DAOD 5031-1, Canadian Forces Military Equivalencies Program

Capt

captain

CDA

Canadian Defence Academy

CFITES

Canadian Forces Individual Training and Education System

CFMEP

Canadian Forces Military Equivalencies Program

CFRC

Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre

CFRG

Canadian Forces Recruiting Group

CO

commanding officer

Cpl

corporal

CT

component transfer

D Mil C

Director Military Careers

DTEP

Director Training and Education Policy

ECS

environmental chiefs of staff

ED

Equivalency Database

HQ

headquarters

HRMS

Human Resources Management System

IT&E

individual training and education

LS

leading seaman

Lt(N)

lieutenant (N)

MA

managing authority

MASM

Managing Authority System Manager

NCdt

naval cadet

OCdt

officer cadet

OS(B)

ordinary seaman (basic)

PLAR

prior learning assessment and recognition

POs

performance objectives

PSO

personnel selection officer

Pte(B)

private (basic)

QS

qualification standard

recruiting services

greater opportunities for attracting and enrolling applicants who already possess the necessary military occupational qualifications or partial qualifications.

an applicant on enrolment

a reduction in the training and educational requirements needed to obtain CAF qualifications.

CAF members

the opportunity for professional development through independent activity.

MAs and COs

alternative approaches to fulfilling training and educational requirements.

Potential number of training days saved

• the total possible number of training days that could be saved if training could flexibly accommodate all identified prior learning and avoid any duplication of training.

For example, if training is provided in a modularized fashion, the potential training days saved could be the number of training days allocated for one module of the training plan.

Realized number of training days saved

• the actual number of training days saved by the training establishments as a result of a full or partial equivalency being granted.

Realized training days saved is only achieved through less time under training.

For example, a CAF member who is excused occasionally from classes, or a section of a course, but who is still taking up a position on that course and graduates at the same time as the co-students, results in no realized training days saved.

CFRC

• initiates and forwards the PLAR request and supporting documentation to the appropriate IT&E MA through CFRG HQ.

CFRG HQ

• reviews the PLAR request against approved information supplied by the appropriate IT&E MA, such as a matrix of equivalencies, in an effort to expedite processing for the applicant;
• if previously authorized by the relevant MAs, grants a full or partial equivalency; and
• if unable to determine a clear equivalency, refers the request for PLAR to the appropriate IT&E MA for guidance and resolution.

IT&E MA

• evaluates the request and determines the equivalency based on an evaluation matrix that is updated with changing CAF training requirements and changing civilian education systems;
• records the results of the evaluation on the designated CAF ED;

Note - The CAF ED is the CAF database that records equivalencies granted by the CAF for CAF qualifications. It also contains equivalencies granted by civilian institutions and organizations for CAF qualifications.

• forwards the evaluation results to CFRG HQ, including but not limited to, the potential number of training days saved, the realized number of training days saved, and any delta training required (i.e. any additional training that may be required to obtain the CAF qualification); and
• designs and maintains an up-to-date information matrix of equivalencies for all military occupations for which it has training responsibility and provides that information to
  CFRG HQ.

CFRG HQ

• informs the CFRC of the results of the PLAR; and
• following the CAF member's enrolment, the CFRG HQ MASM enters the qualification in HRMS.

CFRC

• informs the applicant of the results of the PLAR and places the information in the CAF member's unit personal file.

a partial equivalency

a training establishment to complete the remainder of the necessary training or education,

• to the appropriate rank by:
  • CFRG HQ if a Regular Force member; or
  • the appropriate Reserve Force promotion authority if a Reserve Force member.

a full equivalency

a unit for duty,

• up to and including Cpl/LS or Capt/Lt(N), as applicable, retroactive to enrolment, by:
  • CFRG HQ if a Regular Force member; or
  • the appropriate Reserve Force promotion authority if a Reserve Force member.

CAF member

• initiates the PLAR request and forwards it with supporting documentation through the chain of command to:
  • the applicable IT&E MA; or
  • a CFRC for a CT.

PSO

• provides guidance to CAF members, if required, assisting them to compile and submit a PLAR request.

IT&E MA

• evaluates requests and determines applicable equivalency;
• records the results of the evaluation including the potential number of training days saved and the actual realized number of training days saved;
• identifies any delta training that is required;
• forwards the evaluation results to the CAF member's parent unit, the ECS for CT and sub-component transfers to the Reserve Force, or the CFRG HQ for CT to the Regular Force;
• if an equivalency is granted, forwards the results to its MASM who includes this data in HRMS;
• records the results in the CAF ED; and
• designs and maintains an up-to-date information matrix of equivalencies for all military occupations for which it has responsibility, and provides that information to CFRG HQ, specifically identifying those equivalencies that CFRG HQ may authorize on behalf of the IT&E MA.

CFRG HQ

• acts on behalf of the IT&E MAs, if authorized to do so by the IT&E MA, in cases of CT to the Regular Force for basic and common training, or for training and qualifications related to an applicant's former military occupation if it is different than the military occupation for which the CAF member has applied.

Note - CFRG HQ may grant equivalencies if so delegated by the MA to do so based on previously conducted PLARs.

Parent unit

• informs the member of the results of the PLAR;
• confirms results have been entered in HRMS if an equivalency has been granted; and
• places the information in the CAF member's unit personal file.

DTEP

• establishing policy and providing guidance; and
• conducting program verification and review.

CDA

• maintaining the CAF ED; and
• providing guidance and information on the CFMEP.

IT&E MA

• developing and implementing procedures as outlined in this DAOD;
• developing and maintaining an equivalencies information matrix which shall be regularly updated, and providing CFRG HQ with the matrix for their areas of responsibility in IT&E for which they have delegated CFRG HQ to authorize;
• granting equivalencies, if appropriate, for qualifications within their area of responsibility for those individual cases not addressed through the supplied matrix;
• documenting the results of PLAR and reporting the results to the parent unit or CFRG HQ as applicable;
• directing its MASM to enter into the HRMS any qualification granted to a CAF member;
• entering the equivalency in the CAF ED;
• organizing training to accommodate the delta training identified in cases where a partial equivalency is granted; and
• determining the potential and realized number of training days saved.

CFRC (for Regular Force and Reserve Force applicants, and CAF members on CT from the Reserve Force to the Regular Force)

• identifying those cases to be considered for a PLAR;
• searching the CAF ED for potential equivalencies data for an applicant;
• forwarding PLAR documentation to the CFRG HQ for action; and
• informing the applicant seeking enrolment or the CAF member on CT of the PLAR results.

CFRG HQ (for Regular Force and Reserve Force applicants, and CAF members on CT from the Reserve Force to the Regular Force)

• conducting PLAR within the bounds of delegated authority to act on behalf of the IT&E MAs;
• granting equivalencies to CAF members on CT that IT&E MAs have authorized;
• ensuring the IT&E MA equivalency granted, based on a supplied equivalencies matrix, is entered in HRMS by the CFRG HQ MASM, on enrolment or CT approval; and
• forwarding any PLAR request to the appropriate IT&E MA if a clear equivalency cannot be determined, or in any case in which the MA has not delegated authority to grant an equivalency.

CAF member's unit (for both Regular Force and Reserve Force members, and the Reserve Force gaining unit for those on CT from the Regular Force to the Reserve Force)

• submitting through the chain of command to the appropriate IT&E MA, the CAF member's request for PLAR;
• confirming that the IT&E MA equivalency granted has been entered into HRMS for occupation transfers and for CT to the Reserve Force;
• informing the CAF member of the PLAR results; and
• ensuring the appropriate documentation has been placed on the CAF member's unit personal file.

training establishments

• supporting the IT&E MAs in conducting PLARs;
• developing instructional strategies to maximize the benefits from prior learning; and
• reporting back to the IT&E MA on the potential number of training days and realized number of training days saved.

PSO

• providing guidance to CAF members who initiate a PLAR request.