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.
How do I transfer credits?
A transfer credit is the acceptance or recognition of credit by Georgian College for courses completed at another recognized and accredited postsecondary institution.
There is no cost to transfer credits.
Access the Transfer Credit System through MyGCLife.
It is advised that transfer credit applications are submitted 60 days prior to the start of your program. This will allow for sufficient processing time to complete the assessment and make changes to course registration (if applicable).
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 Georgian courses require a higher course GPA). Some exceptions by program may apply.
Processing time is typically two to five weeks once receives all required documentation is received, however, these times may be longer depending on the time of year.
You will see the results of transfer credit decisions within the Transfer Credit System. In addition, courses are displayed in MyPath (once you have registered) if they have been accepted and entered into the system.
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).
All international transcripts must be evaluated on a course-by-course basis by one of the following certified credential evaluation services:
Transfer credits are courses previously taken at another institution achieving a minimum GPA of 60 per cent.
PLAR is based on relevant work or life skills and knowledge gained prior to starting your program at Georgian.
If you have any questions about transfer credits, please email registrar@georgiancollege.ca or call 705.722.1511.
You may also stop by in person. We are located in the Office of the Registrar at the Barrie Campus (ground floor of C building).
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
Transfer credits are courses previously taken at another institution achieving a minimum GPA of 60 per cent.
PLAR is based on relevant work or life skills and knowledge gained prior to starting your program at Georgian.
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
Yes, there is an application fee to apply for PLAR. Please refer to the associated fees on the Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) webpage for fee and payment details.
You can apply for PLAR by using the Transfer Experience System (TES).
You can access Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) systems via the Academics page on MyGCLife.
It is recommended that requests for PLAR assessment be made two months (60 days) prior to the start date of the course for which you are requesting a PLAR exemption.
PLAR requests submitted after the start date of the course may not be accepted and will be considered on an individual basis.
Petitions for PLAR are assessed by the academic area’s content experts to determine your previous learning/experience matches the learning outcomes of the respective Georgian College course.
At Georgian, there are 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
Challenge exams are developed by the subject matter expert (lead faculty) to evaluate your knowledge against the learning outcomes.
You can view the results of your PLAR petitions in the Transfer Experience System (TES) dashboard.
Either a grade (when possible) or the designation “P” will be recorded on your transcript.
Once you’ve acknowledged you’d like to proceed with the petition assessment within the Transfer Experience System (TES), charges are final.
Once you’ve acknowledged you’d like to proceed with the petition assessment within the Transfer Experience System (TES), charges are final.