Prior Learning and Recognition Process

Are you are an experienced natural resource professional wishing to further your career by completing professional development skills training and certification?

If so, we want to help you get there – as quickly and inexpensively as possible.

We have developed a process that allows you to acquire credit for your prior knowledge and practical skills gained through employment, volunteering, and/or prior education. This process will recognize your lifetime of experience and education, and award credit for a specific NREP course offering, that may then be applied toward completion of a specific NREP certificate program.

What is Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition?

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) is a process whereby students can acquire credit for their academic and practical experience completed to-date. With PLAR, we can formally acknowledge that your experience matches what we teach in a specific course or program. If you have acquired learning through non-formal education such as work experience, self study, volunteer activities and other life experiences.

What are the benefits of PLAR?

Today’s job market is ultra-competitive, where credentials are ever-increasing even for entry-level positions. Combined with a rapidly changing job market, learners are required to continually upgrade and re-tool and adopt a life-long approach to learning. By offering our PLAR process, learners can afford to keep current and obtain accredited training at a much-reduced cost.

Additional benefits include:

For you:

Validates learning gained through life experience
May reduce the cost and time to complete formal education opportunities
Assists with career planning and advancement
Increases access to education
Eliminates duplication of learning and effort
Encourages students to pursue education

For us:

Provides an important service for natural resource learners
Increases access to a wide range of learners
Allows us to offer more appropriate learner placement in programs
Increases our efficiency by eliminating unnecessary courses and programs

What programs are eligible for PLAR?

NREP will offer credit for individual course(s), leading to completion any of the following certificate programs:

What are my options to acquire credit?

NREP provides three opportunities for you to acquire credit:

1. Transfer Credits

Applicants can receive credit for previously-completed accredited training. NREP and Vancouver Island University staff will review applications for credit towards completion of specific NREP certificate programs.
Applicants are required to:

Complete and submit (with payment) the NREP PLAR Application Form, identifying “Transfer Credit” as the challenge option
Submit official certified transcripts
Submit detailed course outlines (showing learning outcomes, hours of instruction [class vs field where applicable])

Notes:

Two to three months is required to review Credit application.

2. Challenge Process

The challenge process measures the applicant’s knowledge and experience as it relates to the learning outcomes for a specific course. Applicants who believe they have sufficient knowledge and experience related to a specific course are permitted to ‘challenge’ that course by completing a classroom-based (theory only) PLA-designed knowledge evaluation (KE). Applicants will be required to achieve a passing grade (70% or better) on the evaluation to acquire credit for that particular course.

Complete and submit (with payment) the NREP PLAR Application Form, identifying “Challenge Process” as the challenge option
NREP faculty will notify you of ‘next steps’
Note: Applicants will need to arrange an examination site and date, and retain a Proctor (supervising official)
All costs associated with arranging a Challenge Process are the responsibility of the applicant. Such costs may include retaining a Proctor, travel to an assessment site, correspondence with Proctor and NREP faculty.
Applicants will have one hour to complete the KE
Applicants will be responsible for acquisition of self study materials
Proctor is to submit the completed exam by fax and mail

Notes:

Applicants will be required to achieve a passing grade (70% or better) on the evaluation.
Applicants must have 3 years of applicable practical experience to apply for Challenge Process option.
Credit will be granted consistent with the required objectives and outcomes of NREP and VIU programs and courses.

3. External Course/Program Assessment

NREP has developed a process for evaluating courses, workshops, or programs offered by unaccredited providers (e.g., industry, non-profit organizations, etc.)

This application option is similar to the Transfer Credit Application process. Applicants are to submit a Training Assessment Application, detailed course outlines, and any/all grading information. NREP staff will then review the application for credit towards completion of specific NREP certificate programs.
Applicants are required to:

Complete and submit (with payment) the NREP PLAR Application Form, identifying “External Course Assessment” as the challenge option
Include course transcripts (if applicable)
Include detailed course outlines (showing learning outcomes, hours of instruction [class vs field where applicable])

How Do I Apply for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition?

Three easy steps:

Complete and submit (with payment) the NREP PLAR Application Form, identifying “External Course Assessment” as the challenge option
Await response from NREP staff – you will receive a detailed submission package via email.
Upon receipt of the detailed submission package, please review directions, complete and follow instructions for submission.

How many course credits can be awarded through PLAR?

Applicants may apply for a Statement of Course Completion, with the intent to then apply that credit towards completion of one of the NREP Certificate programs (please refer below). In the PLAR process, we will grant credit for select individual courses (see below) The applicant is expected to then complete the remaining courses in person for a given certificate program.

Program	# of course modules	Eligible for PLAR
Aboriginal Environmental Technician Certificate Program	14	Stream Measurements (3d) Fish Inventory Methods (2d)
Essential Fisheries Field Skills Certificate Program	5	Inventory & Capture Methods (3d) Habitat Assessment Methods (3d)

*Note: Electrofishing certification is not eligible for PLAR.

For a particular course challenge, the award of credit will depend upon the nature and extent of the learner’s application and background, and how adequately it then matches the learning outcomes for a given course. NREP staff will work closely with all applicants to maximize their credit options.

How will PLAR credit be awarded on a transcript?

Vancouver Island University (VIU) will record PLAR credit in an identical manner in which grades are recorded and finalized. For programs where no grade is issued, credit will be displayed by the “CR” designation.

Is there a PLAR appeal process?

At present, there is no appeal process for the PLAR. However, applicants are advised to contact NREP with any feedback and request that their application be reviewed by an external reviewer (VIU PLAR faculty member).

How much does PLAR cost?

The PLAR Application fee applies to each course being ‘challenged’ for credit. The fee will vary per course challenge option, regardless of the ‘challenge’ option chosen (below).

Option	NREP Services Performed	Cost
Transfer Credit	Review with VIU Advising Department	No fee
Challenge Process	Issue course-specific PLAR Knowledge Evaluation, correspondence	$100 per 1- day course $200 per 2- day course $300 per 3-day course
External Training	Issue course-specific PLAR Knowledge Evaluation, correspondence, administration, registration	$100 per 1- day course $200 per 2- day course $300 per 3-day course

Option

NREP Services Performed

Cost

Transfer Credit

Review with VIU Advising Department

No fee

Challenge Process

Issue course-specific PLAR Knowledge Evaluation, correspondence

$100 per 1- day course
$200 per 2- day course

$300 per 3-day course

External Training

Issue course-specific PLAR Knowledge Evaluation, correspondence, administration, registration

$100 per 1- day course
$200 per 2- day course

$300 per 3-day course

Notes:

The fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Acceptance as a PLAR candidate is dependent upon the applicant’s relevant experience, education, and application. The PLAR process alone does not guarantee acceptance as a PLAR candidate.
Credit granted through NREP and VIU are resident with Vancouver Island University.
Assessment fees charged to students will be based on the services performed not the number of credits granted.
PLAR application is available any time of year, with approval by NREP
Time of assessment may vary by option chosen.
Unsuccessful applicants will not have results noted on their transcript of grades.
Applicants will not be eligible to apply if:

They have previously failed the course at VIU.
They have previously unsuccessfully challenged the same course at VIU.