Credit for Prior Learning FAQs
Read answers to commonly asked questions about earning credit for prior academic work, from individual to block transfers, required documentation and everything in between.
Questions about transfer credits?
Course outlines are used to help assess course learning outcomes for transfer credits and PLAR. They must come directly from the institution who delivered the course and should include: name of the institution, course name, course code, title along with the year, course description, learning outcomes and grading schemes.
Course outlines are required for assessment of transfer credits.
Transfer credits will be awarded for approved courses from a recognized and/or accredited post-secondary institution achieving a minimum overall GPA of 60 per cent. Some exceptions may apply, please see the Academic Regulations for further information.
You will see the results of transfer credit decisions within the Transfer Credit System. If you are currently registered in the course(s) that you’ve received an approved exemption for, review MyPath to ensure program progression is correct and withdraw from those exempted course(s).
If your transfer credit application was approved and you are currently enrolled in the course, you can withdraw from the course through your Banner account without academic penalty, as long as this is prior to the add/drop deadline.
If the approval comes after the add/drop deadline, you are still able to withdraw from the course through Banner without academic penalty until the withdrawal deadline.
Please see the Important Dates for more information.
Yes, you can still apply for transfer credits if you completed courses at a recognized institution outside of Canada. You will still be required to provide the following: official transcript(s) and detailed course outline(s) (translated if necessary).
Some international transcripts may require to be evaluated on a course-by-course basis by one of the following certified credential evaluation services:
Questions about Prior Learning Assessment Recognition (PLAR)
Prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR) is an academic credit option for learners with significant learning/life experience that may be equivalent to a college/university course credit. It involves the assessment and evaluation of acquired relevant knowledge and skills that match at least 80 per cent of the learning outcomes of a Georgian College course.
Examples of where you can acquire learning:
- On-the-job training
- Non-credit courses / independent study
- Military service
- Community and family activities
- Hobbies and volunteer activities
For a PLAR evaluation, program co-ordinators or academic designate may ask you to provide evidence of your experiences such as:
- portfolio of experiences
- course/workshop outlines and syllabi
- job descriptions outlining duties and activities
- letter from previous/current employer(s)
- formal credentials (certification, accreditation, licence, etc.)
- oral/written/practical challenge examination
At Georgian, there are generally two ways to PLAR out of a course:
Portfolio
A portfolio is a group of documents that shows a record of your experience as it relates to the course.
This may include a resumé, cover letter, certifications, performance appraisals, employer letter, job descriptions, hours worked, etc.
Challenge exam or a demonstration of learning
Challenge exams are developed by the subject matter expert to evaluate your knowledge against the learning outcomes. This may include a written exam or a in person demonstration of knowledge, skills and subject matter.
You will see the results of your PLAR petitions in the Transfer Experience System (TES) dashboard. If you are currently registered in the course(s) that you’ve received an approved exemption for, review MyPath to ensure program progression is correct and withdraw from those exempted course(s).
Payments are non-refundable once you confirm your decision to proceed with the petition assessment, regardless of the outcome in the Transfer Experience System (TES).