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Turn your experience into a degree
What is a VAE?
Validation of Acquired Experience (VAE) is an individual right enshrined in the French Labor Code and the Education Code. As stated in Article L 6411-1 of the Labor Code:
“Every person engaged in working life has the right to have their experience validated, […] with a view to obtaining a diploma, a professional qualification, […] registered in the national directory of professional certifications.”
In this sense, the Validation of Acquired Experience (VAE) allows individuals with professional experience to have that experience validated through a professional certification. VAE is open to everyone, regardless of age, education level, or status. To be eligible for VAE, applicants must demonstrate at least one year of experience (1607 hours, continuous or not) in a field related to the diploma or certification sought and its content.
How does a VAE work?
To obtain a VAE (Validation of Acquired Experience), the candidate must first complete a file describing their main current or past activities, the resources used, and the contexts in which they were carried out:
- Description of your skills to be validated
- Skills and knowledge applied during your experience
If you wish, you can add any additional training you have completed. Next, you must submit this application to the certifying body. This is followed by an interview with a panel composed of at least 25% professionals. This panel’s role is to evaluate the application before determining whether it will validate part or all of the targeted diploma. If it is a partial validation, the candidate will receive guidance to help them obtain the full diploma later.
What is the benefit of doing a VAE?
VAE (Validation of acquired experience) allows a person to validate experience acquired during a professional experience by obtaining in whole or in part a title, a professional qualification certificate or a diploma recognized by the State and therefore registered in the National Directory of Professional Certifications (RNCP).
A person who has worked (or is working) as an accountant without having the diploma can, for example, carry out a VAE to have their skills acquired in the professional environment recognized and obtain a professional title, a professional certification, or a diploma.
Who is the VAE (Validation of Acquired Experience) for?
You can access a VAE (Validation of Acquired Experience) regardless of your age, nationality, status, or level of education. The VAE is indeed aimed at:
- Employees
- Self-employed
- Job seekers receiving benefits or not
- People who have engaged in social, volunteer activities…
You must have at least 1 year of experience as an employee, self-employed, volunteer or intern in the profession to validate a professional certificate.
Good to know: as an employee, you are entitled to a VAE leave of up to 24 hours. To qualify, you must demonstrate one year (1,607 hours) of professional experience related to the certification you are seeking.
What experiences are taken into account in the context of a VAE?
As stated above, the experience in question must be consistent with the certification being sought.
But to be more precise, among the experiences accepted for VAE (Validation of Acquired Experience), you will find, for example :
- Paid or unpaid professional activity
- Volunteering
- Registration on the list of high-level athletes
- Trade union responsibilities
- Local electoral mandate or local elective office
- Participation in solidarity economy activities, if you are welcomed and supported by an organization providing reception and accommodation for people in difficulty
What is the duration of a VAE (Validation of Acquired Experience)?
The duration of a VAE (Validation of Acquired Experience) depends on the diploma sought and your personal circumstances. If you already hold a diploma of equivalent level, the process will be shorter. However, to give you a general idea, the average duration of a VAE process before the jury interview ranges from nine to twelve months .
How to finance your VAE (Vehicle for Electric Vehicles)
For employees, several options
The VAE (Validation of Acquired Experience) process is initiated by the employer (with the employee’s agreement).
The employer may offer to take charge of the validation of acquired skills process as part of the company’s skills development plan.
The application for VAE (Validation of Acquired Experience) is initiated by the employee within the framework of the personal training account (CPF).
VAE support services are eligible for CPF funding.
For support provided outside of working hours, you do not need your employer’s agreement.
For job seekers
Funding may be available from Pôle emploi or your Region, up to a limit depending on the level of the qualification sought (Funding within the framework of the Personal Training Account).
For all
Funding through the Personal Training Account.
VAE in 5 key advantages
The VAE (Validation of Acquired Experience) offers numerous benefits, such as :
- Recognition of your activities within the scope of your duties
- The consistency of your CV with your level of responsibility
- Consider and obtain a raise or a promotion
- Changing jobs, retraining
- Reaching a qualification level that opens the door to higher-level training or the possibility of registering for a competition
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