FAQ VAE
Are all diplomas accessible through VAE?
Yes, with the exception of the following certifications:
- General diplomas (e.g. general baccalaureate)
- DAEU-B
- Certifications
- Certain diplomas corresponding to regulated professions or meeting certain essential safety standards
- Any certification not registered with the RNCP (art. L6411-1 of the French Labor Code)
The University of Montpellier only validates its own diplomas.
Who can apply for validation of prior learning and experience?
By law, anyone with one year's experience related to the diploma applied for.
Note that for Bachelor's and Master's degrees, a single year's experience may not be enough.
Do I have to take the course?
No. You will present your Livret II to a panel of judges, reflecting your experience and, above all, your skills in relation to the diploma.
How does support work at the University of Montpellier?
Support at the University of Montpellier comprises 5 stages, defined by the national support charter:
- Individual interview and career analysis
- Link between the reference framework and the candidate's career path
- descriptive analysis of the candidate's activities
- Feedback and discussion on Booklet II
- Preparing for the interview with the jury
Does professional experience acquired abroad count?
Any experience acquired abroad can be taken into account if you provide evidence of it, translated into French by an approved translator.
However, differences in production or safety standards between countries may not correspond to the competencies of the French diploma.
What does the year of activity for filing a Livret I mean?
You must have at least one year's experience (1,607 hours, full-time equivalent) related to the diploma in question.
Activities may have been carried out on a continuous or discontinuous basis, full-time or part-time, paid or unpaid (volunteer work, union activities, etc.).
How can I finance my VAE?
If you are an employee:
your company can finance the costs from the company development plan, or you can mobilize your CPF (personal training account).
If you are retraining for a new career:
mobilize Transition Pro.
If you are unemployed:
Pôleemploi or certain regional programs can finance all or part of your VAE program, and you can mobilize your CPF.
If you are a UM staff member:
specific funding is available. Contact your VAE manager.
Consult the reference site to find your financing solution.
Where can I find VAE information centers?
France-wide information:
http://www.vae.gouv.fr/?page=carte-prc
For Occitanie:
https://espace-conseil-vae.fr/
Should I tell my employer about my VAE project?
You are under no obligation to inform your employer, unless you wish to involve him/her in your financing, or if you wish to request VAE leave.
How do I prepare for my VAE? Do I need to submit a leave of absence request to my employer?
If you wish to undertake VAE on your own initiative, you are entitled to 24 hours' VAE leave (CVAE), which may or may not be consecutive.
This leave enables you to take time off work either to take part in the validation tests, or to receive support in preparing for your validation.
There's no seniority requirement, whether you're on a fixed-term or permanent contract.
You must submit a request for leave of absence to your employer (letter with acknowledgement of receipt), together with your application form. Your employer has 30 days in which to reply, and failure to do so within this period will be deemed to constitute approval.
Can an employer refuse VAE leave?
No, but he can give reasons for postponing your leave for 6 months from the date of your request. He has 30 days to respond to your leave request.
How long does a VAE program last?
VAE lasts an average of 12 months:
- It depends on when you start your VAE project and the date of the jury session (April or November).
- It also depends on how much time you can spare.
- Finally, it all depends on the support you receive: the UM's support will give you the pace you need to move forward.
Can I submit several VAE applications?
You can submit up to 3 applications per year for 3 different diplomas.
How much does VAE cost at the University of Montpellier?
The cost of VAE at the University of Montpellier :
Livret I study fee: €50
Course with accompaniment: €2,000
Unaccompanied course: €800
Jury oral accompaniment (optional 2 hours): €200
How does the jury work at the University of Montpellier?
You will be auditioned for one of the two annual sessions (April or November). The audition takes place face-to-face, although we also offer remote access to all candidates.
After introducing the participants and reminding them of the VAE rules, the audition begins:
- You will present your Livret II in 20 minutes using a computerized presentation tool.
- Followed by 20 minutes of Q&A
- Deliberation concludes the hearing
The jury's response is immediate.
The jury is sovereign, and will tell you whether you will be awarded the diploma in full, in part (see the question on this subject) or whether you will be refused the diploma.
What happens if I don't get my diploma in full?
The jury is sovereign in its decision: it can award you all or only part of the diploma.
In this case, there are two possibilities:
1. Or the jury deems that you need to follow part of the training to complete your skills. You will register as a continuing education trainee to take the courses that the jury indicates.
At the end of these courses, depending on your marks, you may or may not be awarded the diploma.
2. Or the jury feels that your presentation is not comprehensive enough on certain points, and may ask you to write a supplementary dissertation on a specific subject. After reading your dissertation, the jury will decide whether or not your supplementary work is sufficient to validate your diploma in full.