Make the most of your professional experience and earn a certification through the VAE (Validation des acquis de l’expérience, Validation of Prior Experience)!

Think about the VAE (Validation of Prior Experience) and get your degree!

Do you have experience in a field but not the corresponding degree?

Want to secure your career path?

Get Your Skills Recognized?

Earn up to a 5-year degree through your experience, without any educational qualification?

Choose the VAE!

What is VAE?

VAE, or Validation of Prior Experience, makes it possible to obtain all or part of a certification (professional certifications registered in the National Directory of Professional Certifications (RNCP) or professional qualification certificate) through recognition of experience gained throughout life.

You will need to demonstrate that the skills you acquired during your working life match those required for the professional certification or degree you wish to obtain.

The certification obtained through VAE has the same value as one obtained through the training route.

The VAE process requires reflection, research and the formalization of practice in writing.

  • No training needed
  • No need to go back to school
  • We explain everything!

Why? For whom?

WHY DO A VAE?

The VAE is a career management tool that facilitates internal or external professional mobility.

It can lead to a promotion, a salary increase, or simply personal recognition and legitimacy.

  • Obtain a professional certification by leveraging your experience
  • Have your skills recognized and secure your career path
  • Develop your employability Gain self-confidence
  • Save time compared with a training path
  • Obtain a professional degree or certification allowing you to start a business or sit a competitive exam

A VAE FOR WHOM?

The law has established universal access to the VAE. Anyone, regardless of age, nationality, status, and level of education, who can demonstrate experience that has allowed them to acquire skills directly related to the targeted certification can apply for validation of experience (VAE).

Our 18- or 24-hour coaching

  • Remote coaching
  • Unique, personalized coaching
  • An expert VAE advisor
  • Coaches from the chosen certification
  • An occupational psychologist at your service
  • Planned coaching time: 18:00 or 24:00 hours one-on-one and remote
  • Objectives of the coaching: to help the candidate analyze their background, choose the experiences to describe in relation to the skills and activities frameworks, write and formalize booklet 2 while meeting expectations, gather the relevant evidence and supporting documents and prepare for the interview with the jury
  • Our coaching helps you maintain motivation, since writing the file can sometimes take up to 1 year
  • The coaches are teachers who specialize in the professional certification or the industry. They master the frameworks of the chosen certifications and are able to advise candidates on interpreting the framework and on the relevant evidence to provide

Our second option

We offer one hour of video coaching on what is expected in booklet 2 and by the VAE jury. We also provide you with the working documents (framework, booklet 2, jury validation grid) so that you can write your booklet 2 on your own.

This package is intended for people with excellent command of the framework’s skills, strong autonomy and great writing and speaking ease.

What are the different steps of the VAE?

Entry into the VAE process is possible all year round.

Step 1: Information and advice to find the certification and the degree level suited to your experience. Information on the procedure, fees, how it is carried out, and the various possible funding options.

Step 2: Preparing the eligibility file (booklet 1): CERFA form, supporting documents, résumé, self-assessment grid specific to the certification.

Step 3: Review of the eligibility file by an academic committee and notification of the response.

Step 4: If you are eligible, preparation of the admissibility file (booklet 2).

Because it is essential to build this admissibility file well, as it will demonstrate your experience and skills, we offer you personalized support. It is optional, but strongly recommended given what is at stake. You are therefore free to sign up for it.

Step 5: Appearing before the VAE jury. After reviewing the admissibility file and a one-hour interview, the jury can make 3 decisions:

  • Full validation: Award of the complete professional certification
  • Partial validation: Award of a certificate for each block of skills acquired. Recommendations are given to the candidate for obtaining the requested professional certification: complementary experience or training that would allow them to acquire the missing skills. Possibility to present the missing blocks again to the jury free of charge within the following 12 months
  • Refusal to validate the professional certification

Specific Prerequisites

To be eligible for the VAE, there are 2 prerequisites:

  • Have at least 1 year of experience directly related to the chosen certification
  • Receive a positive response to the eligibility request, following review of your complete file.

Which Certifications Are Available Through the VAE?

Here is the list of IESA titles available through the VAE:

Key Figures (VAE Galileo Global Education)

Overall satisfaction rate with the VAE in 2024: 100%

2024 dropout rate in VAE support: 2.5%

Success rate for the candidates we have supported (all support packages combined):

  • 92.3% full validation,
  • 7.7% partial validation,
  • 0% refusals

Success rate on certified titles eligible for the VAE: 100%

Access Terms and Timelines

As soon as we receive your request for VAE information, we process it within 7 days at most and offer you a phone appointment to advise you and guide you toward the degree that matches your experience.

We then review your eligibility file within a maximum of 30 days. If it is eligible, VAE start dates are possible at any time of the year. The start time will depend on your funding method, the package chosen, and your availability.

Fees and Financing Options

VAE Fees

1. Package with 18h00 of individual remote support: €3,600 (jury fees included), including 9h00 of face-to-face support by video call and 9h00 of proofreading and correction of booklet 2.

2. Package with 24h00 of individual remote support: €4500 (jury fees included), including 12h00 of face-to-face support by video call and 12h00 of proofreading and correction of booklet 2.

3. Package with 1h00 of remote post-eligibility support on the expectations of booklet 2 and the expectations of the VAE jury: €1,400 (jury fees included)

Financing Options

The VAE is part of the field of continuing professional training.

As such, it can be fully or partially funded by a third party, depending on your situation: CPF (personal training account, code 200), employer, OPCO, Pôle emploi…

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For other statuses, the procedure to follow to request VAE funding differs depending on the person’s status and the appropriate funder.

More information

VAE services are provided by Galileo VAE, an organization belonging to the Galileo Global Education France Group.

For more information on the VAE, please contact us by email.

We will get back to you very shortly to discuss your project.

Disability

Do you have a disability? Do you have an RQTH? Do you have specific difficulties?

IESA supports you in your success, whatever your situation.

An individual interview will be offered to determine with you the adaptation needed for your VAE.

Contact our disability coordinator