Ontario Invests $575,000 to Help Veterans Turn Military Experience into Postsecondary Credits

New provincial funding supports faster career pathways for veterans through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Toronto — The Ontario government is investing $575,000 to help Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and veterans translate their military training into recognized college and university credits, making it easier to transition into civilian careers and meet Ontario’s growing workforce needs.

The investment supports a suite of Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) projects led by the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) at six publicly funded postsecondary institutions: Fanshawe College, Georgian College, Canadore College, Lakehead University, the University of Waterloo, and the University of Windsor.

Our government will always protect those who have put their lives on the line to protect Ontario.
Today, I joined Minister @BramptonGraham at @FanshaweCollege to announce our investment of $575K to recognize veterans’ skills learned during service as college and university… pic.twitter.com/lYTAwr7A2z

— Nolan Quinn (@nolanmquinn) November 7, 2025

Officials say the initiative will accelerate pathways into high-demand fields, including engineering, skilled trades, and advanced technical careers — all while strengthening Ontario’s talent pipeline for major provincial infrastructure projects.

“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,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security.

What the Funding Supports

Through this investment, ONCAT and partnering institutions will:

• Recognize military experience as academic credit toward a Bachelor of Engineering

• Develop AI-powered tools to speed up PLAR assessments

• Create a course credit bank for veterans to quickly identify academic pathways

• Build platforms to help institutions assess military training equivalencies

• Develop sector-wide standards for assessing military learning

The Canadian Military, Veteran and Family Connected Campus Consortium is also receiving funding to develop best practices for recognizing CAF training across Ontario’s postsecondary system.

Why This Matters

Ontario is home to over 149,000 veterans, with as many as 9,000 CAF members transitioning out of military service each year. Many possess advanced leadership, technical, and problem-solving skills that traditionally go unrecognized in academic settings.

This initiative aims to shorten time-to-credential, lower financial barriers, and help veterans access stable, well-paid civilian careers.

“Military-connected learners enrich classrooms and campuses with their insightful perspectives and tremendous work ethic,” said Dr. Adrienne Galway, President and CEO of ONCAT. “These initiatives recognize the transferability of military training and empower learners to pursue their next goals.”

College and university leaders across Ontario echoed strong support, noting the importance of leveraging military experience to strengthen the province’s workforce — particularly in engineering, skilled trades, healthcare, public safety, and technical fields.

Part of a Broader Provincial Strategy

This Veterans Week, the government says the initiative reflects its commitment to honouring veterans by providing meaningful career opportunities and recognizing the full value of CAF training.

The program complements Ontario’s efforts to address labour shortages in key sectors and support a $201-billion infrastructure plan, including new hospitals, schools, highways, and long-term care facilities.