
Ontario high school students need at least 40 hours of eligible community involvement to earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Students can start in the summer before Grade 9, but the school principal ultimately approves planned and completed activities through the school board's process.
Published July 10, 2026 · Reviewed by Becoming July 29, 2026
Direct answer
Complete 40 eligible hours, keep a record of each activity, obtain the required supervisor and parent or guardian signatures, and submit the record through your school's process. Confirm every activity before starting if its eligibility is uncertain.
When can you start?
Students may start accumulating eligible community involvement hours in the summer before entering Grade 9. There is no requirement to complete all 40 hours in one year, so spreading the work across high school can make the process easier and provide time to build a consistent relationship with an organization.
What counts toward Ontario volunteer hours?
Ontario lists settings that may be eligible, but an organization type alone does not guarantee approval. The activity must meet ministry and school-board rules, and students need principal approval when an activity is not already on the board's approved list.
| Activity | Status | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Helping a non-profit, food bank, community event, library, hospital, or public institution | May be eligible | Confirm the role with your school before starting. |
| Religious, cultural, environmental, tutoring, coaching, or community activities | May be eligible | The activity must meet ministry and school-board rules. |
| Paid work or work normally performed for wages | Not eligible | Paid employment cannot be counted as community involvement. |
| A class, course, co-op program, or activity completed during instructional time | Not eligible | Lunch breaks and spare periods may be treated differently by the board. |
| Normal household chores, personal recreation, or court-ordered service | Not eligible | Choose a different activity that benefits the wider community. |
How to record and submit your hours
- 1
Confirm the activity with your school
Check your school board's approved and ineligible activity lists. If the activity is not already approved, Ontario policy says you need principal approval through your board's process before you participate.
- 2
Complete the activity and track every shift
Record the date, organization, supervisor, activity, and number of hours. Keep the information current so the organization and school can verify it later.
- 3
Get the required signatures
Ask the supervisor to confirm your completed hours. If you are under 18, your parent or guardian must sign your record of volunteer hours.
- 4
Submit the record to your school
Follow your school board's form and deadline. The principal is responsible for verifying and approving planned and completed community involvement activities.
Where to find volunteer opportunities
Becoming collects current volunteer roles from participating organizations and selected public sources. Some roles may be suitable for community involvement hours, but Becoming cannot approve hours on behalf of a school. Check the listing, confirm the activity with your school, and then apply through the available path.
Going beyond 40 hours
Ontario introduced Bronze, Silver, and Gold recognition for students who complete 50 or more verified hours. The certificate is issued at graduation and does not replace the original 40-hour requirement.
Read the Minister's Certificate guide →Official sources
Frequently asked questions
How many volunteer hours do I need to graduate high school in Ontario?
You need at least 40 hours of eligible community involvement activities to earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma. The Minister's Certificate of Recognition begins at 50 hours and does not replace the 40-hour graduation requirement.
When can I start earning volunteer hours?
You can start in the summer before Grade 9. Ontario's Policy/Program Memorandum 124 says Grade 8 students may begin accumulating eligible hours during that summer.
What activities count toward the 40 hours?
Eligible activities can take place with non-profits, public institutions, health-care settings, government offices, Indigenous organizations, and religious, cultural, or community activities. School boards set local processes, and your principal approves activities that are not already on the board's approved list.
What activities do not count?
Paid work, activities required by a class or co-op program, most activities during instructional time, normal household chores, personal recreation, court-ordered service, and unsafe or legally restricted activities do not count under Ontario policy.
How do I record and submit my volunteer hours?
Use your school board's community involvement form. Track each activity and its hours, obtain the supervisor's confirmation, add a parent or guardian signature if you are under 18, and submit the record according to your school's deadline and process.
Can online volunteer hours count?
An online or remote activity may count only if it meets Ontario and school-board eligibility rules and your school approves it. Confirm the activity with guidance or your principal before relying on it for graduation hours.
Ontario requirements and school-board processes can change. This page was checked against the linked primary sources on July 29, 2026. Always confirm the current activity and submission process with your school.