Continuing education department

Validation of Acquired Experience (VAE)

Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience (VAE) enables you to obtain all or part of a certification by presenting your skills and experience to a panel of judges.

You don't take any courses: you prepare a booklet setting out the skills you have acquired through your professional career. These will enable you to validate the certification you are aiming for, either in full or in part.

We can help you with the drafting and the jury process.

Certification can be a diploma, a professional title or a certificate of professional qualification.
It must be registered with the RNCP to be validated by VAE.
Universities, high schools, Afpa, Greta... can deliver their RNCP-registered diplomas, titles and certificates via VAE.

The University of Montpellier can only validate its own diplomas.

Public

From now on, the scheme is open to anyone who can prove that they are engaged in an activity related to the content of the certification they are seeking.

Certifications accessible through VAE

All our DUT, Licences, Licences Professionnelles, Masters, Engineering Diplomas and Doctorates are accessible via VAE.

Choice of certification :

  • You haven't yet decided on a training program in line with your professional experience.

    You can take advantage of free support from a VAE advisor at a VAE advice point, before setting up your project.
    He or she can help you to assess the relevance of your project and obtain the necessary funding.

  • You haven't yet identified a degree, but you know the field related to your project and would like to know more about the courses offered by the University of Montpellier.

    For guidance in your initial search, contact carole.raabon@umontpellier.fr

  • You have identified the certification you would like to obtain through VAE.

    Consult our training offer and find out about the training objectives and target skills.

Rate

  • Booklet 1 study fee: €50
  • Course with accompaniment: €2,000
  • Unaccompanied course: €800
  • Jury oral accompaniment (optional 2 hours): €200

Accompaniment can be financed: consult the reference site to find your financing solution. Ask your manager for a quote.

The VAE process

  1. Center VAE conseil: Choice of diploma
  2. Collection and submission of your administrative Livret 1 (throughout the year)
    Examination of your Livret 1 by the VAE manager
  3. Meeting to explain the VAE process
    Feasibility assessment by the training manager (within 1 month)
  4. Financing (CPF or other channels)
  5. Coaching (12 hours) to produce your Livret 2
    Coaching for your interview with the jury
  6. Jury interview (November or April)

After the jury interview, there are 3 possibilities:

  • Full validation
  • Partial validation (training or additional file)
  • Refusal to validate

Booklet 1

Booklet 1 includes the following supporting documents:

  • the CERFA application form, duly completed  
  • a covering letter specifying the title of the diploma you are aiming for
  • a curriculum vitae detailing your professional background and education/training
  • copies of diplomas, certifications and training certificates
  • proof of at least one year's experience related to the diploma in question

You can submit your VAE Booklet I throughout the year.

On receipt of your Livret I, we will :

  •  An administrative study (matching experience with the diploma in question, seniority, etc.)
  • A pedagogical study carried out by the diploma coordinator, who issues a positive or negative pedagogical opinion.

Within 2 months of submitting your Livret 1, we will send you a letter of administrative admissibility and an opinion of pedagogical feasibility.

Eligibility is valid for 18 months from the date of issue.
After that date, you will have to start the process all over again.

Booklet 2

Your VAE application has been accepted.
Now you need to draw up a Livret 2, which you will present orally to a jury.

This booklet must show that you have acquired through experience :

  • The skills
  • Knowledge
  • Skills covered by the diploma

You express these skills through three or four real-life work situations.

You can take advantage of an optional 12 hours of face-to-face, distance or blended coaching.

Support lasts from 6 to 12 months, and helps you write up your skills in relation to the diploma, and prepare for your oral presentation to the jury.

This support can be financed: consult the reference site to find your financing solution.

Interview with the VAE Jury

The jury is made up of teachers and professionals.
It is sovereign in its final decision.

Two sessions per year:

  • November
  • April

Audition procedure :

  • 20-minute presentation based on your Livret II
  • 20 minutes of questions and answers
  • Deliberation
  • Immediate oral notification of the decision taken by all members of the jury: total or partial award or refusal of the diploma

In the event of partial validation, you may be required to take a training course to complete the missing skills.

Specific diplomas

VAE at the University of Montpellier

In 2022 :

  • 130 candidates received a positive opinion on their Livret I
  • 45 candidates were interviewed by the panel
  • 37 candidates obtained full validation of their VAE
  • 7 candidates obtained partial validation of their VAE
  • 1 candidate did not obtain VAE validation

In 2021 :

  • 73 candidates received a positive opinion on their Livret I
  • 52 candidates were interviewed by the panel
  • 35 candidates obtained full validation of their VAE
  • 16 candidates obtained partial validation of their VAE
  • 1 candidate did not obtain VAE validation

In 2020 :

  • 112 candidates received a positive opinion on their Livret I
  • 89 candidates were interviewed by the panel
  • 63 candidates obtained full validation of their VAE
  • 23 candidates obtained partial validation of their VAE
  • 3 candidates did not obtain VAE validation

Find out more about VAE

VAE regulations