Requesting an Ontario Student Transcript (OST)

Ontario Student Academic Records
For Students of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board 

What is an Ontario Student Transcript?

The Ontario student transcript is a comprehensive record of a student’s overall achievement in secondary school and provides a record of standing with regard to secondary school diploma requirements. All students studying in Ontario have an Ontario Student Transcript (OST).  Transcripts may be required for university/college application or for many other reasons.

If you are a former student applying to an Ontario College, you now have the option to request your transcript through the Ontario College Application Service.  See Ontario College Application Service listed below for more details.

What is an Ontario Secondary School Diploma?

The Ontario Secondary School Diploma is a certificate issued and awarded by the secondary school from which the student has successfully completed graduation requirements as prescribed by the Ministry of Education.

Where do I go to get a transcript or diploma?

How much is it for a transcript or a diploma?

Two transcripts are issued free of charge to students who have graduated or retired from their secondary school less than one year ago. Subsequent copies are $5.00 each. 

Students who have been away from their school for more than one year will be charged $24.00 for the first transcript with $5.00 charged for each additional copy.  One duplicate diploma will be issued at a cost of $24.00.  Payment is cash, money order, or certified cheque and must be payable to the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. Please note that Visa/Mastercard, Interac Direct Payment or personal cheques are not accepted. Payment is due and payable when submitting the Request for Student Transcript Form.

What will I need if I come to pick up my transcript or diploma?

You will need identification such as a valid government-issued photo identification (ex. health card/driver’s licence) and payment in the form of cash, money order, or certified cheque. Certified cheques and money orders are payable to the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. 

If a parent or friend is requesting the transcript or diploma on your behalf, they will be required to complete the Request for Student Academic Records, provide a letter from you authorizing their request on your behalf, present a copy of your valid government-issued photo ID, and make payment.

How long does it take to process a request?

Please allow approximately two weeks to process your request, keeping in mind that secondary school offices may be closed for a period during the summer months.

Can I request/receive a copy of my transcript or diploma through the mail?

Yes.  You will need to complete the Request for Student Academic Records, attach a copy of your identification, include a certified cheque or money order made payable to the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, and send to either your last attended secondary school or, if permanently closed, to Corporate Records, 133 Greenbank Road, Ottawa, ON  K2H 6L3.

Will schools or Corporate Records forward my transcript to a University or College?

Yes. You will need to provide the same information as noted above as well as your university or college student number. Indicate on the Request for Student Academic Records the address to which you would like the transcript mailed. For those applying to an Ontario college, you might also want to use the new Ontario College Application Service now available (see below).

Ontario College Application Service (OCAS)

As of November 28, 2008, there is another option for former students of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board who want their transcripts forwarded to Ontario colleges. Simply go to www.ontariocolleges.ca, pay the college application and transcript fees (transcript fees are identical to those charged by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board), and OCAS will send your transcript to all Ontario colleges to which you’ve applied. Students of permanently closed schools of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board may also use this service. The OCAS service enables your electronic transcript to reach its college destination quickly, and allows you to track the status of both your application and transcript requests online.

Note: Students currently in high school need not request a transcript when making application to a college through OCAS, as this continues to be an automatic process of the high school. 
 

What if I just need a letter confirming my education?

At times there are requirements to attest to the graduation, registration or attendance of a student.  Letters of Attestation are prepared on school letterhead if the student is currently enrolled at the school or if the student is a former student.  If the school has been permanently closed, the letter will be prepared on school board letterhead through Corporate Records. Information contained in the letter is verified by the data held in or noted on the Ontario Student Record.   

 To obtain a Letter of Attestation, the Request for Ontario Student Academic Records form must be completed and signed by the student’s parent/guardian, or adult student.  Valid government issued photo identification (health card/drivers licence) must be presented.  If another individual is obtaining the Letter of Attestation on the student’s behalf, a copy of the student’s valid government issued photo identification must accompany the request.

The cost to generate a Letter of Attestation is $10.00, and additional Letters of Attestation for siblings will be charged to a total of $15.00.

I’m going from Ontario to Quebec and want to register my child in an English school in Quebec.  What do I need to do?

 The Government of Quebec requires that a student wanting to attend an English school in the province is eligible according to Quebec legislation.  Eligibility is confirmed through the student having already received English instruction in a school in Canada, or through confirmation that one of the student’s parents or grandparents received the majority of his or her elementary instruction in English in a school in Canada.  Quebec Form 1A is generally provided by the Quebec school board to which the student is registering, although copies are also available through Corporate Records.  Some school boards in the Montreal region request letters on board letterhead instead of Quebec Form 1A.  In either case, Corporate Records processes and issues the form or letter on behalf of current or former students of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board at a cost of $10.00 for the first child and $15 for two or more children. 

What is the charge for photocopies or copies of microfilmed records?

The fee for photocopies or microfiche copies of student academic records is $5.00 per item.