Graduate, holder, doctor, certified: the French language offers several terms to designate a person who has obtained a diploma. Each term refers to a distinct administrative and legal reality. Understanding these differences allows for the correct word choice on a CV, in official correspondence, or when dealing with an institution.
Graduate, holder, certified: comparative table of official terms
The texts of the education code, the decrees published in the Official Journal, and the sheets from the National Directory of Professional Certifications (RNCP) do not all use the same vocabulary. The table below confronts the most common terms, their context of use, and their legal scope.
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| Term | Context of use | Legal scope |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate | Common language, CV, press | No strict legal definition, refers to any person who has obtained a diploma |
| Holder of the diploma | Ministerial decrees, Official Journal, LMD texts | Official formula in the decrees creating national diplomas |
| Holder of the certification | RNCP sheets, decisions from France Compétences | Administrative term for titles registered with the RNCP since 2019 |
| Bachelor | University, bachelor’s degree | Specifically refers to the holder of a bachelor’s degree |
| Doctor | University, after thesis defense | Highest university degree (doctorate) |
| Certified | Professional training, certificates | Refers to a certificate or attestation of skills |
The most widely used generic term remains graduate. However, in regulatory texts, the formula holder of the diploma of… has systematically prevailed since the LMD reform in the early 2000s.
To delve deeper into the name of the diploma holder according to each level of education, the distinction between common usage and official usage deserves to be detailed level by level.
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Bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate: which term for each university degree
France structures its university diplomas around three degrees since the LMD reform: bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate. Each degree has its own term to designate the person who has obtained it.
Bachelor and graduate
The holder of a bachelor’s degree is called graduate (or graduate female). This word comes from the Latin licentia and historically refers to the authorization to teach. In French university usage, it remains the exact term for this bac+3 level.
It should not be confused with the graduate in the sense of labor law, which refers to a person who has lost their job. The context always clarifies the ambiguity, but on an official document, the formula “holder of the bachelor’s degree of…” eliminates any confusion.
Master and master holder
For the holder of a master’s degree, the French language has not yet stabilized a derivative as natural as “graduate.” The term “master holder,” sometimes mentioned in regulatory texts in the early 2000s, has never been adopted in common usage. One simply says holder of a master’s degree or “graduate of a master’s degree.”
Doctorate and doctor
The title of doctor is the only one that can be placed before the name in certain contexts. After defending the thesis, the holder of a doctorate is called doctor. This title is recognized in the education code and can appear on civil status documents since a decree clarified this usage.
Holder of the RNCP title: the terminology of professional training
Outside of university, professional training uses distinct vocabulary. Since the creation of France Compétences in 2018 (fully operational in 2019), the RNCP sheets consistently use the expression holder of the title or holder of the certification.
This distinction has concrete consequences. A state diploma (DE), a higher technician certificate (BTS), or a university technology bachelor (BUT) fall under the category of national diplomas. An RNCP title issued by a private organization does not confer the status of “graduate” in the strict sense of the education code.
- A BTS or a BUT grants the status of graduate, as they are national diplomas issued by the state.
- An RNCP title at level 6 (equivalent to a bachelor’s degree) issued by a private school makes its holder a “holder of the title” or “certified,” not a graduate in the regulatory sense.
- A professional qualification certificate (CQP) grants the status of certified, without there being a diploma in the strict sense.
In common language, “graduate” applies to both holders of state diplomas and holders of RNCP titles. Recruiters rarely make the distinction. Official texts, however, maintain a clear gap.
Attestation, certificate, diploma: terms not to be confused
Three documents mark the end of a training course in France, and each implies a different designation for the person receiving it.
The training attestation proves participation in a program, without validating assessed skills. Its holder is neither a graduate nor certified: they are simply “attested” to have followed the training, although this term is not common.
The certificate (certificate of skills, certificate of aptitude) certifies mastery of a specific know-how after evaluation. The person is then certified. This term is common in the fields of professional training and workplace safety.
The diploma, finally, is the most binding document. Issued by an institution authorized by the state or registered with France Compétences, it confers the status of graduate or holder depending on the language register used.
- Attestation: no specific title for the holder, simply proof of participation.
- Certificate: the holder is certified, the document validates a specific skill.
- Diploma: the holder is a graduate (common usage) or holder of the diploma (official usage).
The correct term thus depends on the document obtained and the context in which one expresses oneself. On a CV intended for a recruiter, “graduate” remains the most readable term. In an administrative file or an application for a public service competition, “holder of the diploma of…” followed by the exact title is the formulation expected by the administration.