What is Approved Prior Learning (APL)?
It is a concern of many practitioners that the experience they have accrued through years of work in the substance misuse field will not be considered when evidence of DANOS competence is required by employers or commissioners. Some qualifications have a system in place to recognise this type of learning and this is called ‘Approved Prior Learning’. (APL) It is important to remember that prior learning does not have to be proved through formal qualifications. You do not have to do an NVQ to prove you can do your job. Prior learning can be evidenced by a record of learning and training you have undertaken over a period of time. This record might be your personal development record that your manager uses with you in annual appraisal sessions, or it might be something that you develop informally yourself.
