Cover of higher education & research in France, facts and figures

System of Validation of learning from experience (VAE) set out in the Education Code pursuant to Decree No. 2013 - 756 of 19 August 2013.

It sets out an individual right, open to everyone since 2002, to obtain all or part of a qualification or certification solely through VAE, without taking a course. VAE is a way of accessing certification, at the same level as initial education, apprenticeship or continuing education.

All certifications (degrees, titles, certificates) may be awarded in this way by the State, vocational sectors or private organisations. To do this, they must have been listed in the |National Directory of Vocational Certification (RNCP) http://www.rncp.cncp.gouv.fr/|xiti|To RNCP|.

Any experience can be taken into account, whether acquired through salaried, non-salaried or voluntary activity, provided that the vocational experience (at least three years) relates to the qualification in question.

The validation is awarded by assessment panels. At the initial assessment, if the panel does not award the full certification, it may award partial validation, and advise on the steps to be taken by the candidate to obtain the full certification. The path towards total validation of a qualification may therefore be spread over several years.

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25 validation of learning from experience in higher education

Validation of learning from experience (VAE) is an access route to qualifications. In 2015, 3,943 people obtained all or part of a higher education degree through recognition of the skills acquired by experience.

The VAE system in universities or the National Centre of Industrial Art and Design (CNAM) has undergone rapid development. From the start of the VAE (Law of 17 January 2002) until 2005, there was increased use of the system (chart 25.01). Since 2007, the number of VAE awarded at the initial assessment is around 4,000 per year, within an upper or lower range of about 200. To these must be added close to 8,000 higher education qualifications (BTS, DEES, DEETS, DCG and DSCG, DSAA and DMA) awarded in secondary education institutions, including some 6,000 awarded at the initial assessment.

In 2015, of the 3,943 VAE beneficiaries, 73% were full VAE (66% were awarded at the initial assessment and 7% at the post-initial assessment). The remaining 27% of VAE beneficiaries obtained a partial VAE at the initial assessment.

A VAE application starts when the eligibility application is submitted and ends with the decision of the assessment panel. This time can vary with the result of the VAE. Graduates awarded total validation at the initial assessment have spent less time on average in achieving their qualification (1.3 years) that those awarded partial validation at the initial assessment (1.4 years) or total validation at the post-initial assessment (2.1 years).

Nearly nine out of ten candidates assessed by the panel have had support.

With 37% of beneficiaries each, the vocational Bachelor and Master's degrees are the most sought after VAE qualifications (table 25.02). The vocational Bachelor degree is most frequently awarded in full at the initial assessment (43%) while the Master's is awarded partially at the initial assessment (46%) or fully after one or more partial validations (57%).

Four VAE beneficiaries in ten achieved a qualification in Law, Economics and Management (chart 25.03). Vocational Bachelor degrees are more common in this field of education (53%). Science, Technology and Healthcare is the field of education of 36% of VAE beneficiaries and Human and Social Sciences account for 20% of them. Master's degrees are awarded virtually equally in these three fields of education. PhDs are mainly awarded in Science, Technology and Healthcare (95%), as are the DUT and equivalent (48%). General Bachelor degrees, mainly awarded in Law, Economics and Management (42%), are also awarded in Science, Technology and Healthcare (24%), Human and Social Sciences (18%) and in Art, Arts and Languages (16%).

In 2015, only 25% of VAE beneficiaries had at least the baccalauréat beforehand. A large proportion of vocational Bachelor degrees is awarded at the initial assessment to beneficiaries holding a level Bac + 2 qualification (19% of all VAEchart 25.04) and the Master's degrees to holders of a level Bac + 3 or Bac + 4 qualification (16%). The real added value can be seen for the 11% of baccalauréat holders who achieved a vocational Bachelor degree through VAE to the 12% of VAE of Bac +2 level qualified students who achieved a Master's degree.

VAE beneficiaries are generally working people (87%): 44% are senior managers and 27% are in an intermediate profession.

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How to cite this paper :

KERJOSSE Roselyne, PROST-DAMBÉLÉ Sandrine. Validation of learning from experience in higher education. In: Higher education & research in France, facts and figures - 49 indicators [online]. KABLA-LANGLOIS Isabelle (dir.). Paris: Ministère de l'Éducation nationale, de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche, 2017. 10th ed. Chapter 25 [Accessed 03/28/2024]. ISBN 978-2-11-152033-2. https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/10EN/EESR10EN_ES_25-validation_of_learning_from_experience_in_higher_education-ILL_03.php

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System of Validation of learning from experience (VAE) set out in the Education Code pursuant to Decree No. 2013 - 756 of 19 August 2013.

It sets out an individual right, open to everyone since 2002, to obtain all or part of a qualification or certification solely through VAE, without taking a course. VAE is a way of accessing certification, at the same level as initial education, apprenticeship or continuing education.

All certifications (degrees, titles, certificates) may be awarded in this way by the State, vocational sectors or private organisations. To do this, they must have been listed in the |National Directory of Vocational Certification (RNCP) http://www.rncp.cncp.gouv.fr/|xiti|To RNCP|.

Any experience can be taken into account, whether acquired through salaried, non-salaried or voluntary activity, provided that the vocational experience (at least three years) relates to the qualification in question.

The validation is awarded by assessment panels. At the initial assessment, if the panel does not award the full certification, it may award partial validation, and advise on the steps to be taken by the candidate to obtain the full certification. The path towards total validation of a qualification may therefore be spread over several years.

 

25.01 Development in validation of learning from experience (VAE) at the initial assessment from 2002 to 2015 1

  
Number of VAE
of which qualifications awarded in full
 
 

1 All universities and National Centres of Industrial Art and Design (CNAM).

📄 Source:MENESR-DEPP
 Coverage: Metropolitan France + overseas departments (DOM).

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25.02 Breakdown of VAE beneficiaries according to the qualification obtained in 2015 1

 
Number of beneficiaries Breakdown of beneficiaries (%) of which at the initial assessment - Breakdown (in %) of which total validations at the post-initial assessment
Total validations Partial validations
DUT-DEUST-DNTS 99 2.5 2.5 2.3 3.4
Vocational Bachelor's degree 1,466 37.2 43.3 24.3 30.3
Bachelor's degree 284 7.2 7.7 6.8 4.5
Master's degree 1,463 37.1 31.2 45.9 56.9
PhD 18 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.0
Engineering diploma 186 4.7 3.5 8.2 2.8
Other diplomas and qualifications listed in the RNCP 427 10.8 11.3 12.1 2.1
Total 3,943 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
 

1 All universities and National Centres of Industrial Art and Design (CNAM).

📄 Source:MENESR-DEPP
 Coverage: Metropolitan France + overseas departments (DOM).

You can embed this table to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:

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25.03 Breakdown of VAE beneficiaries at the initial assessment according to the qualification obtained and discipline in 2015 (%) 1

DUT-DEUST-DNTS
Vocational Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
PhD
Engineering diploma
Other diplomas and qualifications listed in the RNCP
  
Law-Économics-Management
Humanities-Linguistics-Arts-Languages
Other human and social sciences
Fundamental and applied sciences
 
 

1 All universities and National Centres of Industrial Art and Design (CNAM).

📄 Source:MENESR-DEPP
 Coverage: Metropolitan France + overseas departments (DOM).

You can embed this chart to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:

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25.04 Breakdown of VAE beneficiaries according to qualifications aimed for and the highest qualification on entering VAE in 2015 (%) 1

No qualification and level V (CAP/BEP or equivalent)
Level IV (Baccalaureate or equivalent)
Level III (Bac + 2 or equivalent)
Level II (Bac + 3/4 or equivalent)
Level I (Bac + 5/8 or equivalent)
  
DUT-DEUST-DNTS
Vocational Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Engineering diploma
Other degrees and qualifications listed in the RNCP
 
 

1 All universities and National Centres of Industrial Art and Design (CNAM).

📄 Source:MENESR-DEPP
 Coverage: Metropolitan France + overseas departments (DOM).

You can embed this chart to your website or your blog by copying the HTML code and pasting it into the source code of your website / blog:

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Related statistical publication

 Note d'information DEPP 16.25 - La validation des acquis de l'expérience (VAE) dans les établissements d'enseignement supérieur - Sandrine Prost-Dambélé - September 2016
Près de 4 000 personnes ont validé tout ou partie d’un diplôme de l’enseignement supérieur au titre de la validation des acquis de l’expérience (VAE) en 2015 dans les universités et le Cnam. Cela représente une nouvelle baisse de 7,6 % par rapport à 2014. Cette baisse est due à celles des validations partielles, en premier ou en post-premier jury, tandis que le nombre de validations totales en premier jury reste stable. De ce fait, la part de ces dernières augmente, à nouveau, de 5 points et atteint 66 % de l’ensemble des VAE examinées.

Other editions

Etat de l'enseignement supérieur et de la rechercheHigher education & research in France, facts and figures 9th edition - November 2016
20 - validation of learning from experience in higher education - Sandrine Prost-Dambélé
Validation of learning from experience (VAE) is an access route to qualifications. In 2014, 4,267 people obtained all or part of a higher education degree through recognition of the skills acquired by experience (i.e. 3% of degrees awarded at university) [Consult the following page]

Translation

 Etat de l'enseignement supérieur et de la rechercheL'état de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche en France n°10 - Avril 2017
25 - la validation des acquis de l'expérience dans l'enseignement supérieur - Roselyne Kerjosse & Sandrine Prost-Dambélé
La validation des acquis de l’expérience constitue une voie d’accès aux diplômes. En 2015, 3 943 personnes ont obtenu la totalité ou une partie d’un diplôme de l’enseignement supérieur en faisant reconnaître des compétences acquises par l’expérience [Consult the following page in french]


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