This scheme enables you to obtain official recognition of the skills you have acquired not through your studies, but through work, training and/or life experience.

The first step is to check that your intended occupation is covered by the VDC. The next step is to take one or more tests before a panel of professionals, via a skills center.

A successful test results in a certificate of competence. Another method of validating competency is the “dossier approach“.

Each profession covered by the VDC has a specific set of skills to validate (for example, the hairdressing profession includes 4 families of skills). For each skill validated, a competency title is given. Credentials are useful for proving your skills to employers.

Here’s a link to a video that explains and summarizes the skills validation process.

The benefits of credentials :

• You have access and exemptions when enrolling in professional training courses
• You have access to and exemptions from the Jury Central de la Communauté française de l’enseignement secondaire ordinaire (CESS).
• The “titre de compétence” allows you mobility in Belgium and abroad with the Europass certificate in addition to the “titre de compétence”.
• If you are under 21, the qualification gives you access to social benefits.
• If you obtain all the qualifications, this gives you access to apply to the public sector with a level C (CESS).
• Titre de compétence allows you to work in companies.
• It gives you access to become self-employed.
• If you have acquired skills through training, you can apply for the corresponding title.

In the Flemish Community, there is the EVC (Erkenen van Verworven Competenties), which also allows you to have skills acquired through experience (professional, personal or training) recognized. It is similar to the Validation des Compétences scheme offered by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.

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