DAOD 5031-5, Canadian Forces Continuing Education Program

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Abbreviations
3. Overview
4. Operating Principles
5. Administration
6. Responsibilities
7. References

1. Introduction

Date of Issue: 2003-01-31

Date of Modification: 2005-08-26

Application: This is a directive that applies to employees of the Department of National Defence (DND employees) and an order that applies to officers and non-commissioned members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF members).

Supersession: CFAO 54-2, Education Upgrading - Provincial Secondary School Correspondence Courses and General Educational Development Tests

Approval Authority: This DAOD is issued under the authority of the Director Training and Education Policy (DTEP).

Enquiries: DTEP

2. Abbreviations

3. Overview

Context

3.1 The CAF is committed to promoting continuing education for CAF members. The importance of continuing education in the CAF is reflected in the wide availability of various programs and services developed to meet CAF goals and personal goals. Continuing education, on a part-time basis, is made available via the CFCEP, designed as a self-development activity under DAOD 5031-8, Canadian Forces Professional Development.

3.2 CAF members may enhance educational level and skills under the CFCEP while they serve and, if applicable, prepare for transition to civilian life.

Aim

3.3 The aim of the CFCEP is to facilitate access to post-secondary educational services.

4. Operating Principles

Access to CFCEP

4.1 The CFCEP is primarily designed to assist CAF members.

4.2 Access to the services offered by academic institutions may also be provided to former CAF members, the members of families of CAF members and to DND employees, in order to permit them to achieve personal and professional learning goals by enabling them to upgrade academic qualifications.

Other Institutions

4.3 CFCEP facilitates access to services for the purpose of upgrading post-secondary academic credentials. CAF members may also take courses or training toward a high school diploma or equivalent, such as GED, or take courses at:

1. professional institutions;
2. commercial institutions; or
3. technical institutions.

Negotiated Agreements

4.4 The CDA negotiates agreements at the university and college level with English and French academic institutions. The purpose of these agreements is:

1. to provide easy access to post-secondary education for CAF members, and
2. to establish, in some cases, a CAF education coordinator at the institution to facilitate access.

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5. Administration

Services Offered

5.1 The following services are an integral part of the CFCEP:

1. national coordination of CFCEP;
2. advertising the CFCEP services;
3. academic counselling services;
4. reduced residency requirements;
5. registration and transcript services;
6. prior learning assessment and recognition, including:
   1. evaluation of military training and skills;
   2. recognition of other pertinent post-secondary learning towards a diploma or degree; and
   3. advanced standing in recognition of military training, skills and experience where appropriate;
7. opportunities to write exams off campus; and
8. tailored administrative or support services to simplify and accelerate processes and provide special consideration in order that a CAF member not be penalized for failing to write an examination or complete a course as a result of a deployment or other military exigency or circumstance.

Note - More information on the services can be found on the CDA website or obtained from the B/WPSO or B/WEO.

Financial Assistance

5.2 CAF members may be eligible for reimbursement of registration, course and tuition fees, and the costs of textbooks and prior learning assessment, under the conditions set out in the following CBIs and ADM(HR-Mil) Instructions, as applicable:

1. CBI 210.801, Education Reimbursement - Primary Reserve; or
2. CBI 210.802, Skills Completion Program - Regular Force.

5.3 For administrative instructions, see:

1. ADM(HR-Mil) Instruction 17/04, Education Reimbursement for the Regular Force;
2. ADM(HR-Mil) Instruction 18/04, Advanced Degree - Part-Time Programme for Regular Force Officers; and
3. ADM(HR-Mil) Instruction 19/04, Initial Baccalaureate Degree Program (Part Time) for Regular Force Officers.

5.4 Financial assistance may be available to eligible former CAF members under CBI 210.802 if they have an approved ILP.

5.5 Financial assistance may be available to DND employees under CPAO 9.03, Training Courses Taken Outside Normal Working Hours - Reimbursement of Tuition Fees or DAOD 5031-51, Departmental Scholarship Program. The local learning and career centre should be contacted for more information.

5.6 There is no financial assistance available to members of families of CAF members.

Process Table

5.7 The following table details the steps to follow in order to maximize the benefits from CFCEP:

Note - The ILP and personal learning strategy are available on the CDA website.

6. Responsibilities

Responsibility Table

6.1 The following table indicates the primary responsibilities for the administration of the CFCEP to CAF members:

7. References

Acts, Regulation, Central Agency Policies and Policy DAOD

• DAOD 5031-0, Learning and Professional Development

Other References

• CBI 210.801, Education Reimbursement - Primary Reserve
• CBI 210.802, Skills Completion Program - Regular Force
• DAOD 5031-1, Canadian Forces Military Equivalencies Programme
• DAOD 5031-4, Second Career Assistance Network Programme
• DAOD 5031-6, Military Civilian Training Accreditation Programme
• DAOD 5031-8, Canadian Forces Professional Development
• DAOD 5031-51, Departmental Scholarship Program
• CPAO 9.03, Training Courses Taken Outside Normal Working Hours - Reimbursement of Tuition Fees
• ADM(HR-Mil) Instruction 17/04, Education Reimbursement for the Regular Force
• ADM(HR-Mil) Instruction 18/04, Advanced Degree - Part-Time Programme for Regular Force Officers
• ADM(HR-Mil) Instruction 19/04, Initial Baccalaureate Degree Program (Part Time) for Regular Force Officers