Recognition of acquired competencies | Graduate diplomas | Students

The recognition of acquired competencies (RAC) makes it possible to have your competencies officially recognized in lieu of one or more courses in your academic program.

Acquired competencies of an academic nature

Acquired competencies of an academic nature may be recognized if the course was taken in a recognized university and the activities of that course align with the activities of a course in your HEC Montréal program. See the Policy on the Recognition of Acquired Competencies (PDF, 279 KB) to learn how it applies.

Once your request for RAC of an academic nature has been processed, you may be granted a course equivalence.

A course recognized by equivalence appears on the transcript with the comment “EQ” which does not contribute to the student’s grade point average.
Credits for the course recognized by equivalence count as part of the total credits required to complete the program.

No transfer credit is granted for university courses required as admission prerequisites or for courses offered by professional associations.

Before completing a request

Go to the Course portal and read the course description for the course you wish to be recognized by equivalence. Make sure that the content of the course is aligned with the content of the course youhave taken. If you have been admitted to HEC Montréal, you can also consult the syllabus in the old ZoneCours > Course syllabus archive.
Begin the RAC process as soon as your admission has been confirmed, preferably before the first term you register.
Do not register for a course for which you have requested an RAC; wait until you have received a decision.

Complete a request

Log in to the portal with your HEC Montréal ID number and password.
Complete the "Reconnaissance des acquis scolaires" form and add the following documents to your request:
- a copy of your transcripts
- a detailed course outline for the term in which you took the course.
After saving the form, submit it from the “My Requests” page of the portal.

Incomplete requests will be automatically denied.

Request processing

Depending on your file, your request will be processed in approximately five weeks. Processing times may be longer during the summer.
A decision will be delivered to your HEC Montréal email address.
If the equivalence request is approved:
- Studies in Quebec: You must ask your university to send us your official transcripts via the Bureau de coopération interuniversitaire (BCI).
- Studies outside Quebec: You must provide your original official transcripts or a copy thereof that has been certified by the issuing institution (unless this document was sent with the admission application) in Zone Info.

Recognition of experiential learning

The recognition of acquired competencies (RAC) of an experiential nature is a process intended to recognize the value of prior learning in a non-academic setting (e.g., work experience, professional training or volunteering). Obtaining course recognition based on your experience means that you can advance in your program more quickly without having to take classes that teach material you have already learned.

See the Policy on the Recognition of Acquired Competencies (PDF, 279 KB) to learn how RAC is applied.

At the end of the process for RAC of an experiential nature, you may be granted an exemption.

A course recognized by exemption appears on transcripts as “EX” and does not contribute to the GPA.
The course credits count towards the total credits required to complete the program.
The credited internships in your program are excluded from the educational activities eligible for RAC.

Understand the approach

The process is as follows:

Chart showing the 4-step process for submitting an REL application

Before committing to the process for RAC of an experiential nature, it is important to check the requirements and reflect on the personal commitment you will need to make.

You will receive support and advice from the person in charge of RAC throughout the process. Be prepared for the process to take at least eight weeks.

If you have any questions, please write us.

The process

Step 1: Information and eligibility of the request

See the description of the course for which you are requesting a RAC in the course portal. If you are admitted to HEC Montréal, you can also view the course syllabus in the old ZoneCours > Course syllabus archive.

Make sure that your experience and prior learning are relevant and related to the course in question. Experience acquired outside Quebec is considered. Reflect on how motivated and committed you are to the process. If you answer “yes” to one of the following questions, you can begin the process for RAC of an experiential nature.
- Do you have at least three years of relevant, significant professional experience that is in line with the course in question?
- Can you provide proof of your professional and personal accomplishments (e.g., work documents, letters from employers, a training certificate)?
- Are you ready to invest the time needed to complete your file for RAC of an experiential nature?
- Do you have strong summarizing and writing skills in French?
- Have you kept your knowledge and skills in the field up to date?
Begin the RAC process as soon as possible, specifically:
- as soon as your admission has been confirmed,
- preferably before the first term you register.
Ensure that the course in question is part of the program of study to which you are currently admitted.
Do not register for a course for which you have requested a RAC; wait until you have received a decision.

We will start by checking whether the course is eligible for RAC of an experiential nature. We will then determine whether your experience and prior learning are sufficiently promising to begin the RAC process.

Your file must also be considered eligible according to the HEC Montréal Policy on the Recognition of Acquired Competencies (PDF, 279 Ko) and the HEC Montréal Academic Rules and Regulations (PDF, 327 Ko).
You must submit only one request at a time: wait until you have completed the process for one course before submitting a request for another course.

Log in to the portal with your HEC Montréal ID number and password.
Complete the form "RAC of an Experiential Nature".
- Attach a recent, detailed CV to your request.
- Incomplete requests will be automatically denied.
After saving the form, submit it from the “My Requests” page of the portal.

You will receive notification as to whether your request is eligible once your form has been analyzed.

If your request is eligible, the person in charge of RAC will contact you at your HEC Montréal email address to explain the steps below.
If your request is not eligible, you will receive notification and an explanation for the decision by email.

Step 2: Meeting with the person in charge of RAC

During this meeting, you will receive the details of the process for RAC of an experiential nature. You will also discuss how to write a portfolio and what kind of support you will receive throughout the process.

Step 3: Writing the portfolio

The portfolio is a written document in which to showcase your achievements and experience. It is a chance to show that your prior learning has provided you with the competencies targeted in one or more courses in your program of study. Your prior learning must be related to the competencies targeted in the course for which you are requesting RAC.

You will also need to submit proof of these achievements to demonstrate your prior experience and training. Some examples include letters from employers, training certificates, documents produced in the course of your work, or proof that you participated in a conference.

Writing a portfolio also allows you to take stock of your professional and personal development by showcasing your achievements.

If you have any questions, please write us.

Step 4: Portfolio analysis and decision

The content expert will analyze your portfolio based on specific criteria. They will verify whether:

Your experience and training match the competencies targeted in the course
You have a sufficient amount and variety of experience and training
You have provided sufficient proof of achievements
Your analysis establishes a relevant link between the targeted skills and your experiential learning.

Allow 4 to 6 weeks from the time you submit your portfolio for it to be analyzed and a decision to be issued. Processing times may be longer during the summer.

A decision will be delivered to your HEC Montréal email address.

Questions?

Contact Zone Info

Recognition of acquired competencies at the graduate diplomas