Lessening the social inequalities via the recognition of prior learning started a long time ago in France coming from the labour market with the recognition by the state of the title of engineer ( Ingenieur d’Etat) in 1934.The recognition of a the same value of what was learned by technicians than what young people knew after learning in universities or schools was the first demonstration of the desire to create permeability for people coming from VET. From the 70s, and gradually till 2002 (VAE) many obstacles were cleared in order to improve permeability. Thanks to the law voted in 2002 anybody involved in active life has the right to have his experience, especially in the professional field, validated in order to get a diploma or a qualification certificate, that is to prove that without following courses, he or she can get a whole diploma. HE education kept the former ways and developed more slowly the new way of VAE. The reason is that it implies two major evolutions: the acceptance by HE that learning can be acquired through working life (the development of apprenticeship in HE is also a way to accept it) and a shift towards leaning outcomes for the design of diplomas.