Recognition of Prior Learning (VAE) at emlyon business school
What is VAE?
Introduced by the French Social Modernisation Act of 17 January 2002, VAE is a route to a qualification based on evidence of prior learning and experience. It is built on four principles:
- Professional and non-professional experience, including voluntary work and elected office, can develop recognised skills.
- When skills acquired through experience match the skills assessed by a professional certification, the candidate may apply for that certification through VAE.
- A candidate may obtain a certification without completing the corresponding taught programme, provided they demonstrate mastery of all the skills covered by the certification.
- A qualification obtained through VAE has the same value as the equivalent qualification obtained through training.
Why undertake a VAE pathway?
VAE can lead to a certification registered in the French National Register of Professional Certifications (RNCP), based on professional or non-professional experience. It can help you to:
- Gain formal recognition for skills acquired through experience.
- Reflect on your career and clearly articulate the skills you have developed and mastered.
- Obtain a certification recognised by the French State and employers through the RNCP.
- Improve your employability.
- Develop greater self-awareness and confidence in your potential.
VAE figures at emlyon business school
- 156 candidates have presented a VAE portfolio to an assessment panel since 2013.
- Four assessment panels are held each year.
Results for 2022–2025
Qualification | Full award | Partial award | Not awarded | Total |
EMBA | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
EMI | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
EMMG | 9 | 14 | 1 | 24 |
TDMS | Results in 2026 |
|
|
|
Overall | 10 | 17 | 2 | 29 |
How can I find out whether VAE is right for me?
Send an information request with your CV to vae@eml-executive.com. Before contacting emlyon business school, read the VAE candidate guide available on France VAE.
After speaking with the emlyon VAE manager or a pathway architect, consult the France VAE page for your target qualification to review eligibility requirements and the detailed competency blocks. French proficiency at B2/C1 level is required so that candidates can explain and evidence their skills clearly.
Qualifications available through VAE
- Executive MBA (EMBA) - View the RNCP certification on France VAE
- Executive Master in General Management (EMMG) - View the RNCP certification on France VAE
- Advanced Master in Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management (EMI) - View the RNCP certification on France VAE
- Advanced Master in Digital Transformation, Marketing & Strategy (TDMS) - View the RNCP certification on France VAE
You may complete VAE with or without support. Because preparing a VAE portfolio is demanding and requires structured reflection, support is strongly recommended. You may choose a pathway architect experienced in supporting Level 7 qualification candidates. They can help you prepare for the eligibility interview, arrange funding, write your VAE portfolio and prepare for the assessment panel.
Hybrid VAE: combine recognition of experience with training
Does your professional experience cover only some of the competency blocks? For the EMMG and EMBA qualifications, emlyon offers a hybrid VAE route. You can validate some blocks through VAE and complete the remaining blocks through training, either independently or with your pathway architect. Competency blocks may be acquired separately.
What are the stages of a VAE pathway?
Your experience is reviewed against the requirements of the target certification.
You document and evidence how your experience demonstrates the required competencies.
You present and discuss your portfolio before the panel.
The panel may grant the full certification, a partial award or no award.
Fees
Stage | Fee including VAT |
Eligibility assessment | €300 |
Assessment panel | €4,800 |
VAE contact
For further information, email vae@em-lyon.com. The source content states that an emlyon business school adviser will contact you within 48 hours.
I had always wanted to earn an Executive MBA and gain the recognition and legitimacy that come with it. I knew the programme required a major personal commitment, and I did not have the time to complete it through the traditional route.
That is why I began the Validation of Prior Learning process. At the time, I was Director of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region at Alteca. As a member of the Executive Committee, I was involved in the company’s strategic decisions. I therefore felt that I had acquired the full range of skills associated with the business leader qualification validated by the MBA.
With the support of a tutor, I reviewed what I could do, assessed what I had learned over 20 years and gathered the evidence needed for my portfolio and panel presentation. At first, it felt as though I was breaking new ground. I then revisited each stage of my career and organised the material into a substantial evidence file and a report of around 30 pages.
What I appreciated most was the discussion with the panel, which included emlyon faculty members and alumni. I have excellent memories of the experience. My advice to future candidates is not to underestimate the time involved. I worked on it during evenings and weekends for several months.
A leading business school to support your VAE
- A VAE pathway can lead to an emlyon business school qualification and entry into the School’s alumni network of 52,000 graduates.
- A highly qualified faculty including 189 permanent professors.
- Several research centres with close links to companies and socioeconomic networks.
- An incubator that has supported 60 entrepreneurial projects each year since 1984.
The source content states that emlyon business school is among the 1% of business schools worldwide holding the three major international accreditations.
Disability and health-related support
If you have a temporary or permanent disability, or a disabling health condition, the Disability Support Team can provide confidential, personalised assistance to:
- Understand your needs and support your participation and integration.
- Arrange specific adjustments and individual academic support to address accessibility needs.
- Coordinate with external partners when an appropriate internal adjustment is not available.
- Act as an interface with the School’s departments.
- Support you with administrative and academic procedures.