Recognizing Your Experience

Centennial College provides a number of avenues for students who have had some previous relevant experience in the programs they are applying to for their credentials and experiences to be evaluated towards a credit exemption. The college's decision to give applicants advanced placement will be based on evaluation of prior post-secondary education or prior learning criteria.

There are two ways to obtain Centennial College credit for prior learning:

1. Transfer Credit
2. Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)

You may be granted Transfer Credit at Centennial for courses you've taken at an accredited college, university or in some cases, at the OAC level.

Key points to know about Transfer Credit are:

• Credit is granted on a course-by-course basis
• Transfer Credit (and any other credit for learning outside Centennial) can be used for up to 75 per cent of the course credits needed to earn your certificate or diploma at Centennial
• You must be able to provide an official transcript and a detailed description of the courses for which you want credit
• Application forms for Transfer Credit are available at any campus Enrolment Services Office
• You must apply by the deadline set for each semester

Click here to obtain a Transfer Credit form.

Students may request credit based on learning experience acquired through past study, work and life experience. This is known as Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). Using PLAR, it is possible to evaluate your past learning against established academic standards. The end goal: to determine if you should be awarded Centennial College course credit(s).

You may obtain PLAR credit by challenge or portfolio. The challenge process may include exams, interviews, demonstrations and presentations. A portfolio identifies and documents your previous learning as it relates to current college courses. Documentation may take the form of letters, job descriptions, awards, samples of work and licenses. The portfolio is then evaluated by subject experts. The method for awarding credit is identified on Centennial College's course outlines.

Steps to Applying for PLAR

1. If you can demonstrate that your knowledge and skills from work experience or on-the-job training are equivalent to a Centennial College course, you should seek PLAR credit. 
2. You will then be referred to the subject expert. Discuss PLAR opportunities with the subject expert and agree to time frames for completion. 
3. Prepare for the challenge requirement or complete your portfolio, as discussed with the subject expert. 
4. Obtain a PLAR application and pay your PLAR fee. 
5. The subject expert evaluates your work. If you are successful, a grade will be forwarded to the Enrolment Services office.

To demonstrate college-level learning acquired through past study, work and life experience, fill out sections 1, 2 and 3 of the PLAR application form and return it with your non-refundable per-course application fee to any campus Enrolment Services office.