Getting Your Qualification Through RPL? "It's Positive for Motivation, Recruitment, and Salary"

Their names are Lucette, Annie, Fatoumata, and Rachel. They are family assistants, childcare providers, personal carers, and childminders. Like most individual employer employees, they learned their profession through practice and IPERIA's short training modules. After 10 to 15 years of experience, they obtained professional certification through RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning). Between personal satisfaction and the qualification's positive impacts on their work, they share the benefits they've gained.

"It's Natural to Talk About What You Know"

Need for recognition, standing out in the job market, meeting job offer requirements, and encouragement from a colleague. There are many motivations to pursue RPL, but there's always a trigger moment. "For me, it was losing my only employer after 6 years," explains Fatoumata Gakou, a dependency personal carer for 14 years, who obtained her qualification through RPL in 2020. "I thought: why not validate my experience with a qualification to make my job search easier?"

"Getting Skills Recognized to Better Showcase Them"

For employees with solid experience, RPL is primarily a way to align their skill level and responsibilities with a qualification. "After twenty years as a dental assistant, I became a childminder 14 years ago somewhat by chance," recalls Inès Scholz. "I enjoyed it and took many training courses, particularly to support a child with multiple disabilities for the past 6 years. Thanks to RPL, I can now showcase this particular skill."

Inès's current employers increased her salary following her certification, but this situation isn't systematic beyond the legal obligation to comply with the minimum remuneration provided by the Collective Agreement. Especially for childcare providers whose rates are standardized in certain municipalities. "Plus, the market is tight," emphasizes Annie Lefort, a childcare provider for 10 years near Rennes. "However, being certified is a competitive advantage for securing new contracts," she continues. "During the first contact with parents, it generates trust in me as a professional. I also highlight all the skills that this qualification certifies."

"Reassuring Employers and Securing Long-term Employment"

Greater ease in convincing new employers and negotiating salary: the benefits of RPL are appreciated over time. "Having references is essential, but this qualification makes all the difference in reassuring the children of people losing autonomy," summarizes Chantal Joly, a personal carer for 10 years, certified since 2019. "It triggers discussion about all the activities I can perform at home to support an elderly person in a dependency situation -- meals, personal care, mobility, etc. For the employer and their relatives, it's the guarantee that I can help them stay at home as long as possible."

IPERIA's follow-up survey tracked candidates who earned qualifications through RPL in 2018 and 2019. Over 90% of these candidates were employed within 6 months of certification, and this employment rate remained stable when measured again at 18 months.

"Progressing and Evolving in One's Career"

Lucette Brianto, an individual employer’s employee in Martinique, obtained her family assistant qualification "late in life," at 61, two years ago, after already 16 years working with elderly people. "A friend told me about RPL. I didn't even know what it was. I never got a degree at school, so I thought: 'Why not me?'" While Lucette isn't currently looking for new employers, she anticipates needing to continue working to supplement her retirement. "This qualification is like a passport: it's recognized everywhere."