Recognition of Prior Learning

What is Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)?: Prior learning refers to knowledge, skills and competencies one has obtained through formal or informal education, as well as work or voluntary experience. Recognition of prior learning (RPL) means the allowance of getting credits for previous study or work/life experience to be transferred to the degree program that one wants to pursue. RPL provides an opportunity for you to identify your learning, have it assessed and formally acknowledged. The process involves the identification, mediation, assessment and acknowledgement of knowledge and skills obtained through informal and non-formal learning. 

Prior learning includes the following forms: credit transfer, recognition of prior certificated learning and prior experiential learning.

RPL brings lots of benefits that one may consider transferring prior learning to a degree: 

1. Gain acknowledgement of prior education- One’s prior learning is valuable as one has spent months or even years for any formal or informal learning. RPL acknowledges the worth of prior education that one has achieved.

2. Reduce the time and money for study - With RPL, one can spend less time and money to pursue a degree as one’s previous learning and life experience can be transferred as credits.

3. Avoid unnecessary repetition of learning - With the recognition of previous learning, one can eliminate the need to repeat studying a similar course. One can then spend more time to study a new course and thus have a better chance to learn new knowledge and skills.

4. Enable the pursuit of a new qualification - With the recognition of prior learning and work/life experience, one can finish a degree more easily in a faster pace.

5. Enhance career prospect - With an easier chance to gain a new qualification, one can have a better opportunity to gain a job promotion or change to a career with better income and prospect.

Do I qualify for RPL?: You can apply for RPL if you have developed skills and knowledge through work experience. Learning from experience refers to work experience, in-service training, self-study or life experience, such as voluntary or community work. You cannot obtain a qualification through RPL − only through the successful completion of the program will a student obtain a qualification. 

Regent Central University accepts that other sources of relevant learning exist outside the walls of formal institutions and that they need formal recognition as valid learning experience. RPL can be described as giving credit for that which candidates already know and can do, regardless of whether this learning was achieved formally, informally or non-formally.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) refers to the recognition of the knowledge, understanding, skills, experience, values and attitudes (applied competence) held as a result of informal training, work experience and/or life experience. The basic premise of RPL is that people, especially mature adults, learn many things outside the formal structures of education and training. This learning, irrespective of where, how and when it was acquired, can, after assessment, be recognized.

Life experience which could include such things as books authored, missions trips, classes taught, outreach ministries, ministries within a church, etc., must be documented along with the years they occurred and submitted for evaluation.