WHAT IS THE VAE?
The Validation of Acquired Experience (VAE) is recognition of prior learning that allows any French educational institution to grant degrees partly or fully based on previous work experience. It is a method of obtaining a title or professional certification, in the same way as schooling, apprenticeship and professional training.
VAE is a way of having skills acquired throughout one's professional life recognised via a certification. This certification must be registered in the French Répertoire National des Certifications Professionnelles (RNCP).
The certification is validated in part or in full thanks to the skills acquired during the professional career, without participating in the training that prepares it.
WHAT CERTIFICATIONS CAN BE OBTAINED THROUGH VAE AT IPAC?
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Chargé d'activités bancaires et/ou assurantielles
Titre certifié de niveau 5 – Fiche RNCP 19251 -
Responsable d'activités ou d'entreprises touristiques
Titre certifié de niveau 6 – Fiche RNCP 34624 -
Responsable d'activités ou de structures de l'économie sociale et solidaire
Titre certifié de niveau 6 – Fiche RNCP 19207 -
Responsable clientèle des particuliers banque assurance
Titre certifié de niveau 6 – Fiche RNCP 29434 -
Responsable du développement de l'unité commerciale
Titre certifié de niveau 6 – Fiche RNCP 26187 -
Responsable de gestion des ressources humaines
Titre certifié de niveau 6 – Fiche RNCP 34654 -
Manager du développement commercial
Titre certifié de niveau 7 – Fiche RNCP 11541
WHO CAN ACCESS THE VAE?
VAE is open to all salaried employees (on fixed-term or permanent contracts), non-salaried employees, civil servants (permanent or temporary) and volunteers.
All candidates for VAE must be able to prove at least one year of professional experience directly related to the content of the professional certification in question (continuous or discontinuous, full-time or part-time activity lasting at least one year).
WHY ENGAGE IN A VAE PROCESS?
VAE meets many of the expectations and aspirations of individuals:
- To consider new directions in terms of jobs or functions
- To facilitate professional development and internal promotion
- To maintain employability and prepare for retraining in diversified activities or a new profession
- To have one's professional skills recognised and valued
WHEN TO START A VAE PROCESS?
The process of validating acquired experience can be initiated at any time in life, without age limit, and regardless of the starting level: there is no obligation to have a diploma, title or professional certification to apply for VAE.
HOW TO INITIATE THE VAE PROCESS?
The VAE process at IPAC consists of four stages.
Stage 1: The application form for admissibility ("Livret 1") and the initial interview
The decision of admissibility or non-admissibility will be discussed during an individual interview with the IPAC VAE manager after receipt of the "Livret 1", the application form for the validation of acquired experience.
This form, established by the Ministry of Labour, applies to all bodies responsible for issuing professional qualifications.
Download the form "Request for eligibility for validation of prior learning".
Download the explanatory note "Application for the validation of prior learning".
The purpose of the initial interview is to study the validity of the candidate's application for VAE with regard to the regulatory requirements.
This interview, in addition to the commentary linked to the admissibility decision, aims to provide assistance in the analysis of the candidate's career path and in the identification of the most relevant certified title to target with regard to the career path.
It also allows the candidate to know if he/she can undertake a total or partial validation of the title. Indeed, the candidate has the possibility of validating all or part of the blocks of competences making up the targeted certification.
Stage 2: The validation file ("Livret 2")
The purpose of the validation file ("Livret 2") is to analyse the candidate's experience with regard to the requirements of the certified title in terms of skills to be mastered. It includes :
1. A description of the candidate's professional and personal experience This is a description of the activities actually carried out in direct relation to the activities expected of the holder of the targeted certification. The candidate describes his working environment, his different missions, the professional skills acquired during his experience.
2. Evidence of the reality of the candidate's professional experience. This can be of various kinds: organisation chart, meeting minutes, mission letter, etc. For example, a file of evidence could include: board of directors' minutes, seminar organisation back-planning, project presentation slide show, project budget monitoring table, documentary file, communication support, etc.
To help with the validation file, the candidate can benefit from support offered by the IPAC VAE manager. This support is not compulsory, but is strongly recommended.
Step 3: Assessment of skills by the jury
The principle of VAE consists of evaluating the skills acquired by the candidate through his or her professional experience and comparing them to the requirements of the certified title that is the subject of the candidate's VAE procedure.
These requirements are defined by :
- The competency framework of the title
- The evaluation criteria of the evaluation reference framework of the title which enable the members of the jury to assess the mastery of these skills
The jury studies the candidate's file (Livret 2) and assesses the skills acquired from the description that the candidate proposes. It checks that they correspond to those required for the targeted certification.
In addition, a compulsory interview with the jury allows its members to ask the candidate all the questions necessary for the understanding and validation of his/her experience.
Step 4: Decision of validation by the jury
After examining all the elements submitted to the jury during the assessment of competences (Stage 3), the jury will take one of the following decisions:
1. Total validation: the candidate obtains full certification. This decision is notified to the candidate by IPAC as the certifying body.
2. Partial validation: the candidate obtains a part of the certification (one or several blocks of competences constituting the certification). It is acquired definitively.
The part of the certification that has not been obtained (one or more blocks of competences constituting the certification) is identified, and the jury indicates to the candidate the skills and competences that will have to be the subject of a complementary evaluation necessary to obtain the certification.
In addition, the candidate may benefit from specific post-jury support to set up additional training or experience courses.
3. Refusal of validation: the candidate's achievements do not correspond to the required level of skills. The candidate may receive assistance in reorienting his or her professional project.
WHO TO CONTACT TO START THE PROCESS?
For any request for information in regards to VAE: ipac.vae@ipac-france.com
You can also visit our website dedicated to professional training: IPAC Formation Professionnelle or make an information request.