PLAR

Prior Learning Assessment Recognition (exceptions)

If you have acquired skills through work experience, other unrecognized training programs, or through self-studies or other life experiences, the College may perform a Prior Learning Assessment Recognition (PLAR) process with you. If the skills you have learned are equivalent to the contents of the program, credit will be awarded for that learning gained from experience and not the experience itself. Transfer of credit will also be awarded from courses successfully completed at another recognized school where the objectives are equivalent to the courses objectives within the program.

If a student is granted a course credit, the hour value of that course will be deducted from the duration of the program. For example, a student receiving a credit for a course that has an hour value of 90, then the Contract of Training will have an addendum deducting the 90 hours from the duration of the program, thus affecting the completion date of the program.

If credits are granted within the program, exemption rates will be deducted based on the courses involved. Students have a maximum of two weeks from the start date of their program to apply for PLAR. An Administration Fee may apply to these Assessments. If a student applies for PLAR after the two-week grace period, credit may be granted for the course and time only, not for the exemption rate.

The PLAR process assumes that valid learning is significant and warrants assessment for educational credit. Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition can involve various forms and methods to assess learning.

Methods used to evaluate prior learning:

Oral interviews between assessor and learner
Assessment of “equivalent” courses studied
Challenge exams
Performance evaluations
Documentation (evidence of learning, e.g. transcript, diploma, record of work experiences and proven competencies achieved).