Validation of Prior Experience Procedure (VAE)

What is VAE?

The VAE (Validation des Acquis de l’Expérience) allows you to obtain all or part of a professional certification registered in the French National Directory of Professional Certifications (RNCP) by recognizing the experience acquired throughout your life.

The candidate must demonstrate that the competencies gained during their professional life correspond to those required for the targeted professional certification.

Who is eligible?

This VAE scheme is open to anyone, regardless of age, nationality, status or level of prior education, who can prove experience that has enabled them to acquire skills directly related to the targeted certification.

Examples of situations include:

Employees, whatever their contract type (permanent, temporary, etc.)
Self-employed individuals (professionals, farmers, artisans, merchants, freelancers, etc.)
Public sector workers (tenured or not)
Job seekers (whether receiving unemployment benefits or not)
Volunteers with associative or union experience
Volunteers under an associative contract
Elected representatives who have served a term
Individuals with union leadership responsibilities

Are RNCP Level 7 Certifications Accessible via VAE?

All certifications offered at Paris School of Business and registered in the RNCP are accessible through the VAE process.

The following are some examples of Level 7 (Master’s level) professional certifications accessible via VAE:

« Expert en stratégie digitale » de Digital Campus - (NSF 326) Niveau 7 – Enregistré au RNCP sous le numéro 36287 par décision du Directeur Général de France Compétences du 25/03/2022
« Manager de business unit » d'ESGCV-ESGCI - (NSF 312p) Niveau 7 – Enregistré au RNCP sous le numéro 35961 par décision du Directeur Général de France Compétences en date du 15/10/2021
« Manager de la logistique » d’ESGCV-ESG – (NSF 311p) Niveau 7 - Enregistré au RNCP sous le numéro 37831 par décision du Directeur Général de France Compétences du 19/07/2023
« Manager des hébergements touristiques » d'ESGCV-MBA ESG - (NSF 334) Niveau 7 – Enregistré au RNCP sous le numéro 38937 par décision du Directeur Général de France Compétences en date du 26/04/2024
« Manager produits et marketing » d'ESGCV-MBA ESG - (NSF 312) Niveau 7 – Enregistré au RNCP sous le numéro 35960 par décision du Directeur Général de France Compétences en date du 15/10/2021
« Expert en finance de marché » de ESGF - (NSF 313p) Niveau 7 - Enregistré au RNCP sous le numéro 37437 par décision du Directeur Général de France Compétences du 27/03/2023
« Manager développement et performance commerciale » d’ESGCV-MBA ESG - (NSF 312) - Niveau 7 - Enregistré au RNCP sous le numéro 39965 par décision du Directeur Général de France Compétences du 18/12/2024
« Manager en Marketing du Luxe » d’ESGCV-MBA ESG – (NSF 312) Niveau 7 - Enregistré au RNCP sous le numéro 36015 par décision du Directeur Général de France Compétences du 10/11/2021

What is the procedure to follow?

Step 1 – Information Gathering

Information and guidance to help you identify the certification and diploma level best suited to your experience. Details are provided on the procedure, fees, implementation terms, and the different possible funding options.

Step 2 – Preparing the Eligibility File (Livret 1)

Complete the eligibility file (Livret 1):

CERFA application form
Supporting documents
CV
Self-assessment grid specific to the certification sought.

Download the eligibility file and instructions.

Step 3 – Submitting the Eligibility Application

The candidate sends their eligibility file to the certification body, which notifies them of its decision.

An academic committee reviews the file and issues a decision of eligibility or non-eligibility. This decision determines whether or not the candidate may continue their VAE process with this certification body.

Step 4 – Preparing the Validation File (Livret 2)

Because it is essential to carefully prepare the validation file demonstrating your experience and competencies, we offer personalized support. This support is optional but strongly recommended given the importance of this stage. You are therefore free to choose whether to subscribe to it.

This support, totaling 18 hours, is delivered remotely. It is provided by faculty members specialized in the field corresponding to the certification. The qualified advisor provides all the necessary methodological guidance to help you succeed; a well-prepared file is key to success in your final interview before the jury.

Step 5 – VAE Jury Review

After reviewing the validation file and conducting a one-hour interview, the jury may make one of three decisions:

The interview with the VAE jury allows the candidate to clarify and elaborate on the information included in the validation file (Livret 2).

The purpose of this interview is to verify that the competencies acquired through the candidate’s experience correspond to those described in the RNCP certification framework. It is neither a thesis defense nor a knowledge test.

Full validation: Award of the complete RNCP certification.
Partial validation: Award of a certificate specifying the competency blocks obtained. Recommendations are provided to help the candidate obtain the full certification, such as additional professional experience or training to acquire the missing competencies. The candidate may resubmit the missing competency blocks before the jury free of charge within the following 12 months.
Refusal of certification validation.
Refusal of validation.

Fees and Funding

VAE Fees

1. Package with 24 hours of individual, remote support: €4,500 (jury fees included), including 12 hours of videoconference support and 12 hours dedicated to reviewing and correcting Livret 2 and preparing for the VAE oral interview.

2. Package with 18 hours of individual, remote support: €3,600 (jury fees included), including 9 hours of face-to-face videoconference support and 9 hours dedicated to reviewing and correcting Livret 2 and preparing for the VAE oral interview.

3. Package with 1 hour of remote post-eligibility support focused on expectations for Livret 2 and the VAE jury: €1,400 (jury fees included).
This package is reserved for individuals who have excellent mastery of the competencies in the certification framework, strong autonomy, and strong written and oral communication skills. The necessary working documents (certification framework, Livret 2 template, jury evaluation grid) will be provided, and you will prepare Livret 2 independently.

Funding Options

VAE falls within the scope of continuing professional training.

As such, it may be fully or partially funded by a third-party organization, depending on your situation: CPF (Personal Training Account, code 200), employer, OPCO, Pôle emploi, etc.

Access Terms and Timeframes

As soon as we receive your request for information about VAE, we process it within a maximum of 7 days and offer you a phone appointment to advise and guide you toward the diploma that best matches your experience.

We then review your eligibility file within a maximum of 30 days. If deemed eligible, enrollment in the VAE process is possible at any time of the year. The start date will depend on your funding method, the selected package, and your availability.