Centre for Learning Accreditation Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)

Program-Based Criteria Table

University Certificate in Counselling Women

(1 of 26) Understanding of Women's issues within context & feminist framework
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Knowledge of basic information, data & feminist issues required to deal with the issues (women's counselling)	Advancing level of understanding & grounding in feminist frameworks to know meaning & importance of issues related to the discipline	Sufficient grasp of feminist ideas, concepts & theories to form good foundation for practice in this discipline	Advanced insights into feminism, its frameworks & contexts, leading to unusual insights & flexible actions appropriate to the discipline	Complex & abstract, as well as practical, group of women's issues based on an advanced lead of understanding of feminism & its application
(2 of 26) Understanding of counselling process
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Basic, formal knowledge of the counselling process	Expanding levels of knowledge & insight into various elements of the counselling process	Trustworthy, dependable grasp of the counselling process	Shows advanced command of elements of the counselling process, usually leading to adroit interventions	Unusually clear & insightful grasp of the counselling process, its foundations & significance in the lives of women
(3 of 26) Crisis intervention skills
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Capable of good handling of crisis leading to appropriate resolutions	Increasing confidences & skill in crisis intervention	Uses theory, concepts & practice skills in thoroughly professional manner, producing good outcomes for & with clients	Dependable interventions in crisis related to this discipline leading almost always to desirable, productive, sometimes innovative skills	Clever, adroit crisis intervention knowledge & skills
(4 of 26) Micro skills (listening, assessing, appropriate & accurate response, self-disclosure, as examples among many others)
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Basic acceptable level of attending skills	Growing exercise of attending & helping skills	Shows evidence of skilled interventions of a helpful, enabling nature	Advanced micro skills shown in satisfactory helping interventions	Exhibits unusual facility in helping, enabling, and attending
(5 of 26) Understanding of feminist theory
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Knows the basic foundations and boundaries of feminist theory	Well-versed in feminist theory	Sound, broadranging understanding of feminist theory, its sources & development	Advanced insight into sources & meanings of feminist theory	Complex & sophisticated group of feminist theory, its contexts & significance
(6 of 26) Application of theory in women's counselling situations
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Shows fundamental knowledge & use of some applicable theories in counselling	Uses growing array of theory in counselling applications	Chooses from among applicable & relevant theories for use in counselling situations	Broad base of theoretical foundation for wide spectrum of applications in counselling	Thoughtful & intuitive applications of theory in deft, complex counselling applications
(7 of 26) Application of theory in advocating for positive social changes
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Fundamental understanding of advocacy	Growing understanding of how the use of advocacy can result in positive social change	Shows evidence of demonstrating the use of advocacy in an attempt to influence/create specific change in an issue related to counselling women	Consistently able to apply theories & concepts in effective advocacy roles	Analytical & theoretical in approach to advocacy as both a concept & a practice in pursuing positive social change
(8 of 26) Understanding of significance of policy, understanding of policy as a social construction
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Possess a general understanding of policy	Growing level of ability to view policy as a social construct in which they can play a role	Demonstrates how policy may be used to effect change	Adroit in explaining the significance of policy	Superior ability to successfully argue in support of policy change or intervene effectively in policy development
(9 of 26) Understanding of significance & meaning of history & development of the discipline
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Basic knowledge of the history of the discipline	Increasing insight into the development of the discipline	Sound, broadranging understanding of significance of discipline, its history & development	Advanced insight in explaining how history & development of the discipline interact	Complex & sophisticated grasp of the historical development of the discipline, its significance & positive use
(10 of 26) Logical thinking & clarity
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Acceptable level of logical thinking & clarity of thought	Demonstrates ability to think logically	Uses logical thinking to clearly support or defend a position or belief	Consistently able to defend point of view using critical thinking	Exhibits unusually advanced critical thinking skills
(11 of 26) Emotional, intelligence, feeling/intuitive base of practice
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Basic acceptable level of understanding concept of emotional intelligence, feelings & intuition	Expanding understanding & the importance of emotional intelligence to discipline	Understands how personal feelings, emotions & intuition plays a role in the counselling process	Consistently uses emotional intelligence in practice	Complex & sophisticated understanding of the role emotional intelligence, intuition & feelings play in the discipline and also understand the power of these in the counselling relationship
(12 of 26) Collaboration with colleagues & others related to goals of women's counselling
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Sees & accepts need for team approach, contributes to team effort	Gaining knowledge of advantages of collaborative & team work, sees efficiencies & longer term benefits from operating together	Works conscientiously & consistently to gain advantage from collaborations, team efforts	Maximizes gains from collaborating with colleagues & others, recognizes when opportunities, resources & client needs can best be met then cooperates & coordinates team work	Adept at advanced complex level in collaborating on many levels related to the multi-faceted requirements of the disciplines
(13 of 26) Evidence of reflective practices
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Basic awareness of need to make practice conscious & purposeful	Exhibits effort to see concepts, theories, issues, conditions, circumstances & resources in a practice that shows fairly consistent good results	Exhibits practice & discipline based in light of experience, focus at work, opportunities for new directions	Thoroughly considered & confident practice, showing advanced insight into influence from personal & social life, professional or para-professional experience & the positive realities of the world	Multi-layered consideration of aspects of practice, motive, social context & resources which render innovative, dependable, flexible & accessible practice in the interests of women
(14 of 26) Evidence of integrity & consequence
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Basic understanding of being true to self	Conscious effort to join & balance aspects of personality, motivation, relationships & context	Outward image appears same as inner person	Advanced self-awareness, consciousness of unity of various aspects of self & circumstance	Sophisticated, complex, yet very human portrayal of self-knowledge, consistent performance & acting as a multi faceted person, conscious of strengths & vulnerabilities
(15 of 26) Sense of personal boundaries
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Knows energies, capacities & limits of sharing are finite, that demands must be balanced with personal resources	Usually balances self, resources & client needs appropriately	Extends self appropriately, mindful of possible intrusion into personal space, time, energies	Generous in sharing self, open to others' needs, but careful to protect central, core being from intrusion or depletion	Adept & perceptive at deploying effort while maintaining appropriate personal space & time; expert at balancing appropriate expectations in all parts of life
(16 of 26) Self care as a practitioner
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Aware of own limits, needs & capacities	Learning & growing in capacity to handle uneven pace of practice, crisis, emergencies & quiet periods	Confident that ups & downs of practice & personal life will balance, based on experience	Measured and smooth in use of self & capabilities	Accurately knows, at a complex, logical visceral level, the meaning of balance among self dedication, relationships & practice life
(17 of 26) Awareness of Ethics, related issues & ethical stance
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Understands basic ethical issues & grounds for ethical consideration related to the field	Exhibits increasing levels of ethical understanding & use	Exercises sound, ethical judgement in theory & in practice	Heightened & focused ethical awareness	Sophisticated & complex ethical sensibilities related to counselling of women
(18 of 26) Takes initiative
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Tries to steer own course with appropriate supervision & consultation	Increasingly confident in work, takes action with minimum of supervisory resourcing, identifying & using consultations & resources to maximum effect	Accurate & dependable in taking action & starting processes related to discipline of counselling women	Adroit & innovative in opening new initiatives in counselling women discipline(s)	Audacious, yet accurate & appropriate in bold new initiatives in the profession, discipline & workplace
(19 of 26) Ability to assess situations, determine priorities
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Knows basic elements of assessment process & reasons for their use	Wields assessment tools & procedures with minimum of supervisions & usually forecasts accurately how planned interventions will produce desired results	Usually assesses problems, issues & conditions accurately, with the ranking of goals in mind	Consistently & accurately employs proven assessment procedures, arriving at good decisions about priorities, goals & strategies to achieve them	Able to assess complex, multi-layered problems or issues, with clear understanding of basis for assessment, leading to appropriate & accurate priority setting
(20 of 26) Willingness to act on work, professional and/or volunteer issues
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Sometimes takes action, individually or with other, on issues or conditions related to this discipline	Takes action on issues in well-thought out, balanced manner, usually bearing good results	Occasionally initiates action on issues, influencing others to take part	Can be depended upon to act innovatively & flexibly, in a well-considered fashion, on issues of professional, work or volunteer issues	Deft, clever & accurate interventions in work, professional and/or volunteer related issues or conditions
(21 of 26) Understanding of power relationships
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Knows power differentials influence relationships & can provide examples	Can use knowledge of power balances & relationships in practice	Show both theoretical & practical knowledge of power use & experience of its use as a subject	Advanced analytical skill in assessing power relationships & their results or outcomes	Clear, layered comprehension of what power implies, & how to use it to protect others from its wrongful effects & to defend self in power exercises
(22 of 26) Understanding of personal weakness, areas needing improvement
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Self-aware at an adequate & basic level	Gained awareness of professional growth requirements, along with areas of skill & strength already achieved	Balanced view of personal strengths, abilities, skills & insights including accurate appraisal of areas in which growth may be possible	Advanced & thorough in considering strengths & needed improvements in relation to counselling women	Mature & nuanced assessment of outcomes of use of self, areas for improvement in relation to array of other resources available
(23 of 26) Respect for others
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Fundamental level of professional, respectful attendance to needs of women in counselling & collegial relationships	Aware of uses of relations of respect as they apply to personal & professional conduct	Respectful of others in broad range of work relationships	Advanced, personal & professional deployment of respectful attendance in collegial & counselling situations	Employs respectful attendance at complex, conscious, helping level in broad professional, collegial & counselling relationships
(24 of 26) Expresses self clearly in writing
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Basic, clear, composition & presentation skills in writing	Gaining skills as a writer in relation to expeditions in this discipline	Dependable writing materials, related to practice discipline and issues that require no further editing & represent the discipline fairly	Advanced, often compelling use of language in written communications	Exemplary, & appealing writing skills
(25 of 26) Expresses self clearly orally/verbally
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Speaks clearly person to person & in groups or meetings	Presents ideas & positions orally in an understandable, logical & clear manner	Known in this discipline as an able dependable speaker who can be counted on to present clear ideas & positions in an appealing manner	Respected as a trusted commentator with unusual ability in oral presentations	Forthright, sparkling & persuasive in spoken communications
(26 of 26) Awareness of personal communication patterns, body language, facility of expression
0	1-2	3-4	5-6	7-8	9-10
No opportunity to observe	Possesses a general understanding of non-verbal and other communication patterns	Some development of communication & expression skills that aid in effective counselling of women	Makes conscious use of non-verbal communication patterns in counselling sessions	Advanced non-verbal communication patterns, along with consistent & accurate expression that contributes to helping attributer of the counselling relationship	Clear, complex & insightful understanding end use of non-verbal communication patterns, body language & facility of expression in the counselling relationship

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Alberta). All records and Personal Information (as defined in the Act) received, collected, created, used, disclosed and disposed of by Athabasca University as a result of this document are subject to the provisions of this Act. The personal information collected on this form is used to assess prior learning credit and identify program and course selection recommendations. This information is collected under the authority of Section 33(c) of the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. If you have any questions about the collection and use of this information, contact the Director, Centre for Learning Accreditation, Athabasca University, 1 University Drive, Athabasca, Alberta T9S 3A3. Phone: 800.788.9041 ext 6348.

Updated September 26, 2023 by Digital & Web Operations, University Relations (web_services@athabascau.ca)