Programs & Services
Download the “Programs & Services” PDF
Solutions from the simple to the custom
Because no two people or organizations are the same, neither are the solutions we offer. Although the Prior Learning Centre built its reputation on structured Portfolio programs, today we offer a wide range of custom-tailored services to all our clients. So, whether you are an individual or an employer, we’re happy to work with you to devise the perfect prior learning-based service for your specific needs and your unique goals.
If you have any questions about any of the programs and services below, or if you would like more information on a custom solution, please contact us today.
Note: We are a non-profit organization and our programs are offered on a fee-for-service basis. We receive no core funding to deliver programs directly to the general public. If cost is a concern, we can connect you with an Employment Service Provider or other partner in your region who offer our Portfolio Development Program as one of their services.
Portfolio Development Programs
Skills & Learning Portfolio Development Program (general public)
Our original, this is a 30-hour facilitator-led program spread over 10 weeks, designed to guide individuals in a peer-learning environment through a systematic, holistic, reflective process. This transformative program has two goals. First, to help you consciously understand the breadth and depth of your skills and learning. Second, to help you develop a portfolio to showcase your new self-knowledge and its corresponding evidence—which can then be maintained and adapted throughout your lifetime. This developmental PLAR process can be targeted toward the requirements of an academic or training program, occupational/professional certification, or for employment/labour market entry competencies.
Skills & Learning Portfolio Development Program for Adult Learners
Specifically developed for adults with literacy challenges, this program is an adapted version of our original program, above. Using plain language, including more developmental activity in reading, writing and speaking, and providing more relevant assignment samples, learners experience the same reflective processes and discover the same self-knowledge as in the original.
Professional Portfolio Development Program
Delivered via distance, face-to-face, or a combination.
A more targeted version of our original, this program is specifically focused on helping mid-career professionals assess their skills and learning in relation to a set of academic or job-related competencies. Examples of such requirements include the Dalhousie University Masters of Public Administration (Management), or a job description of interest within the participant’s organization. The participant will provide their demonstrated learning accomplishments—and the evidence to support their claims—in a portfolio to be assessed by the appropriate body.
PLAR Practitioner Certification Program
A training program for portfolio facilitators, this program gives participants the skills they need to deliver PLAR portfolio programs within their own organization. This training program involves experiencing the portfolio process first-hand, then undertaking a guided practicum (by delivering it to clients), and then articulating with supporting documentation what you learned from the entire experience. Once certified, PLAR Practitioners can continue to deliver the Centre’s portfolio program through a licensing agreement between their sponsoring organization and the Prior Learning Centre.
Customized Training Programs
Customized workshops
The Prior Learning Centre offers a selection of one- and two-day workshops designed to enhance the skills of staff who interact directly with clients in their service delivery. The Prior Learning Centre will also design and deliver new professional development opportunities, targeted to meet your organization’s needs as requested.
Competencies for Client interview: Cultivating Collaborative Relationships
Facilitating Change and Transition
Facilitation I: An Introduction to Group Work
Facilitation II: Competent Practice with Groups
Lifework Development: An Introduction to Career Theory
Customized PLAR Processes
The Prior Learning Centre can work with your organization or industry group to design, develop and implement a PLAR Process that meets your needs and ensures success in achieving your PLAR goals. We will create participant materials and exercises (working with your content experts, partners and industry stakeholders), develop and refine the appropriate PLAR process, and train facilitators or advisor/assessors to guide participants through the process. We maintain consistent involvement throughout the project to provide quality assurance support/supervision and ongoing PLAR expertise. After creation of the PLAR process and the opportunity to conduct an initial pilot, we will work with you to modify and enhance the model—based on the learning from the pilot experience—to ensure that we have created the most effective process to achieve your goals with integrity and adaptability.
This service is particularly relevant when an industry is facing professionalization, a change in certification or a skills shortage. We can work with stakeholders to:
- identify related fields with comparable skill sets (identifying transferable skills)
- review learning outcomes and competencies to ensure accuracy and integrity
- help liaise with education/training bodies to ensure that pathways exist for participants to fill their gaps and achieve their certification
- help ensure that pathways and options for participants are responsive to their learning styles and that measures exist to help ensure the participants’ ability to complete the necessary steps and achieve success
For an example of our work in this area, please see Continuing Care Assistant PLAR Process.
Career Advising
Offered on an individual basis, our career advising services, delivered by our experienced career counselor, helps participants identify career goals and explore potential options. This service complements the Professional Portfolio@Distance Program as part of a post-program analysis to determine next steps and identify a concrete action plan. This service is available on a fee-for-service basis.
PLAR Challenge Assistance
This is a service for those looking to make a PLAR challenge to an academic institution (to achieve, for example, advanced standing in a program or admission outside of the prerequisites for a program). This unique service provides a PLAR advisor to help participants navigate the education system and prepare relevant documentation in making their challenge. This service requires that an individual has identified a program of formal study at a particular institution and that the institution has agreed to work with the individual to review and consider the PLAR Challenge material.
Knowledge Exchange
The Prior Learning Centre is a leader in translating experience and knowledge in the field of RPL for wider appreciation. We provide a full range of content and process facilitation services to government for multi-stakeholder dialogue and knowledge exchange. The Prior Learning Centre has instigated and facilitated pan-Canadian and provincial strategy sessions on lifelong and life-wide learning on RPL policy development and inter-sectoral collaboration. For more information on the Prior Learning Centre’s research and policy efforts, please see our Publications.
Research and Development
Please consult the Research and Development portion of this site for details on the effective advisory and consulting services available to government, research, and learning organizations.
