Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Turn your work, life, and learning experiences into college credit!

Loyalist College’s PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition) program lets applicants and current students earn credit for what they already know from work, volunteering, or other non-school learning. If you’re eligible, you can receive graded credits toward your program.

How does PLAR work?

Many courses are eligible to challenge through PLAR. The challenge process measures your demonstrated learning against the knowledge and skills required by course outcomes using various evaluation methods. If successful, you’ll earn credit without needing to enroll in the course or module. Make your challenge requests when you are admitted to a program to ensure the process can be scheduled promptly. Please note that you can only attempt the PLAR process once per course.

To challenge a course, you will be required to complete one of the following, as designated by the course outline and the instructor:

Challenge exam
Skills demonstration
Interview
Portfolio

Fees

Tuition fees are charged, as well as a PLAR assessment fee for each course evaluation. PLAR assessment fees are payable in advance and are not refundable. Payment must be received within 5 business days otherwise the application will be cancelled.

Assessment Timelines

PLAR completion times are as follows:

8 weeks for portfolio assessed PLARs
4-6 weeks for other assessments

PLAR Eligibility

To apply for PLAR at Loyalist College, you must:

Be at least 19 years old or have your Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent.
Meet any specific eligibility requirements for the course you’re hoping to PLAR.

Please also note:

You cannot apply for PLAR if you’ve registered in or audited the course in the past 12 months.
You cannot PLAR a course you’ve failed in the last 12 months.
You cannot PLAR a course you’ve already tried to PLAR before.

How to apply to PLAR

If you believe you would be a good candidate for PLAR, please fill out the Loyalist College PLAR Self-Assessment Form.

You will then need to talk to your program coordinator to confirm your PLAR eligibility. If they confirm you are a good candidate to PLAR, please fill out the application below.

PLAR Application Timelines for the 2025-2026 Academic Year:

Fall 2025: August 1, 2025 to September 17, 2025
Winter 2026: December 1, 2025 to January 20, 2026
Spring 2026: April 1, 2026 to May 12, 2026

click here to fill out the plar Application

Note: Transfer of credit and prior learning assessment and recognition are available to applicants to a maximum of 75 percent of certificate or diploma requirements, and 50 percent for degree programs. Misrepresentation of knowledge, experience, or skills would be considered an academic integrity departure under policy ACAD 206 Academic Integrity.

Resources for your PLAR application