Recognition of Prior Learning

RPL Applications Now Open for Courses Starting Between November 2 and December 18!

We are now accepting RPL applications for courses scheduled to start in the LAST 7 WEEKS of Fall 2020. Please note the following important information:

  • You may submit an RPL application if your course is scheduled to start between November 2 and December 18, 2020. The deadline is Friday, November 6, 2020. (Note: Applications for courses that began before November 2, 2020 will not be accepted.)
  • To apply for credit transfer/equivalency, click this link and login to the RPL Portal: https://helpdesk.nbcc.ca/CherwellPortal/RPLPortal
  • Not sure how to apply? Watch our “How to Apply for RPL” video: https://youtu.be/aoA2yDYA1mQ
  • If you have failed an NBCC course and wish to apply for pre-approval, please talk to your Co-ordinating Instructor or send a message to the RPL Office using the Questions? Ask Us contact form on this page.

Top 3 questions we received about the RPL application process this term:

Question: Can I use one application form to apply for credit toward more than one NBCC course?
Answer: NO. You must submit a SEPARATE application form for EACH NBCC course you are seeking credit for. If you use one form to apply for credit toward more than one NBCC course, your application will be rejected.

Question: How long will it take to receive a result and how can I check my status?
Answer: You should receive a result within 3-4 weeks of submitting your RPL application. Since you must attend class until you receive a result, we encourage you to apply as early as possible to avoid longer wait times. You can check the status of your application by clicking “View Your Open RPL Requests” on the RPL Portal:

View open rpl requests

For detailed explanations of each status type, see the answer to "How can I check the status of my application?" on the FAQ page.

Note: The RPL Office will not respond to individual requests for status updates during the assessment period.

Question: How can I make sure my attachments have been uploaded with my application?
Answer: Click the “Attach” button on the task bar at the top of the form. You should see all of your attachments there:

rpl-attach

Find more answers to frequently asked questions by searching our FAQ page!

Don’t forget to check out these additional features on the RPL Portal:

  • Search for previously evaluated courses to see if your course has been approved for credit in the past (Watch the tutorial here: https://youtu.be/0Uodt26LDI0)
  • View your NBCC course profiles to understand the competencies and learning outcomes for your courses (Watch the tutorial here: https://youtu.be/WtKFgbHL03E)
  • Check the status of your RPL application by viewing your open requests

At NBCC, we recognize that learning happens inside and outside the classroom. Our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program allows you to gain credit for the learning you already possess. You may have taken many different paths to develop this learning, from formal coursework at other post-secondary institutions to informal workshops and seminars, on-the-job training, work experience, volunteerism, military service or family commitments. No matter how or where you gained your experience, RPL provides a way for you to demonstrate your learning and receive formal credit for it.

RPL is not about assessing the student; it’s about assessing the learning.

There are two ways you can be awarded credit towards your program at NBCC:

  • Credit Transfer (CR): You may receive credit for learning you gained from an equivalent course you previously completed at a recognized post-secondary institution if the course outcomes match at least 80% of the competencies required for the respective NBCC course and you achieved a minimum grade of 60%.
  • Credit Equivalency (EQ): You may earn credit for learning you gained from informal learning and experience. Equivalency is also granted when more than one post-secondary course is applied toward credit for one NBCC course. The learning you achieved must match at least 80% of the competencies, scope, and level of learning required in the respective NBCC course.

There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.

Jiddu Krishnamurti

Questions? Ask Us

Use this form to ask questions about RPL or request a meeting with the RPL Coordinator to discuss your application.