Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)

Before applying for PLAR, please read this page carefully to understand the service.

If you are required to have completed the CPHR Course Requirements to qualify for the National Knowledge Exam (NKE) or to qualify for the NKE exemption, and you have completed course(s) that you need to have assessed, you may obtain Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) here.

You can check This Page to determine if any of the courses you have taken have been previously assessed as equivalent to those in the CPHR Academic Certificate Program. We will also assess postsecondary courses that you have taken, which have not been previously assessed.​

Please read this first.

  • If you have not checked the Pathways to Certification on the website of the CPHR Association of your province of residence, please do so before registering for PLAR on this website. Please note that if you are an Alberta Resident who has taken courses that may be equivalent to the CPHR Academic Program, whether listed on this site or not, your PLAR will be handled by CPHR Alberta. Please contact: jcarson@cphrab.ca

  • If you submit academic transcript(s) showing successful completion of a complete program that has been previously accredited by CPHR as equivalent to the complete CPHR Academic Program, contact your provincial CPHR Association and do not apply for PLAR.

  • If you have completed a full program accredited by HRPA of Ontario, you do not need to apply for PLAR. Your provincial CPHR Association will accept the transcript as proof of completion of the required courses.

To apply for PLAR for the course(s) you have taken, the Steps are as follows:

  1. First, Create a CPHR Academic Program Portal Account, if you do not already have one. Please do not create a second Portal Account as it will not allow your PLAR to be completed properly.

  2. Then, Register for PLAR with your Portal Account.

  3. You will need to prepare your academic transcript(s) in PDF format for PLAR. Before uploading your transcripts, please access the links for the detailed Course Outlines for the CPHR Academic Program on This Page. Then, highlight or checkmark courses on your academic transcript(s) that match those in the CPHR Academic Program and Upload Your Transcript(s). Do not attach your transcripts to an email. By using the transcript & course upload page, your transcripts will be associated with your PLAR registration.

  4. After uploading your academic transcript(s), check the Status of Your PLAR Registration for a personal note. You will also be sent a PLAR Registration fee statement for $50 plus tax that must be paid before proceeding further. If your registration fee has not been paid after 3 months, your PLAR registration will be deleted.

  5. Within about 5 business days after you have paid your registration fee, please check the Status of Your PLAR Registration again. You may be asked to upload detailed course outlines for any course(s) on your transcript that may be equivalent to those in the CPHR Academic Program and which have not been previously assessed. If your Status note contains a question or request requiring your response, it must be responded to within 3 months. If not, your PLAR application will be deleted.

  6. After your course assessment has been completed you will receive a second fee statement for your PLAR course assessment(s) as listed below. If that course assessment fee statement has not been paid within 3 months after it is issued, your PLAR registration will be deleted, unless you have made special arrangements with Captus Institute for extending it.

  7. About 10 days after the payment of your course assessment fee, if all the required information, including required transcript(s) and course outline(s), has been submitted, you can check your PLAR Detailed Results for your formal PLAR document that may be saved and printed. Your PLAR document will be made available to CPHR.

Fee Schedule for PLAR:
All Fees are Non-Refundable, and are subject to applicable tax.

  • Fee for PLAR registration is $50.

  • Fee for verification/assessment of those courses which have been previously assessed is $15 per course.

  • Fee for verification/assessment of those courses which have not been previously assessed is $60 per course.

Terms and Conditions of Registration for PLAR:

  • The minimum grade required in an external course to be considered for Equivalency is 65% or C+. For multiple external courses to be considered equivalent to one CPHR AP Course, or a full program equivalency of 9 courses to be considered, the minimum grade in any of the courses is 60% or C and the minimum average grade over all the courses is C+.

  • When submitting an application for completion of course(s) that has been previously assessed as equivalent to the CPHR Academic Program, a copy of the official transcript of course completion must be uploaded.

  • When submitting an application including an assessment of course(s)_ that have been previously assessed as equivalent to CPHR Academic Program courses, a copy of the official transcript of course completion must be uploaded by the registrant.

  • When submitting an application for assessment of course(s) that have not been previously assessed as equivalent to CPHR Academic Program courses, a copy of the official transcript of course completion and detailed course outlines showing topics, learning objectives showing topics, learning objectives and required readings must be provided by the registrant.

  • An assessment of equivalency to a CPHR Academic Program course requires 70% coverage of learning objectives, scope, and depth of coverage of the subject by the course(s) being assessed.

  • Registrants for PLAR agree to pay the above listed non-refundable fees.​​

  • Registrants for PLAR agree to respond to requests for fee payment or other notices and requests regarding their PLAR application within 3 months, or their PLAR application may be cancelled.