Portage College and National Advanced Placement & Prior Learning (N-APPL) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to provide Advanced Credit to current and former members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), based on their military training and experience. Portage College’s Business and Community Social Work departments are spearheading the initiative, with other departments planning to develop and provide new pathways.

The N-APPL Program is a consortium of Canadian post-secondary institutions that recognizes the transferability of military training and professional development to academic programs.

N-APPL partners assess a member’s military experience and training in order to grant block credits in academia, allowing them advanced entry into a diploma or degree program. The goal of the program is to provide current members (PRes and Reg F) and Veterans with greater access to fast-track credentials and greater options for mobility across Canada. Based on individual Member’s Personnel Record Resumes (MPRRs), students can receive up to 9 credits towards their Business program or 6 credits towards their Community Social Work program.

Robin Tizzard, Dean of Health, Human Services and Business at Portage College, noted that many of the skills taught in the armed forces have strong alignment with many of the outcomes of the College’s programs.

“Portage College has had a long history of working with members of the Canadian Armed Forces, and we are pleased to be able to offer pathways that recognize and honour their military training,” she said. “We reviewed the training plans, competencies, and skills that members earn as they receive their credentials and recognized clear instances of leadership, communications, and organizational management. We know that military members come with a strong background of training that prepares them well to enter into our Business and Community Social Work programs, and we are pleased to find ways to recognize some of those credentials. “

“I am proud to welcome Portage College to our consortium of academic partners and work alongside their institution to provide local educational pathways to those who are currently or have formerly served our country,” said Program Lead of N-APPL, Maribel Pabico. “It is excellent to see more academic institutions recognizing the value of CAF training and experience and being eager to support these military students through their post-secondary journey,”

The MOU with N-APPL has special meaning for Dr. Donna Feledichuk Vice President Academic and Research at Portage College.

“As a daughter of a CAF member who served for 30 years and mother of a son now in active service I know the great amount of time, effort and attention to quality and detail that goes into training the men and women who serve in our armed forces,” she said “We are privileged to be working with N-APPL to offer pathways that recognize this training and expand opportunities for our country’s service members.”

The program is now accepting applications for Fall 2022, and has already begun reviewing MPRRs to provide advanced credit.

Media Inquiries: 

Jaime Davies
Portage College, Corporate Communications Manager
780-623-5581
Email