DAOD 5031-6, Military Civilian Training Accreditation Program

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Abbreviations
  3. Overview
  4. Accreditation
  5. Process
  6. Responsibilities
  7. References

1. Introduction

Date of Issue: 2003-01-31

Date of Modification: 2005-10-28

Application: This is an order that applies to officers and non-commissioned members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF members).

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

Enquiries: DTEP

2. Abbreviations

Abbreviation Complete Phrase

B/WEO

Base or Wing Education Officer

B/WPSO

Base or Wing Personnel Selection Officer

CDA

Canadian Defence Academy

CFED

Canadian Forces Equivalencies Database

ILP

Individual Learning Plan

MA

managing authority

MCTAP

Military Civilian Training Accreditation Program

PLA

Prior Learning Assessment

3. Overview

Context

3.1 The CAF is committed to ensuring that CAF members receive recognition for their military education, training and experience that are transferable to the civilian sector.

3.2 The CAF recognizes the importance of this recognition by having military education, training and experience evaluated so it may be given civilian recognition in the form of full or partial credits or qualifications.

3.3 The MCTAP provides civilian recognition and therefore supports self-development activity under DAOD 5031-8, Canadian Forces Professional Development.

MCTAP Aim

3.4 The aim of the MCTAP is to assist CAF members in career transition by providing, if possible, some form of civilian equivalency by the accreditation of all military occupations.

Accreditation

3.5 Accreditation is the formal evaluation by a competent civilian professional body of military education, training, experience, course documentation, instructional staff qualifications and facilities, for the purpose of establishing civilian academic, professional or occupational equivalencies.

Equivalencies

3.6 Equivalencies can:

  1. result in CAF members obtaining advanced standing at academic institutions; and
  2. assist CAF members in some cases to take civilian certification exams and, once certification is obtained, to practice in a given civilian occupation.

4. Accreditation

Yearly Review

4.1 Each year the CDA in consultation with the MAs, identifies military occupations requiring accreditation or re-accreditation. The CDA contracts with the appropriate civilian accrediting organization to carry out the accreditation.

4.2 The goal is to have a minimum of 20 accreditations completed yearly.

4.3 The equivalencies resulting from the accreditation are entered by CDA into the CFED that is available for viewing on the CDA website.

Advanced Standing, Certification and Designation

4.4 The awarding of advanced standing, full certification or professional designation is not always possible. In certain cases, once full or partial recognition of military education, training and experience has been established, the CAF member may qualify for testing, the results of which could lead to advanced standing, certification or professional designation.

Compliance

4.5 CAF members are required to comply with all applicable regulations and orders in respect of any civilian employment in which they may engage. A list of the more pertinent regulations and orders is set out in the References map, but the list is not exhaustive.

Civilian Accrediting Organizations

4.6 The following table identifies the civilian organizations that conduct accreditation:

Accreditation conducted by … including … recognize equivalent military training and experience toward …

academic organizations,

universities, colleges and technical schools,

academic credits.

occupational organizations,

government agencies, professional associations and international, federal and provincial bodies,

obtaining certification, licensing or professional designation.

4.7 Some of the common and frequently used accrediting organizations can be found on the CDA website, along with a list of the military occupations for which accreditation has been completed.

Top of Page

5. Process

Process Table

5.1 The following table outlines the process for a CAF member to seek advanced standing, certification or professional designation:

Step Action

1

Identify all military education, training and experience that may be applied toward a civilian academic program, occupation or profession.

2

Search the CFED for available civilian equivalency information in the appropriate occupational area, using military occupation or common training.

3

Contact the B/WPSO or the B/WEO about the potential civilian equivalencies if advice is required.

4

Provide the required information regarding military education, training and work experience to seek:

  • advanced standing from an academic organization. The academic organization normally requires a PLA to examine the training and skills of the CAF member. It will then grant credits as appropriate towards a particular program. Some institutions may require registration into one of their programs before evaluating the file of a CAF member; or
  • certification or professional designation from an occupational organization. The organization determines the level of the potential certification or professional designation.

5

Upon receipt of the results as to civilian equivalencies, contact the B/WPSO or B/WEO if assistance is required in making a plan to achieve goals. Include an ILP, if applicable, if the reimbursement of fees is requested.

Note - The ILP is available on the CDA website.

6

If necessary, complete remaining requirements for certification or professional designation

Note - The CAF is not responsible for providing training to meet the remaining requirements.

7

If applicable, obtain certification or apply for an examination for licensing.

Financial Assistance

5.2 Eligible CAF members may be entitled to the reimbursement of fees incurred to obtain advanced standing, certification or professional designation, under the conditions set out in:

  1. CBI 210.802, Skills Completion Program - Regular Force; and
  2. ADM(HR-Mil) Instruction 17/04, Education Reimbursement for the Regular Force.

6. Responsibilities

Responsibility Table

6.1 The following table outlines the primary responsibilities for MCTAP:

The … is or are responsible for …

DTEP

  • developing policy and guidelines; and
  • monitoring and verifying MCTAP services.

CDA

  • ensuring the MCTAP coordinator is appointed;
  • ensuring the yearly accreditation goal is met;
  • ensuring a member is appointed to the appropriate civilian accreditation boards;
  • arranging contracts with organizations to conduct accreditations;
  • ensuring the contracting functions are delegated to the MCTAP coordinator if required; and
  • obtaining funding for the MCTAP.

MAs

  • advising the MCTAP coordinator of the appropriate CAF school point of contact and authorizing direct liaison for accreditation purposes;
  • providing the accrediting organizations with necessary training documentation within three months of first request, and coordinating site visits;
  • providing accreditation priorities to the MCTAP coordinator; and
  • liaising with the MCTAP coordinator to ensure the documentation and reporting of MA initiated accreditation results are entered into the CFED.

MCTAP coordinator

  • establishing accreditation priorities and schedules in consultation with the applicable MA;
  • advising the accrediting organization of the appropriate CAF school point of contact;
  • working in conjunction with:
    • professional and governmental organizations for accreditation, certification and establishment of equivalencies between military and civilian occupations;
    • academic organizations for accreditation between the military and civilian training and education; and
    • MAs and CAF schools to ensure accrediting organizations are provided with necessary CAF documentation;
  • managing the database; and
  • contacting, and in some cases contracting when authorized, organizations to accredit military occupational training or common training.

branch advisers

  • liaising with MAs and the MCTAP coordinator for input into accreditation initiatives; and
  • promoting the results of MCTAP within their branch.

B/WPSO and B/WEO

  • promoting the MCTAP as an integral part of career transition and providing liaison with the MCTAP coordinator;
  • authenticating documents if possible; and
  • providing guidance to CAF members, if required, regarding the equivalencies obtained.

commanding officers

  • ensuring CAF members are made aware of MCTAP and its advantages.

CAF member

  • providing the occupational or academic organization with required documentation, e.g. course reports, work logs;
  • consulting with the appropriate occupational or academic organization to identify any missing requirement, i.e. course or training, that will enable the CAF member to obtain advanced standing, certification or professional designation, as applicable;
  • determining how to obtain the training required; and
  • keeping copies of documents and records of courses, training and experience throughout their military career to facilitate obtaining recognition on transition to a civilian career.

7. References

Acts, Regulations, Central Agency Policiesand Policy DAOD

Other References

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