A level 5 professional title registered with the RNCP does not close the door to a professional license. The French regulatory framework allows explicit pathways between certifications from the Ministry of Labor and higher education diplomas, provided that the mechanisms for validation and admission are mastered.
Skills blocks and RNCP equivalences between professional title and professional license
Decree No. 2019-14 of January 8, 2019, relating to the national framework of professional certifications, structured the RNCP architecture around a logic of skills blocks. Each professional title and each professional license is broken down into identified blocks, facilitating cross-reading between certifications of different levels.
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Specifically, a professional title of level 5 corresponds to the same level as a BTS or a DUT. The professional license, on the other hand, is at level 6 and confers the degree of license with 180 ECTS. The bridge between the two relies on the candidate’s ability to have their already validated skills blocks recognized.
We observe that more and more professional license frameworks specify, in their creation decrees, that they accept candidates holding a level 5 professional title. Recognition can cover 120 ECTS or go through a VAPP (validation of professional and personal achievements). To obtain a professional license diploma, it is therefore necessary to identify the universities that integrate this pathway logic into their admission process.
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The difficulty lies in the heterogeneity of practices. Some universities apply an almost automatic recognition of blocks, while others require a complete file with an interview. There is no uniform rule at the national level regarding the exact volume of ECTS recognized for a given professional title.
VAPP and VAE: two distinct procedures for accessing the professional license
The confusion between VAPP and VAE remains common, even among training professionals. The two systems pursue different objectives and do not address the same moment in the journey.
VAPP: entering training without the required diploma
The VAPP (decree of 1985) allows access to a training for which the candidate does not possess the diploma normally required. A holder of a level 5 professional title who wishes to join a level 6 professional license can submit a VAPP file to the university. This file highlights professional experience, training undertaken, and skills acquired.
The educational commission then evaluates whether the candidate’s profile is compatible with the training requirements. In case of a favorable opinion, the candidate follows the professional license under the same conditions as other students.
VAE: obtaining the diploma without going through training
The VAE (validation of acquired experience) directly aims at obtaining the diploma, without following the curriculum. The candidate must justify experience directly related to the targeted certification. A jury evaluates a detailed file and can grant total or partial validation.
- The VAPP opens access to training, the candidate then follows the courses and takes the exams like any student enrolled in a professional license.
- The VAE awards the diploma based on experience, without the obligation to follow a complete training course.
- Both systems can be combined: a VAPP to enter a professional license, followed by a progressive capitalization of missing blocks if partial VAE has been obtained on some of them.
We recommend that holders of a professional title prioritize the VAPP when their professional experience is still recent or limited to a single field. Total VAE requires a solid file, documented over several years of practice.
Admission based on file in professional license: what educational commissions evaluate
Beyond regulatory frameworks, admission to a professional license relies on a file examination by an educational commission. Each professional license mention defines its own criteria, but some elements consistently recur.
The coherence between the held professional title and the specialty of the license is the first filter. A professional title in payroll management logically leads to a professional license in human resource management, not to a professional license in industrial computing. The coherence of the path takes precedence over the type of original certification.
The file must demonstrate that the candidate masters the academic prerequisites of the training. Commissions check, in particular, writing ability, knowledge of the targeted sector, and, in some cases, proficiency in foreign languages or specific digital tools related to the profession.
- The transcript or the details of the validated skills blocks during the professional title, with the associated evaluations.
- A cover letter that articulates the professional project with the specialty of the license, showing what the training will concretely bring to the candidate.
- Certificates of professional experience, internships, or missions related to the field of the targeted license.
- If applicable, the results of a VAPP already obtained or a favorable opinion from the validation commission.
Reform of BUT and impact on pathways from professional title to professional license
Since 2021-2022, the transformation of DUTs into university technology bachelors (BUT) over three years has reshuffled the cards. The former professional licenses linked to an IUT have been absorbed into the BUT curriculum, which reduces the number of professional licenses accessible in one year after a bac+2.
However, universities maintain professional licenses outside of IUTs, supported by UFRs or specialized components. These programs remain the most accessible for holders of professional titles, as they retain a format of 60 ECTS over one year and accept diverse profiles.
The landscape is being reshaped. Some professional license mentions disappear, while others are created to meet sectoral needs. Checking the updated offer on the France Compétences website and on university catalogs before any steps remains the first step. A level 5 professional title remains a valid entry point to level 6, provided that the training explicitly recognizes this type of certification in its access conditions.