51³Ô¹Ïapp

Frequently Asked Questions


General FAQs

How can I benefit from RPL?

RPL may help you get your diploma or certificate from 51³Ô¹Ïapp by reducing the number of courses you are required to take. This does not change your overall program length, but having a lighter course load each term can give you more time to study or pursue other activities.

The RPL application process can also help you prepare for job interviews as you assess your prior learning and prepare documentation that demonstrates your knowledge and skills.

What are the differences between credit transfer and credit equivalency?

Credit transfer is when you receive credit for learning you gained from one or more equivalent courses you previously completed at a recognized post-secondary institution. You may submit up to four previously completed courses for credit toward one 51³Ô¹Ïapp course. You must have achieved at least 60% in the course(s) submitted for evaluation and the prior learning must match at least 80% of the competencies and outcomes of the respective 51³Ô¹Ïapp course. Credit transfer is indicated as CR on your 51³Ô¹Ïapp transcript.

Credit equivalency is when you earn credit for learning you gained from work or life experience, non-formal learning, on-the-job training, volunteerism, self-directed study, military service, workshops, etc. The prior learning must match at least 80% of the competencies and outcomes of the respective 51³Ô¹Ïapp course. Credit equivalency is indicated as EQ on your 51³Ô¹Ïapp transcript.

Can I get a refund if I’m approved for RPL?

Full-time students are not eligible for refunds on individual courses that have been approved for credit transfer/equivalency.

Students who earn credit transfer/equivalency for more than 40% of their scheduled program credits in a term are only considered eligible for refund if they applied for RPL in the first application period for that term. See the Application Dates page for details.

IMPORTANT: Switching from full-time to part-time status can impact your eligibility for student loans, study permits/visas, and other funding.

To learn more about refund eligibility requirements, see the Refunds page.

I’ve failed or withdrawn from a course that’s required for graduation. What can I do to make up the credit?

You should first seek academic advisement from a Coordinating Instructor in your school to confirm if you are eligible for pre-approval of credit. Pre-approval is an option for students who wish to make up an 51³Ô¹Ïapp course at an external post-secondary institution. You must submit an application to the RPL Office and be approved prior to enrolling in the external course.

For more details, please see the pre-approval application guide.

Is RPL free?

Yes. There is currently no fee for RPL services at 51³Ô¹Ïapp.

How can I find out which courses I’m eligible to apply for?

You may apply for RPL for any courses* you are scheduled to take in the period designated on the Application Dates page. Check your delivery sequence on the  to find out which courses you are required to take in each term throughout your program.

You can  on how to use the delivery sequence feature.

Tip for finding the correct delivery sequence: To confirm you’ve picked the right delivery sequence, check that the first term listed in the selected delivery sequence is the term in which you began your program. For example, if you started in Winter 2022 but the sequence you pick shows Fall 2022 first, you’ll know you’ve selected the wrong sequence.

*Some courses are not eligible for RPL. Refer to this page on the RPL website to see which courses are not eligible for RPL. 


RPL Application Guidelines

Am I eligible for RPL?

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 (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 51³Ô¹Ïapp 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.  

You may only apply for credit toward courses scheduled to begin within the designated time frame each term (see Application Dates). Applications are usually processed within 3-4 weeks of submission. You must continue to attend class and complete all of your assignments until you receive your result from the RPL Office.

Which courses can I apply for?

You may apply for RPL for any course you are scheduled to take in the period designated on the Application Dates page. Check your delivery sequence on the  to find out which courses you are required to take in each term throughout your program. 

Can I apply if I’m registered in a part-time (Continuing Education) program?

Yes, if you intend to complete the Educational Assistant or Early Childhood Education certificates 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.

When can I apply for RPL?

Please see the Application Dates page for information on application periods and deadlines.

We recommend that you apply as soon as possible once we begin accepting applications. Please check this website regularly for announcements and instructions on how to apply.

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.

Can I use one application form to apply for credit toward more than one 51³Ô¹Ïapp course?

NO. You must submit a SEPARATE application form for EACH 51³Ô¹Ïapp course you are seeking credit for. If you use one form to apply for credit toward more than one 51³Ô¹Ïapp course, your application will be rejected.

Can I use the same previously completed course for more than one RPL application?

It depends. The RPL Office does not grant credit more than once for the same prior learning. Therefore, we would need to perform an assessment to determine whether your previously completed course covers at least 80% of the competencies for both 51³Ô¹Ïapp courses AND if the learning that applies to each 51³Ô¹Ïapp course is different.

If you have used the same course to apply in the past and your application was approved, you should include more courses and/or relevant evidence of informal/experiential learning with your new application.

The RPL Office reserves the right to deny applications when it is determined that the applicable learning from a previous course has already been recognized for credit.

How can I make sure my attachments have been uploaded with my application?

Click the “Attach” button on the task bar at the top of the form. You should see all of your attachments there:

RPL Attachments

What is an official transcript?

An official transcript is an original document detailing a student’s academic record that is generated by a recognized educational institution, includes an official signature, and is stamped with an embossed seal.

How can I check the status of my application?

To check the status of your application, click “View Your Open RPL Requests” on the RPL Portal ():

View open RPL requests 

Assigned” means your application is assigned to an RPL team member for screening/assessing. No work has been completed yet.
In Progress” means your application is being processed by an RPL team member.
Returned” means your application is on hold until you provide required information via email (course outlines, transcript, other supporting documents, etc.).
Forwarded” means your application has been forwarded for assessment.
Pended” means your application is on hold while we wait for you to provide further documentation OR while we wait for results of further assessment.
Resolved” means your RPL request has been processed and your result has been sent to you by email. You have 3 days to notify us if you intend to appeal.
Reopened” means we have reopened your application (e.g. if you have appealed the result).
Closed” means your application is closed and the appeal deadline has passed. The system will no longer accept any emails regarding your application. 

Note: The RPL Office will not respond to requests for status updates while we are processing applications.

When will I receive my results?

Applications typically take 3-4 weeks to process, but there can be various reasons why your results might be further delayed. Sometimes we need more information from you or your previous post-secondary institution in order to determine a result. We may also require assessment feedback from subject matter experts in your school, which can take additional time.

Remember: The RPL Office will not respond to individual requests for status updates, but you can check the status of your application on the RPL Portal. You should also ensure you’ve added @nbcc.ca to your “safe sender” email list and check your junk/spam folder.

Can I appeal an RPL decision?

Yes.  If you wish to appeal, you must notify us within 3 days of receiving the email notification of your denial, include a letter explaining your reasons for appeal and attach supporting documentation that shows new evidence of prior learning that you did not include in your original application.

Appeal requests that do not include new evidence of prior learning will be denied.  All appeal decisions are final.


RPL Policies

Should I apply for credit transfer for courses that I previously took at 51³Ô¹Ïapp that have the same course codes as those required in my current program?

No. If you have already successfully completed courses at 51³Ô¹Ïapp that have the exact same course codes as in your new program, you do not have to apply for credit transfer. You should speak with your instructor and the Administrative Assistant in your department to make sure your previous courses will be applied to your current program.

Can I apply for a credit transfer for a course I failed at 51³Ô¹Ïapp?

No. You cannot apply for a credit transfer using a course taken prior to failing an 51³Ô¹Ïapp course because the most recent measurement of your learning (i.e. the failed 51³Ô¹Ïapp course) indicates you have not retained the learning from the course taken previously. To make up the credit elsewhere, you should complete the pre-approval process.

How many credits can I earn through RPL?

maximum of 75% of your program’s total credits can be earned through RPL. Exception: Students who began their program prior to July 1, 2021 may earn a maximum of 50% of total program credits through RPL.

Note for full-time students: You could lose your full-time status if you obtain more than 40% of credits per term through RPL.

Will my status as a full-time student change if my credit transfer or equivalency application is approved?

Possibly. Students are no longer considered to be full time if they are enrolled in less than 60% of their program’s standard full-time credit hours in a given term. That means you can obtain a maximum of 40% of your program’s standard full-time credit hours in a term through RPL. Before you apply for a credit transfer or credit equivalency, you should calculate whether obtaining the credit would result in a status change from full time to part time, which could impact your eligibility for student loans, sponsorships, or study permits/resident visas.

If you have questions about whether you are at risk of losing your full-time status, you should reach out to your Academic Chair for advice.

If you choose to reject an approved credit transfer/equivalency, you must immediately send an email to notify the RPL Office AND the Administrative Assistant in your school.

I want to reject an approved credit transfer/equivalency because it will negatively impact my full-time status. What should I do?

Send an email to RPL@nbcc.ca and the Administrative Assistant in your school to confirm you wish to reject the approved credit. Your email should clearly identify the course code and title, along with your application Service Request number. 

You must alert us of your decision to reject the approved credit as soon as possible to avoid being removed from your Brightspace course and having the credit transfer/equivalency appear on your transcript.

Am I eligible for RPL if I’m on academic suspension?
No. In order to be eligible for RPL, you must be in good academic standing; however, you may apply when your academic suspension has been lifted.
Are any courses not eligible for RPL?

Please refer to this page on the RPL website for details about which 51³Ô¹Ïapp courses may be ineligible for RPL.

Are high school courses eligible for credit transfer?

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 51³Ô¹Ïapp’s MATH1269/MATH1208 (Math Foundations) and MATH1291 (Mobile Equipment Mathematics).

If you have been accepted to a program at 51³Ô¹Ïapp 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.


RPL Resources

How can I find out which courses have been approved for credit in the past?

Check the Evaluated Courses Master List to see if your previous courses have already been approved for credit toward an 51³Ô¹Ïapp course.

Note: You must submit an RPL application even if your course is approved on the Previously Evaluated Courses list.

How can I find an 51³Ô¹Ïapp course profile/outline?

Use the View Course Profile search feature on the RPL portal to find your course profile:

View Course Profile

Click this link to watch a tutorial on using this feature:

How can I find the complete course schedule by term for my program?

Use the View Delivery Sequence feature on the  to see all the courses you will be required to take each term throughout your program:

View Delivery Sequence

You can .

Note: Delivery sequences are provided for information purposes only. Changes to the schedule may occur under certain circumstances. Please refer to your class schedule once you are enrolled for confirmation.

Tip for finding the correct delivery sequence: To confirm if you’ve picked the right delivery sequence, check that the first term listed in the selected delivery sequence is the term in which you started your program. For example, if you started in Winter 2022 but the sequence you pick shows Fall 2022 first, you’ll know you’ve selected the wrong sequence.

I still have questions about RPL. What should I do?
Email RPL@nbcc.ca or use the contact form on the right side of this page to submit your questions to us. We aim to respond to all inquiries within 24-48 hours.