PLAR - Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition
What is PLAR?
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for mature students provides a quicker way for adults to acquire credits toward a high school diploma. The PLAR assessment process looks at your life and work experiences and can award you credits for that experience, as well as grant equivalent credits for successful completion of assessments.
Who is a Mature Student?
A mature student is a student who is:
- at least 18 years old on or before December 31 or August 31 of the school year;
- is enrolled in a secondary school credit program for the purpose of obtaining an OSSD.
Who Participates in PLAR?
Students who are new to the Ontario secondary school system as of February 1, 2004 and Ontario high school students who were enrolled in an Ontario school in 1999-2000 or later and who are working towards a diploma.
What About Maturity Credits?
Students who were enrolled in the Ontario secondary school system prior to 1999 and who continue to work towards their OSSD under OS:IS or HS1 diploma requirement do not have to participate in the PLAR process. These students could be granted credits under the PLA (Prior Learning Assessment) maturity credit process.
Grade 9 and 10 Individual Assessment / Equivalency Process
What is it? An individual student assessment / equivalency process for the purpose of granting up to 16 Grade 9 and 10 credits through (a) transcripts, or (b) transcripts and completion of individual assessments, or (C) completion of individual assessments.
Students without appropriate transcripts for all or part of the first two years of secondary school will be required to complete an individual assessment in some or all of Grade 9 and 10 English, Mathematics, Science and Canadian Geography/History.
Does this program earn a certificate? The principal may grant the OSSC (Ontario Secondary School Certificate) to a mature student following successful completion of the individual assessments. Unlike adolescents, mature students are eligible to receive this certificate and continue to pursue and earn an OSSD in the future.
Grade 11 and 12 Equivalency Process
What is it? The process for obtaining credits that involves an evaluation of a mature student's education and/or training credentials and/or other appropriate documentation of learning gained from other programs, courses or work experiences. This is a very individual process and is unique to each student.
What is the process?
- be enrolled in a secondary school course
- complete the PLAR Application provided by the guidance counsellor
- present credentials/ documents that show evidence of learning that relates directly to the Ontario curriculum expectations for specific courses
- complete any supplemental forms to demonstrate learning (determined by guidance counsellor) or submit other evidence (resumes, ROEs, T4s, lease agreements, baptismal records of children, etc.)
Points to Remember
- Students must earn a minimum of four Grade 11 and 12 credits after mature status is reached (Including Grade 12 English) by taking the necessary courses.
- Students may obtain no more than ten Grade 11/12 credits through the equivalency/ challenge process unless they have graduated with a diploma or degree from a Canadian accredited post secondary institution or they are registered as an Ontario Skilled Trades person.
- Principals may grant half-credits only for specific half-credit courses.
