“Am I Ready?” Checklist

This information will help you determine if PLAR will be a potential pathway for you. The information and checklist will guide you in understanding the types of documentation you will need to submit as part of a PLAR portfolio. Before starting your application, contact the PLAR Manager, who will work with you to assess your potential for success with the PLAR process.

Recognition of prior learning is awarded for verifiable knowledge and skills, not just for the experience alone. Applicants will submit three main types of documents to support their competency claims.

1. Primary Documents – items that the applicant has written, created, or otherwise developed on their own or in collaboration with others. Examples include memos, manuals, strategic plans, PowerPoint presentations, etc.
2. Secondary Documents – items that provide support and context to primary documents. Examples include performance evaluations, industry licenses and certifications, resource materials, certificates, awards, etc.
3. Letters of Attestation – a letter written by a supervisor or other qualified individual who has a strong understanding of the candidate’s work and learning outcomes, and who has provided feedback on their performance.

As you review the checklist, consider areas of your life where considerable learning and skill acquisition have occurred, such as employment, volunteering, coaching, and extra-curricular activities. Keep in mind that you don’t need to have every item checked off to consider pursuing PLAR opportunities.

Paid Work (Part Time or Full Time)

• Do I have job descriptions for the positions I held?
• Do my employers have documents that reflect the nature of my work and the time spent completing this work?
• Do I have performance evaluations or commendations for my work?
• Do I have extensive professional development experience that my employer can validate?
• Do I have documents that can prove my competence, such as templates or spreadsheets?
• Do I have finished products that prove my ability in a certain area, such as reports or presentations?
• Will my employer/supervisor/clients be willing to provide letters of attestation to support my application?

Unpaid Work (Volunteer Work)

• Do I have descriptions for the positions I held?
• Does the organization have descriptions of the work I completed and how much time I spent doing this work?
• Do I have performance evaluations or commendations for my work?
• Do I have newspaper clippings or articles demonstrating my ability with this organization?
• Will others within the organization, such as my supervisor, provide a letter of attestation to support my application?

Non-Credit Learning

• Do I have any documents that support the narrative of events that had a significant impact on my life? Examples: Special awards, medals, honours, or certificates
• Do I have confirmation of courses, workshops or training that were completed outside of a post-secondary accredited institution?
• Do I have any work products that demonstrate university-level competency gained by applying skills within the workplace?
• Do I have or can I obtain letters of attestation affirming advanced understanding in a particular area?

PLAR applicants will be required to create a competency-based portfolio. Applicants will receive a guide to help them with this portfolio creation.

Your review of the above checklist will play a crucial role in helping to determine whether you should proceed with your application.

If you feel ready to move forward with PLAR, contact [email protected] to book a consultation with the PLAR Manager.