Pre-Approval Application Guide

You are eligible for pre-approval if you:

• Are active in a full-time program;
• Are in good financial standing;
• Have failed an NBCC course that is required for graduation and do not have the option to re-take the course; and
• Have successfully completed (or be in the process of completing*) all pre-requisite NBCC courses leading up to the failed course.

^*Note regarding in-progress pre-requisite courses:
You may submit an application for pre-approval 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.

To determine whether pre-approval is the right option for you, you should discuss your situation with your Co-ordinating Instructor or another student advisor. You can review the Previously Evaluated Courses List with your advisor to check if any external or NBCC courses have been approved for credit toward the NBCC course you need to make up.

If you wish to take a course that has not already been approved, you must obtain a detailed course outline* which clearly identifies the learning outcomes and methods of assessment. This course outline will be assessed against the NBCC course you need to determine whether at least 80% of the competencies, scope, and level of learning match.

*Note: If the course you wish to take is an NBCC course, you do not need to provide a detailed course outline.

The RPL Office, your Co-ordinating Instructor, or a student advisor can provide you with the link to the online pre-approval application form (Note for CIs and advisors: The application link is on the RPL SharePoint site). Please note this link is different from the standard credit transfer application link on the RPL portal. If you submit an RPL credit transfer application for a failed/incomplete NBCC course, your application will be rejected and you will be required to complete the pre-approval application instead.

A separate application must be submitted for each pre-approval request.

Attach the following documentation to the application form:

• A scanned copy of your unofficial NBCC transcript
• If you are applying to take a course that has not already been approved on the Master List, you must also submit a detailed course outline* which identifies the learning outcomes and the methods of assessment

*Note: If the course you wish to take is an NBCC course, you do not need to provide a detailed course outline.

When you submit the application form, you will receive an acknowledgement email confirming that we received your application. To ensure the message does not go to your junk folder, please add “@nbcc.ca” to your safe sender email list.

If your application is approved, you will receive a Letter of Permission outlining the conditions for pre-approval.

If your application is rejected, you may submit another application for pre-approval using a different external post-secondary or NBCC course.

Once you have successfully completed the pre-approved course, request an official transcript* from the post-secondary institution and have them send it via email to RPL@nbcc.ca

*Note: If the course you have been pre-approved to take is an NBCC course, you need only submit a copy of your unofficial NBCC transcript. 

Your transcript must show you achieved a minimum grade of 60% in the course for which you received pre-approval. Once all conditions have been met, your NBCC transcript will be updated and your Academic Chair will be notified.