The Ontario government is investing $575,000 to help Canadian Armed Forces members translate the skills they gained during military service into postsecondary credits, aiming to make it easier for veterans to transition into in-demand civilian careers.
“Our government will always stand up for those who have put their lives on the line to protect Ontario,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “By recognizing the valuable skills veterans have gained through their service, we’re helping them enter rewarding and in-demand careers faster while strengthening Ontario’s highly skilled workforce.”
The investment will support new Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) projects through the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT). Six publicly funded colleges and universities will take part: Fanshawe College, Georgian College, Canadore College, Lakehead University, the University of Waterloo and the University of Windsor.
The projects aim to streamline credit recognition for military-connected learners by creating tools and frameworks that assess military training and experience. Initiatives include granting credits toward a Bachelor of Engineering degree, developing AI tools to speed up assessments, building a course credit bank, and standardizing the evaluation of military experience across institutions.
“As we commemorate Veterans’ Week, our government is undertaking meaningful action to help support our veterans as they transition to civilian life,” said Graham McGregor, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism. “This investment will ensure the skills obtained from those who have served are recognized by postsecondary institutions and used to fuel their future careers.”
ONCAT President and CEO Dr. Adrienne Galway said the organization is “honoured to steward new postsecondary initiatives that recognize the transferability of military training and empower learners to pursue their next education and employment goals.”
“Military-connected learners enrich classrooms and campuses with their insightful perspectives, diverse experiences and tremendous work ethic,” she said.
Fanshawe College President Peter Devlin said the new system will make a real difference for veterans moving into civilian life. “As a Military-Connected College, we support Canada’s military members and veterans because it’s a great opportunity to tap into their skills and knowledge while helping them progress in their military careers or make the transition to civilian life,” he said. “The PLAR is an important tool to assess veterans’ military experiences, ensuring their transition to a civilian career is smooth and to provide credit or advanced standing for their previous learning.”
Steve Orsini, President and CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities, said the initiative will “help open new academic and career pathways to postsecondary.”
“Ontario’s universities are proud to support veterans and military-connected learners as they transition to new careers and opportunities through higher education,” he said.
Colleges Ontario President and CEO Maureen Adamson said the program “marks an important milestone for military-connected campuses.”
“It builds on the long-standing partnerships between colleges and the Canadian Armed Forces to support military members through career development and occupational training,” Adamson said.
Ontario officials say recognizing military experience as part of the province’s postsecondary system is part of a broader strategy to address the need for skilled workers across multiple industries. The effort supports Ontario’s $201-billion plan to build hospitals, schools, highways and other infrastructure.
The province is home to more than 149,000 veterans, with about 8,000 to 9,000 members of the Canadian Armed Forces transitioning out of service each year.
