Prior Learning Assessment
Lakeland College will assess and recognize prior learning—knowledge and skills—associated with a prospective student's educational experience and training directly related to their program of study.
If you are a Canadian or permanent resident that assessment includes:
- transfer credit
- course substitution
- prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR)/advanced credit (AC)
Only transfer credit and course substitution are available to international students.
Transfer credit is based on prior formal learning experiences supported by an official transcript from another Canadian institution. See the transfer credit page for more information.
Course Substitution is based on prior formal learning from Lakeland College courses taken in a previous program. If appropriate, those courses may be substituted as meeting requirements for a new program. This is also known as a internal transfer credit.
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)/Advance Credit (AC) is based on informal learning experiences demonstrated by a student’s subject matter knowledge in a particular course. The demonstration can be by various means including, but not limited to:
- portfolio assessment
- interviews
- oral examination
- challenge examination
- practical and/or laboratory demonstrations
Please note:
- You must apply to the department chair for PLAR/AC.
- You need to pay the appropriate non-refundable fee, normally equivalent to the tuition fee for that course.
- No application for PLAR/AC will be assessed before the fee has been paid.
Complete details on all these assessments can be found in Lakeland's Student Procedure 5.61 - Assessment and Recognition of Prior Learning.