Chapter 1: Understanding PLAR
1.1 What is PLAR?
PLAR stands for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition. It is a process used by the college to assess the knowledge and skills you have gained through work, volunteering, training, and life experiences to determine if you are eligible for college credits.
- You must be able to describe how your knowledge and experience is relevant to the Fanshawe College course.
- You should use examples from your job, volunteering, previous education and training, or life experiences to explain what you know and what you can do.
- PLAR may look different depending on the course.
- Some courses will require a Challenge Evaluation (a type of test) and some require you to create a Portfolio, which is a collection of relevant evidence of experience, including certificates, samples of work, or write about what you know.
- More information about Challenge Evaluations and Portfolios is provided in this guide.
- If you already have credits from another college or university, you may be eligible for transfer credit. See the Transfer Credit process to learn more.
The official College policy on PLAR is Policy A124: Recognition of Prior Learning, available on the College website via the College Policy Manual A124 Recognition of Prior Learning (fanshawec.ca)
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