Prior Learning Assessment
In some circumstances, UNB students or students in the process of applying to a UNB program may have attained university-level learning through means other than formal university or college courses.
UNB has a progressive Prior Learning Assessment policy whereby a student's previous learning can be evaluated and may be credited towards a specific UNB program of study.
Prior Learning Assessment refers to the systematic evaluation of learning which an individual has achieved through work, life and educational experiences, and the relating of that learning to the expected learning outcomes of courses and programs in which the individual is enrolled at UNB for the purpose of granting credit where appropriate. PLA is not the granting of credit for experience but rather for demonstrated learning acquired through experience. An information brochure on PLA at UNB is available through the College of Extended Learning.
The advantages to you--the student--are many. The credits obtained through PLA may
• Reduce the amount of time required to earn a degree
• Provide an incentive for you to begin a university program, which you might otherwise not have undertaken
• Reduce duplication of learning and increase motivation for learning through appropriate student placement and exposure to new and challenging content.
In short, PLA demonstrates to you that UNB values the learning that you bring with you and that we want to ensure that appropriate learning is credited when you enter a UNB program.
Application Procedures for PLA
Download the PLA Flow Chart to help you begin the process
Download Application Form for PLAR Credit
If you are currently admitted, or in the process of admission to a UNB degree program, contact the College of Extended Learning (506 458-7976) or email pla@unb.ca to set up an appointment with the Coordinator of PLA Services.
Bring a detailed resume that outlines:
• Your educational background, both formal (e.g., institution-based courses/programs) and non-formal (e.g., work-based seminars, workshops, and self-study)
• Your work experiences including specifics regarding responsibilities for each position held
• Any other personal/professional information that may be relevant for PLA
• Non-formal training, and non-formal education i.e. certificates/diplomas, professional workshops – include a brief description of your learning/ dates of training/ and length (in hours) of training. At some point, content of the training will be needed as part of your final assessment application.
After an initial meeting, the Coordinator will be able to give you an indication of how to proceed (i.e., whether your situation will be taken to the next level, (Dean's office of the Faculty through which you are seeking credit)), and if so, what you will need to provide as documentation for that committee.
In order to make an assessment of your learning as it relates to the program you wish to enter (or in which you are admitted), the Faculty-based assessment committee needs to understand the following components. It is your responsibility to provide documentation outlining:
• Prior knowledge/skills
• Relevance of your learning related to the desired outcomes of the program/course(s) for which the Prior Learning Assessment credit is being sought
• Analysis and evidence of your learning is presented and assessed through one or more of the following methods determined by the faculty:
o Portfolio of learning experiences
o Interview with content specialist
o Challenge exam
o Product or skill demonstration
Each case is treated individually and assessments are completed in a variety of ways to suit individual situations.
The Coordinator of PLA Services can help you in preparing this documentation. After the initial meeting with the Coordinator, you can register and access the PLA Toolbox through Blackboard to help you understand the assessment requirements and documentation needed.
Once you feel confident that your PLA submission addresses the assessment criteria, complete the PLA application, pay the fee and submit your documents to the PLA Coordinator.
The Faculty-based Prior Learning Assessment Committee will then assess your submission for possible credit.
The Coordinator of PLA Services will provide a response and make recommendations to you regarding your Prior Learning Assessment application.
If credit is granted for specific course(s), it will appear on your UNB transcript as a "CR" for each course. In some instances there may be an award of an unassigned credit towards your program (e.g., for elective courses); this also appears as "CR" on your transcript.
Awarding partial credit for a course is also an option (partial credit does not appear on the student's transcript). When partial credit is awarded for a course, you will be asked to perform additional work to complete the course requirements and receive full credit for the course. Additional work to be completed will be specified in writing by the committee.
Note: The PLA process can take a significant amount of time; it is, therefore, advisable to contact the Coordinator of PLA Services well in advance of when an assessment decision is needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
| PLA is different from Transfer of Credit in that PLA evaluates learning you have gained from life and work experience, and Transfer of Credit provides credit for previous formal course work. Transfer credit can be granted for Ontario Academic Credits (OAC), CEGEP, or work done at other universities or colleges as well as work done at UNB.
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University students, as they journey through their undergraduate degree programs are expected to:
- Develop a broad perspective of the important concepts, principles, or theories in their field of study, including how to: apply these abstract concepts in practice; use these concepts to reflect on their practical experiences; and form connections between related discipline areas.
- Develop an understanding of how knowledge is created in their field of study, including how to: critically analyze information; construct a valid argument; read and analyze research findings; and use research methodologies.
- Develop an ability to use the formal language of a field or discipline, including how to: use the ways of communication (oral and written) accepted by academics and professionals in their field; write reports or essays and give oral presentations in the style appropriate for the discipline area.
- Develop their understandings of knowledge and themselves as learners, including: perceiving and accepting a range of possible views on a particular issue; making interpretations of reality and documenting their changed understanding of particular issues. (Wong, Angelina. (1996) Prior Learning Assessment: A Guide for University Faculty and Administrators. Saskatoon: University Extension Press, University of Saskatchewan.)
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| Adult learners may acquire university-level knowledge and skills by engaging in, for example, independent study, paid or voluntary work, travel, military courses/training and/or work-based courses and training programs. |
| No. There is no minimum or maximum age requirement to qualify for application to the PLA process. PLA credits will show on the student's transcript only after registration is completed. |
| With few exceptions, a minimum of 50% of courses towards a UNB degree must be taken at UNB. Some programs have specific requirements within their programs as well, so it is important to check with an academic advisor when starting the PLA process.
It is, therefore, possible to achieve a maximum of 50% of the university credits required for a UNB degree through transfer credit and possibly the PLA process as well. The number of credits that a PLA candidate obtains depends upon the nature and extent of their learning, and how well their learning matches the program requirements for which application of PLA has been made; however the average is 9 credit hours. |
| Yes, you must either be registered in a university program or be in the process of applying for registration into a university program. |
| Yes. In some cases, you may need some experience in your UNB program to identify courses for which you might seek PLA. |
| Yes. There is a non-refundable service fee of $400.00 per application. The PLA fee is for the assessment process and is not related to the amount of credit awarded or not. Once you have met with the PLA Coordinator and finalized your PLA submission, you will then complete the PLA application form and pay the fee in order to have your learning assessed for academic credit. |
You should begin by contacting:
The PLA Coordinator to set up an appointment
Telephone: 506-458-7976
Fax: 506-453-3572
Email:
The PLA Coordinator will provide academic advice and information, determine your eligibility, and assist you through the processes of PLA.
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