Validate IESA Titles Through VAE

IESA titles, registered with the RNCP, can be validated through the Validation of Acquired Experience (VAE). The activities and experience must correspond to all or part of the skills targeted by the certification.

Information and registration
Anissa Abdellatif / a.abdellatif@iesa.fr / 01 73 54 13 16

The VAE is a mechanism allowing the award of all or part of a certification (diploma, professional title or professional qualification certificate) on the basis of professional experience as an employee, a non-employee (shopkeeper, shopkeeper’s collaborator, liberal profession, farmer or craftsperson…) and/or volunteer work (union, association) and/or voluntary activity. This experience, related to the targeted certification, is validated by a jury. Certifications registered in the National Directory of Professional Certifications (RNCP) are accessible through the VAE. (source: Portail national de la VAE)

Procedure for Obtaining a VAE

Phase 1: Welcome and information by a training advisor, in order to build the administrative file

Information on the procedure, fees, possible VAE jury dates and the items to provide to build the eligibility file. The candidate receives the eligibility file together with the activity/skills framework of the title, allowing them to situate themselves in relation to the targeted title.

Phase 2: Preparing the Eligibility File (CERFA)

The candidate must complete the eligibility file (CERFA) with the following items:

• the targeted title
• a cover letter explaining their career plans and the reasons for the VAE request
• the diplomas, titles and certifications obtained
• their professional experience: list of jobs held, volunteer activities, paid or unpaid
• prior education
• employment certificates, volunteer certificates or sworn statement, pay slips…

>> Download the CERFA eligibility file

>> Download the explanatory notice to complete your eligibility file

Phase 3: Eligibility review of the file by an academic committee

The candidate is informed within 2 months of whether their file is eligible. Any refusal is notified to the candidate.

Phase 4: Preparing the Validation of Acquired Experience file (booklet 2)

After being declared eligible, the candidate receives booklet 2, known as the evidence file, in which they must trace, analyze and formalize the skills, knowledge and abilities acquired through field experience in a work setting. The skills and activities performed must be related to those defined in the activities/skills framework of the targeted title. It is on the basis of this file that the jury will carry out an initial assessment of the candidate, before receiving them for an interview if necessary. Support: any candidate who wishes, may receive support provided by an instructor in the specialty. The support amounts to at least 6 hours face to face and 12 hours remotely for follow-up and proofreading.

Phase 5: VAE Jury Decision

The VAE jury reviews booklet 2 and summons the candidate if necessary. The jury verifies that the acquired knowledge and experience correspond to the skills/activities of the targeted title. The advisor, although they may attend the jury as a non-participating observer, may under no circumstances take part in the jury’s deliberations. The jury may ask the candidate technical, personal and professional questions in order to make sure that they truly possess the required skills needed for the award of the requested title. The jury communicates its decision by mail within 15 days of the interview.

• In the event of full validation, the candidate is awarded the requested title.
• In the event of partial validation, the jury gives the candidate recommendations with a view to obtaining the requested title. These recommendations may concern additional experience the candidate could gain, or training that would allow them to acquire the skills they lack.

The VAE jury may ask the candidate to provide evidence in the form of information of a declarative nature or in the form of written documents. During the preparation meetings, depending on the desired title and the activities carried out, the type of evidence to provide is specified to the candidate. In the event of partial validation, the parts of the certification obtained are now permanently acquired. These parts of certifications allow exemptions from tests if the rules set by the administrative authority, the institution or the body issuing the certification provide for full or partial equivalences. Article L335-5 of the Education Code, as amended. Law No. 2016-1088 of August 8, 2016 on labor, the modernization of social dialogue and the securing of career paths, article 78.