Glossary
The following is a glossary of key terms and phrases that relate to Accreditation Assistance Access Centre and its services.
Glossary Term
Definition
A comparative evaluation, assessment/reassessment of foreign credentials, skills and experiences with the aim of getting recognition (full or partial) in Canada.
Outlines steps which set you up for success in the Accreditation process, for both your current and long-term goals. AAAC develops Accreditation Plans for its clients with one-on-one interviews.
Provides credit for previous courses taken in a related area of study to a student upon admission (the same as Transfer of Credits), which enables direct entry to a second or higher semester of a program.
A document certifying that special requirements are met, for example, requirements for teaching.
When a course covers material you already know, you seek an assessment of your knowledge and Transfer of Credits. Most often the course challenge takes place when a student applies for Advanced Standing (or Course Exemptions).
Provides a breakdown of credits and grades for post-secondary study. Course-by-Course Evaluation is done, for instance, for educational purposes when Transfer of Credits is required. Most Course-by-Course Evaluation for academic purposes is done by a university/college program an individual is applying for.
Services that offer expert advice about how qualifications obtained outside Canada compare with credentials obtained in a Canadian province or territory. Also called Comparative Education Service.
Evidence of educational and professional achievements, for example, diplomas, transcripts, licenses, certificates.
Identifies and describes each diploma or certificate, indicates periods of education and provides an equivalent for each document.
A process which allows credentials obtained in one country to be readily understood and recognized in another country. This process can also be referred to as Comparative Assessment of Credentials or, sometimes, as Accreditation. Two most frequently used types of evaluation are Document-by-Document Evaluation and Course-by-Course Evaluation.
Professionals and trades people who obtained their degrees, diplomas and certificates outside of Canada. Sometimes referred to as Foreign-Trained Professionals.
Formal registered permission from a constituted authority to perform a business/professional/trade activity.
A profession/trade for which there is no legal requirements or restriction to practice with regard to licenses, certificates, or registration. The vast majority of occupations in Canada fall into this category. With some non-registration professions is available, though not mandatory. Some employers will require, as a condition for employment, that applicants be registered or certified by a relevant professional association.
A way of organizing, documenting and presenting skills and abilities, including formal education and skills learned on the job or through practical experience. There are two types of portfolio:
- Working Portfolio - a portfolio that contains ALL the materials an individual has selected to portray his/her educational background, skills, and experiences, regardless of a particular purpose.
- Presentation Portfolio - compiled by an individual from the Working Portfolio for different purposes: job interview support, course challenge, seeking promotion etc.
A process that helps adults to demonstrate and obtain recognition for learning they acquired outside of formal educational settings. It gives credit for knowledge or skills you gained through life experiences such as working or volunteering activities. You can get up to 75% of your credits through PLAR. In Canada, most colleges recognize PLAR in at least some of their programs. Some universities also recognize it – often in programs offered through continuing education.
A passport that allows the holder to work anywhere in Canada without having to write further examinations. See also Red Seal Trades.
The trades for which all the provinces and territories have agreed on standards for entry into the occupation allowing for the portability of qualifications across Canada.
Occupations controlled by provincial and territorial (and sometimes federal) laws and governed by a professional organization or a Regulatory Body.
Governs the profession/trade. It has the authority to set entry requirements and standards of practice, to assess applicants' qualifications and credentials, to certify, register, or license qualified applicants, and to discipline members of the profession/trade. Requirements for entry, which may vary from one province to another, usually consist of such components as examinations, specified period of supervised work, language competency etc. To practice a regulated occupation and use a regulated title, you MUST have a License, Certificate or be registered with the regulatory body for your occupation.
An occupation generally regarded as requiring up to one to three years of post-secondary education at a community college or university, a period of up to two to four years of apprenticeship training, two to three years of on-the-job training, or any combination of these requirements. Some trades are Regulated Occupation(s). See also Red Seal Trades.
