Credit for Learning From Work or Life Experience
(PLAR) Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition
What is PLAR?
PLAR is a process that allows individuals to identify, document, have assessed and gain recognition for prior learning. The learning may be formal, informal, or experiential. 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
The Benefits of PLAR
How the recognition or prior experiences can benefit your educational journey:
- Reduce time spent earning a credential
- Build self-confidence and improve motivation for learning to have skills recognized
- Demonstrate what you already know and are able to do
- Clarify employment and educational goals
- Validate learning from work or life experiences
- Gain academic credits, occupational certification
How is PLAR Assessed?
If you have been accepted into a program at Humber, and confirmed your acceptance through ontariocolleges.ca, you can begin applying for exemption from a course(s) through the PLAR process. By participating in the PLAR process, you will be expected to showcase gained skills and knowledge by submitting either a or writing a .
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Students should continue attending classes while waiting on transfer credit or PLAR results.
Learning Portfolio - A learning portfolio is a collection of materials that document the knowledge and skills a student has gained outside a formal educational environment. The applicant will need to compare their knowledge and skills to specific learning outcomes for the Humber course they are seeking credit for. Requirements will vary from program to program, but may consists of some of the following:
- Chronological and academic records
- Life history paper
- Learning outcomes or competency statements
- Verification of learning (documentation)
- Resumé and cover letters
- Letters of employment or reference letters
- Project and/or presentation
- Skill demonstration, role-playing or simulations
- Interview
- Development of product(s) designed to demonstrate specific knowledge and skills in action
Challenge Exam - Usually a written or oral test, and/ or structured interview or assignments.
PLAR For English Courses
Based on prior learning gained through previous employment experiences, some mature students may qualify for an exemption from their second required English communications course (e.g. WRIT 200, WRIT 208, WRIT 220, etc.).
To qualify for a PLAR, students are required to show evidence of mastering the essentials of workplace writing forms by submitting a portfolio of documents produced within professional contexts. The portfolio should contain at least four of the five following items and total at least 2000 words:
- Cover letter
- Resume
- Assortment of workplace communications
- Proposal
- Formal research report
To apply, students should follow the steps below.
The cover letter should (a) describe your work experience, with a focus on the research and communication skills you needed to use in this experience and (b) provide an overview of what you’ve included in your portfolio. You should consult the learning outcomes of the course for which you are seeking PLAR so that your cover letter addresses how you’ve met these learning outcomes.
Your resume should highlight your work experience and make reference to specific tasks that required reading, writing, and/or presentation skills.
Provide multiple examples of at least two different types of workplace communications you created during employment. These types of communication can include, but are not limited to, letters, memoranda, email, social media campaigns, infographics, newsletters, press releases, wikis, blogs, and websites.
Provide a proposal you wrote during employment that uses appropriate formatting for the context. The topic area of the proposal is flexible. Some examples of acceptable proposals include, but are not limited to, funding, research, methodology, and professional development proposals.