Credit transfers

Recognition of Prior Learning

RPL serves adult learners who have previous formal education, significant work, and life learning that may be equivalent to one of our courses or programs. This means, you can transfer credits from your previous education that meet the requirements of a Continuing Education course or program. 

The advantages of RPL include:

• Avoids duplicate learning
• Encourages pursuit of life long formal education
• Improves accessibility
• Reduces the cost of an education
• Reduces time to complete Continuing Education programs
• Validates learning through work and life experience
• Aids in career development and planning

The limits and conditions of RPL include:

• Prior learning or experience must be relevant and meet Continuing Education course outcomes and learning objectives.
• Prior learning must be of sufficient breadth and depth to demonstrate post secondary level skills and knowledge. 
• Prior learning cannot be used towards an entire program (i.e. you cannot bypass an entire certificate worth of courses), but towards specific courses within a program.

Fill out Prior Learning Request Form

RPL Pathways

Students may apply for RPL through the following 3 different pathways:

• Credit Transfer
• External Course or Program Assessment
• PLAR Challenge Process or Portfolio Assessment

Credit Transfer

Credit transfer is the transfer of credit for courses completed at other post-secondary institutions. Continuing Education will consider transfer credit for courses completed at post-secondary institutions to the extent that they are applicable to the program study. The courses completed can be for-credit or not-for-credit courses.

The amount of transfer credit awarded is limited to a maximum of 50%. This means that only 50% of a program can be completed by transfer credit and students must complete the remaining 50% of their program through AUArts Continuing Education and Professional Development.

The following limits and conditions apply to transfer credits:

• Only those courses completed with a grade of “C” or better will be considered for transfer credit.
• Courses for transfer credit must have been completed within ten years of the current academic year.
• Studio art courses taken more than ten years prior to the current academic year may be considered for transfer credit upon portfolio assessment.

For a Credit Transfer to be awarded, students must submit the following information:

• An official transcript sent directly from the institution(s) where the course(s) were completed. 
• A course outline for each course that the student seeks to transfer credits. 

External Course or Program Assessment

Continuing Education will evaluate courses or programs offered outside of the post-secondary sphere that are offered through business, industry, community, and other organizations to determine whether they are equivalent to the learning required for a Continuing Education course.

The amount of external course or program assessment that can be counted towards the completion of your program is limited to a maximum of 30%. This means that only 30% of a program can be completed by external course or program assessment and students must complete the remaining 70% of their program at AUArts Continuing Education and Professional Development.

To apply for external course or program assessment students should submit the following:

• A record or document to validate student participation and completion in the external course/program. Documents should include confirmation of registration, participation or completion confirmation, and/or a transcript, when available.
• Information about the institution, business or organization that delivered the prior learning. Specifically including the company’s business address and phone number.
• If available, course and program syllabi or outline(s).
• If syllabi or outlines are not available, students can create a document that includes the following:
  • a detailed description of the course(s)/program
  • a list of the topics covered
  • learning and evaluation exercises
  • length/duration of the courses/program, and
  • any information about the instructor.

Recognition may not be awarded if the appropriate information is not submitted.

The following limits and conditions apply to external course or program assessment:

• If possible, official documents should be provided and sent directly from the institution(s) where the courses/programs were completed
• Documentation will be required for each individual course/program that the student seeks to have recognised.

PLAR Challenge Process or Portfolio Assessment

Continuing Education provides PLAR in two ways:

Challenge Process

A challenge process measures learning through a variety of assessment methods such as exams, projects, assignments, skill demonstrations, evidence collection, and product assessments. A challenge process is required for each course that the student would like to receive transfer credit towards.

The challenges process can require 4-8 weeks to complete. A subject matter expert will be enlisted to establish the challenge process and the student will have a specified amount of time to complete the challenge which will vary based on the type of challenge. Please allow sufficient time prior to the start of your program if you hope to have your worked recognised through a challenge process.

The amount of challenge that can be counted towards the completion of your program is limited to a maximum of 50%. This means, that only 50% of a program can be completed by challenge process and students must complete the other 50% of their program at AUArts Continuing Education and Professional Development.

Portfolio Assessment

A portfolio is a student developed document detailing the learning acquired through work and/or life experience that may be deemed as being equivalent to a post-secondary level course(s).

The portfolio assessment process can require 8 – 10 weeks to complete. A PLAR Portfolio is a comprehensive documentation of your learning, knowledge, and achievements, typically including:

• Resumes/CV’s,
• Documentation of course work and training, and
• Examples of your skills and work that can be assembled in print or digital format.

Portfolio assessments are best suited to individuals who want advanced placement in a program because they have extensive work and or learning experiences that can be supported by concrete examples of their knowledge, skills, and work.

The amount of portfolio that can be counted towards the completion of your program is limited to a maximum of 50%. This means, that only 50% of a program can be completed through a portfolio assessment and students must complete the other 50% of their program at AUArts Continuing Education and Professional Development.

Fees

Each Recognition of Prior Learning Assessment pathways is subject to a specific non-refundable fee:

• Credit Transfer: $75 + GST
• External Course or Program Assessment: $150 + GST
• PLAR Challenge Process or Portfolio Assessment: $275 + GST

Please note: Fees will not be refunded if credit is not awarded through an RPL request.

Appeals

An appeal for a RPL process will require a written request for an appeal that will be submitted to the Dean Innovation, Learning and Development and must be received 30 days after the student has received notification of the RPL results.

To submit a written appeal request please email coned@auarts.ca, with subject line: RPL Appeal Request - Student Name.