In our daily lives, we support dedicated professionals, women and men who are the backbone of home care for our elderly and vulnerable people. We see every day the extent of your skills, the richness of your know-how, and the depth of your commitment. Yet, we also know that this treasure of experience is not always recognized at its true value, due to a lack of corresponding qualifications. This is where the Validation of Acquired Experience (VAE) comes into play. More than just a simple administrative procedure, the VAE is a path to recognition, a way to transform years of practice into an official diploma. It is a process that allows you to say: “Yes, my experience has value, and here is the proof.” Throughout this article, we will explore this journey together, demystify its steps, and show you how your daily work, from the simplest gestures to the most complex situations, has already laid the foundations for your future certification.
The Validation of Acquired Experience, or VAE, is a right enshrined in the French Labor Code. It allows anyone, regardless of age, level of education, or status, to validate the skills acquired through their experience in order to obtain a professional certification. For you, home helpers, this process is particularly powerful. It is the recognition that your workplace – the home of the people you assist – is a true school of life and care.
The VAE, a mirror of your skills
Imagine the VAE as a mirror. This mirror does not reflect your image, but the entirety of the skills you have accumulated over the years. Each situation managed, each person assisted, each challenge met has polished a facet of this mirror. The VAE process involves describing what you see in this reflection, organizing it, and presenting it to a jury for them to officially recognize the quality and completeness of your know-how. You are not learning anything new; you are learning to name, structure, and prove what you already know how to do. It is a transformation from “I know how to do” to “I am certified to do.”
A sector where experience outweighs theory
The job of a home helper is one of the most concrete there is. It is rooted in reality, in the everyday, in the human. The theory learned in school is useful, but it will never replace the ability to adapt to the unique personality of each beneficiary, to manage an unforeseen emergency, or to soothe a nighttime anxiety. Your experience is your main qualification. You have learned to communicate without words, to anticipate needs, to organize a safe and stimulating daily life. The VAE precisely validates this situational intelligence, this practical skill that is at the heart of your job and that is not always measured by exam scores.
Diplomas accessible through the VAE
The personal assistance sector offers several certifications that can be obtained through the VAE. They directly correspond to the tasks you perform every day. Among the most common, we find:
- The State Diploma of Educational and Social Assistant (DEAES): This diploma is particularly relevant. It recognizes your ability to assist individuals in daily life activities, to maintain their social life, and to participate in their personalized life project.
- The Professional Title of Life Assistant for Families (ADVF): Very concrete, this title certifies your skills in three key areas: maintaining the home, assisting individuals in essential daily activities, and providing support to parents in childcare at home.
The choice of diploma will depend on the exact nature of your tasks and your professional project. The important thing is to know that there is a certification that corresponds to your field reality.
The skills you have developed daily, without even thinking about it
Often, the biggest challenge in a VAE process is becoming aware of the extent of one’s own skills. Your work is so integrated into your routine that you no longer measure the complexity of the know-how you mobilize. Yet, your daily life is a goldmine of skills to be valued.
Beyond technical gestures: emotional intelligence
Of course, you master technical gestures: assistance with bathing, preparation of adapted meals, maintenance of the living environment. But your added value lies well beyond that. Think of your infinite patience in the face of memory disorders, your ability to actively listen to joys and sorrows, your tact in preserving the dignity of the person in the most intimate moments. This emotional intelligence, this ability to create a bond of trust, is a top-tier professional skill. It is at the heart of quality support and must absolutely be prominently featured in your VAE file.
Managing the unexpected and autonomy
You often work alone. This autonomy has forced you to develop an exceptional adaptability. A fall, a device breaking down, a sudden anxiety, an urgent medical visit to organize… You are on the front line to assess the situation, make the right decisions, and act calmly. This reactivity and sense of responsibility are managerial skills that many executives would envy. In your VAE, every unforeseen event you have managed is proof of your professionalism.
A specific know-how with vulnerable populations
Assisting a person with Alzheimer’s’s is not the same as helping someone recovering from surgery. You have developed very specific know-how. In our training session on caring for patients with Alzheimer’s’s disease, we see how professionals like you develop non-verbal communication strategies and cognitive stimulation with great finesse. The use of tools like our memory games on the SCARLETT tablet is not just a pastime; it is a skill. You know how to choose the right game, how to adapt the level of difficulty, and how to use this support to create a moment of sharing and pleasure, thus stimulating cognitive abilities while strengthening the bond. Similarly, when you use an application like our tool MON DICO, which helps individuals with cognitive disorders express their needs through images, you mobilize skills in alternative communication. These are concrete and powerful examples to describe in your VAE file to illustrate your expertise.
The VAE journey, step by step: a mountain to climb?
Seeing the VAE as a mountain can be intimidating. But like any ascent, it is enough to break it down into clear and achievable steps. We are here to serve as your guide at every step, to ensure that you have the right equipment and that you do not get lost along the way.
Step 1: Booklet 1, your professional “identity card”
The first step is to create “Booklet 1,” also known as the admissibility file. This is an administrative document in which you will outline your journey. The objective is simple: to prove that you have indeed engaged in an activity directly related to the targeted diploma for the required duration (usually at least one year, continuously or not). You will attach supporting documents (employment contracts, pay slips, employer certificates). It is a formal but crucial step. Once this booklet is validated by the certifying body, you will receive a notice of admissibility: this is the official green light to begin the actual writing of your experience.
Step 2: Booklet 2, the heart of your process
This is where the real work of introspection and writing begins. “Booklet 2” is the file in which you will describe your experience. It is not about making a simple detailed CV. You will need to select significant work situations and analyze them in depth. For each situation, you will need to describe:
- The context: Who were you assisting? What were their needs, their pathologies?
- Your actions: What did you do, concretely? What techniques did you use?
- The means mobilized: What tools, what materials, what resources (human, informational) did you use?
- The skills developed: What know-how, what interpersonal skills did this require from you?
This is the moment to link your actions to the diploma’s reference framework. For example, describing how you used the SCARLETT game to stimulate the memory of a disoriented person directly addresses the competency “Implementation of social and cognitive stimulation activities” of the DEAES. Telling how you managed a person’s refusal to bathe demonstrates your ability to “manage crisis and conflict situations.” It is demanding work, but it is what will give strength to your application.
Step 3: The oral presentation with the jury, defending your experience
The final step is the presentation before a jury. This oral exam is not a test of knowledge. The jury has already read and studied your Booklet 2; they are convinced that you have the required experience. The purpose of this interview is to hear you talk about your job, to delve into certain points of your file, and to ensure that you have the expected professional posture. It is a conversation, an exchange among peers. The jury wants to see the passion in your voice, understand your reasoning, and confirm that the written document corresponds well to the person they have in front of them. It is an opportunity to bring your file to life and show who you are as a professional.
The concrete benefits of a successful VAE: more than just a diploma
Obtaining your diploma through the VAE goes far beyond adding a line to your CV. It is a process that profoundly transforms your professional and personal journey.
An official recognition and better employability
The diploma is a key. It opens doors. It gives you an official recognition of your skills, which can translate into better pay, access to positions with more responsibilities (such as sector coordinator), or simply greater job security. You are no longer “just” a person with experience; you are a certified professional, which strengthens your position in the job market and during salary negotiations.
The impact on self-confidence
We constantly observe this in the people we support. The greatest benefit of the VAE is often personal. The act of putting words to your skills, taking a step back from your practice, and seeing it validated by an official jury is a tremendous boost to self-confidence. You will no longer see yourself the same way. You will become aware of your value, your expertise, and take a fresh and proud look at the path you have traveled. It is a validation that comes from the outside but resonates deeply within.
An open door to continuing education
The VAE is not an end in itself; it is often a beginning. Once you have your diploma, you may want to go further, to specialize. The diploma obtained can give you exemptions for other training programs, allowing you to more easily access higher qualification levels (educational supervisor, nurse…). The VAE puts you back in a dynamic of learning and career progression.
How we support you in this process
You will have understood, the VAE is a demanding journey that requires method and perseverance. That is why it is often essential to seek support. We are by your side to help you navigate each step with peace of mind.
Personalized support so you don’t feel alone
Our role is to guide you, advise you, and motivate you. We help you choose the right diploma, select the most relevant experiences for your Booklet 2, structure your thoughts, and rephrase your descriptions so that they perfectly meet the jury’s expectations. We are here to proofread your writings, prepare you for the oral presentation, and answer all your questions. You are no longer alone facing the mountain; you have an experienced guide by your side.
Tools to enrich your file
Our expertise does not stop at methodological support. We provide you with access to resources that can enrich your practice and, consequently, your VAE file. Training on specific themes is an excellent way to consolidate your knowledge and enhance it. That is why we offer specific modules, such as the one on cognitive stimulation and creating connections through games, which can directly enrich your file by providing you with concrete examples and precise methodologies to describe. Having completed such training and being able to explain how you apply it daily with tools like SCARLETT or MON DICO is a considerable asset in front of a jury. You can discover our approach here: https://www.dynseo.com/courses/stimuler-et-creer-du-lien-avec-les-jeux-dynseo/.
Funding your VAE
The financial question should not be a barrier. The VAE is a professional training scheme that can be financed through various means. We help you prepare your funding application to mobilize the assistance you are entitled to.
- The Personal Training Account (CPF): Every employee accumulates training rights on their CPF, which can be used to finance VAE support.
- The employer: As part of the company’s skills development plan, your employer may choose to finance your process.
- France Travail (formerly Pôle Emploi): For job seekers, specific assistance may be mobilized.
In conclusion, the VAE is much more than a procedure. It is an act of recognition, for yourself and for your profession. It is an opportunity to take a break, to look at the path traveled, and to become aware of the immense value of your daily work. Your experience is a precious asset. It is time to have it certified and to reap the rewards of your commitment. Do not hesitate to take the first step; we will be there to support you on the rest of the journey.
The Validation of Acquired Experience (VAE) is an essential mechanism for home helpers, allowing them to officially recognize their skills acquired on the ground. In this context, it is interesting to note the importance of communication with elderly people, especially those suffering from diseases like Alzheimer’s’s. A relevant article on this subject is available on the Dynseo website, titled How to communicate with a person with Alzheimer’s’s. This article offers valuable advice for improving the quality of interactions with elderly people, which is crucial for home helpers seeking to validate their skills through the VAE.
