Learning a trade while working, gaining experience and recognition

There are a million ways to learn the basics of a trade. Education is the most renown path. But since the dawn of time, many workers have learned their trade as they go. They practice it right on the job, grow within a company, are guided by a mentor, or work within the family business. Unfortunately, experience sometimes is not enough to prove to an employer that you have the competencies required.

For both specialized or semi-specialized trades, a process has appeared across the province of Quebec that allows experienced workers to have their acquired competencies and knowledge they have developed in Quebec or elsewhere throughout their life recognized. This process is called Recognition of Acquired Competencies, or RAC.

We mean here a process, not a course. It can be different from one person to the next, even if it is in direct relation with a professional studies program. It is adapted to your acquired competencies and knowledge, which you have gained over time. One of the basic principles applied in a RAC is that you do not have to relearn what you already know.

Guidance is offered from the start of the process by different professionals, such as a RAC counsellor and content specialist. The latter is a vocational teacher or a workplace expert related to your field of study and their role is to guide and evaluate candidates who want experiential learning recognized. During the welcome meeting, the first step of the process, you will receive all the information to gain a good understanding of the RAC. It is the perfect moment to ask all of your questions.

Before the second meeting, you have to submit your file, which is compiled of simple forms that will be provided to you by the RAC counsellor. The counsellor will assist you if needed.

During the second step, the meeting with the content specialist, the competencies of the program of study are reviewed, one after the other, to better assess your level of acquisition and skills, and build your profile. At this point, you should get a clearer vision of the process you will undertake. For which competencies will you require a refresher course? How and where will you be evaluated? Are there unacquired competencies? How will you acquire them?

It is through an evaluation, not an examination, that your acquired competencies will officially be recognized. You will be ready to be evaluated once you have mastered all elements of the competency. Depending on your needs, the content specialist could evaluate you at your workplace or a training centre. Most of the time, it is through executing a task that you can show your skills, but other methods of recognition can be used depending on what needs to be assessed. For instance, a discussion, a document, and other types of evaluation.

Finally, the recognition you will get is identical to that of a graduate from a vocational training course. The diploma or certification, as well as the statement of learning issued by the education network, attest that you have the competencies required from the study program.

Many reasons can motivate you to begin this process: you want to transform your experience into a diploma, get a promotion, change jobs, have an experience acquired abroad recognized here, be proud of yourself, or improve your qualifications. It is important also to know that you can keep working throughout the process, and that it is completely free.

Now, the ball is in your court!

If you would like to learn more, here is the official website you can consult: http://www.ceracfp.ca/en

Have a nice time reflecting.

Christelle Thérizols, RAC development agent at the Adult Education Resources and Vocational Training Service, at the Centre de services scolaire des Hautes-Rivières, for the Table de concertation sur l’orientation professionnelle | Montérégie.

* The Adult Education Resources and Vocational Training Service offers a range of short and qualifying training courses for an adult clientele, as well as businesses of its territory:

  • In-business customized training;
  • Recognition of acquired competencies;
  • Short and specialized training (AEP) of 3 to 6 months;
  • Professional development, and more
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