Step-by-Step Application Guide

You are eligible for credit transfer or credit equivalency if you:

• Are active in a full-time (post-secondary) program*;
• Are in good financial and academic standing with the college; [see STUDENT STANDING policy (pdf)].
• Have obtained a minimum grade of 60% in any previous course(s) you are submitting for evaluation; and
• Have successfully completed (or are in the process of completing**) all pre-requisite NBCC courses (if applicable).

*Note for Professional and Part-time Learning (Continuing Education) students:
We will also accept RPL applications from students who intend to complete the Educational Assistant or Early Childhood Education programs through Continuing Education/PPL (part-time). Other Continuing Education/PPL programs are not eligible for RPL at this time. Please note you must be registered in at least one course in order to access the application form.

**Note regarding in-progress pre-requisite courses:
You may submit an application for credit transfer or credit equivalency while you are in the process of completing the required pre-requisites, however, your application will remain on hold until you are able to provide proof that you have been successful in the pre-requisite course.  

**Note Regarding NB High School Students:
At present, the only high school course available for credit transfer is New Brunswick High School's Skilled Trades and Work-Ready Math (Math 120), towards NBCC's MATH1208/MATH1269 (Math Fundamentals).

If you have been accepted to a program at NBCC and you have paid the applicable confirmation fees, you are eligible to submit a credit transfer application for Skilled Trades and Work-Ready Math (Math 120) course completed at a NB high school. Attach a copy of your high school transcript to your RPL application. No course outline is needed. You must have achieved at least 60% or C- in your course to be eligible for credit transfer.

Review the Previously Evaluated Courses list (also called the “Master List”) to see if your previous courses have already been approved for credit toward an NBCC course. Click this link and enter your login details to view the list:  https://helpdesk.nbcc.ca/CherwellPortal/RPLPortal

For help understanding how to use the Previously Evaluated Courses list, watch our video tutorial.

Helpful Tip: You will need to filter on the NBCC course code and your previous institution to find out if your previously completed courses have been approved, rejected, or not assessed.



When entering the course code in the filter field, use the following format: COMM1155 (no spaces and no letter at the end of the 8-digit code).

The list of previously evaluated courses is for INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY and is being made available to assist you in identifying possible credit transfers and/or equivalencies you may be eligible to receive. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this data, errors may exist.

Even though courses may be listed as approved on the list, students MUST submit an RPL application to obtain credit transfer, credit equivalency, or pre-approval.

If your course is not on the Previously Evaluated Courses list, you should use the View Course Profile feature on the RPL Portal to obtain a copy of the course outline for the NBCC course for which you are seeking credit. This will help you to better understand the course competencies and learning outcomes you are expected to achieve.

To view NBCC course profiles, login to the RPL Portal.

Watch the video tutorial on how to search for your course profile.

Next, compare the competencies and learning outcomes listed on the NBCC outline with the prior learning you have achieved through your post-secondary coursework, work experience, or informal learning. If at least 80% of the competencies, scope, and depth of learning match, you should consider submitting an RPL application.

IMPORTANT: Submit one RPL application per NBCC course
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.

Are you submitting formal learning (post-secondary courses) for evaluation?

If you are submitting one or more previously completed courses for evaluation, you must include the following supporting documentation with your application:

• Detailed course outline(s) for previously completed course(s)
  A detailed course outline includes specific information about the competencies and learning outcomes you achieved, as well as the methods of assessment, topic/content list, learning activities, textbooks, and any other details that will help us to determine whether the course matches at least 80% of the competencies, scope, and level of learning required in the respective NBCC course. Applications with insufficient course outlines will be rejected.
  
  Course outlines must be authentic and verifiable and MUST include the same course code as the corresponding code indicated on your official transcript. The RPL Office reserves the right to request additional documentation to confirm the authenticity of course outlines. If it is found that you submitted fraudulent documents or breached the College’s Academic Integrity policy (pdf), your application will be denied and all previous RPL applications will be subject to review and re-evaluation. In addition, you will not be permitted to submit any future RPL applications.
  
  IMPORTANT: The course code indicated on your outline MUST match the related code on your official transcript.
  
  Please note: You may also choose to submit additional supporting documentation to demonstrate the learning you achieved in the course(s) you previously completed. This evidence could include lists of experiments, assignment guidelines, handouts, supplemental documents, etc.
• Official transcript from a recognized post-secondary institution
  Your transcript must show that credit was awarded for your course(s) and that you earned a minimum grade of 60%. You may upload a scanned copy of your official transcript with your application OR if you do not have a copy of your official transcript, you should attach an unofficial version for review. However, in order for your result to be finalized and credit added to your NBCC transcript you must submit an official transcript to the RPL Office no later than 14 calendar days following submission of your RPL application.
  
  If you need to request an official transcript from your previous post-secondary institution, please ask them to email it to the RPL Office at RPL@nbcc.ca.
  
  If your previous post-secondary institution will not email your official transcript to us directly, ask them to mail it to your home address. You can then scan the document and send it to RPL@nbcc.ca. Please include your full name, NBCC student ID, and the Service Request number of your RPL application in the subject line of your email. 
  
  Please note that we do not require official transcripts from NBCC. If you are submitting an NBCC course for credit transfer, you may simply upload your unofficial transcript with your application.

Are you submitting work or life experience and/or non-formal learning for evaluation?

If you are submitting experiential and/or non-formal learning for evaluation, your supporting documentation must adhere to the following guidelines:

• A detailed narrative^* must accompany all applications for experiential and/or non-formal learning. The narrative or self-reflection must provide specific details as to how your experiential and/or non-formal learning aligns with at least 80% of the competencies, scope and depth of learning of the NBCC course. To view NBCC course profiles, login to the RPL Portal or refer to step 3 above.
• A detailed professional résumé and reference letters are required when competencies are linked to specific work-related experiences. Reference letters must be on official company letterhead and should verify your learning as it relates to the various course competencies.
• Where relevant, you should also include secondary sources of documentation ("evidence") that verifies and validates your learning achievements. These sources may take a variety of forms, such as:
  • Outlines, course syllabus, pamphlets, newsletters, or promotional materials
  • Certificates of completion from seminars or workshops, accompanied by details regarding the service provider and the intended outcome of the training
  • Samples of work you have produced which demonstrate the specified learning, such as portfolios, products, models, written reports, visual presentations, published articles, or project plans
  • Video of you demonstrating a skill that addresses one or more of the specific NBCC course competencies
• For each piece of evidence submitted, it is important that you explain its relevance and why you feel it validates your learning.

* Note: When preparing your narrative, please be sure to address the following:

• Using the NBCC course profile, note the course competencies you will be addressing. To view NBCC course profiles, login to the RPL Portal or refer to step 3 above.
• Provide an overview of your prior learning specific to each competency. Use clear, descriptive, and detailed language to describe your knowledge, skills, and learning and how it aligns with the competency.
• How did you learn the skill(s) and/or acquire the knowledge?
• Where and when did you put the knowledge, skills, and learning into action?
• What evidence/supporting documentation are you providing to verify and validate the learning? Evidence/supporting documentation must be clearly labelled and referenced in your narrative.

Do you need to submit English translations of your supporting documents?

All documents submitted with your RPL application must be in English. If your original document is not in English, you must provide an official/professional translation along with the original untranslated document. Any documents that have not been translated by a professional translator will be rejected.

Before you apply, watch this video about completing the application form.

Login to the RPL Portal and submit your application.

Be sure to have all your supporting documents ready so you can submit your application as early as possible.

Note: If your course is short (1-2 weeks), you must apply before the date the course is scheduled to end. We will not accept applications for courses that are nearly or fully completed. Please submit your application as early as possible to avoid being denied for this reason.

When you submit the application form, you will receive an acknowledgement email confirming that we received your application. Please add "@nbcc.ca" to your safe sender email list and check your junk folder regularly in case our messages end up there.

If your application is approved, you will receive an email notification with instructions on how to indicate your acceptance or rejection of the offer. If you accept the offer, your transcript will be updated with a CR for credit transfer or EQ for credit equivalency. The grade you achieved in your previous course is not indicated on the transcript or included in your GPA.

If your application is denied, you may appeal the decision if you can provide new evidence of your prior learning. All appeal decisions are final. For details about the appeal process, see the Frequently Asked Questions.