The DEEJE remains a state diploma at level 6 that requires long in-person internships. Any promise of a fully distance learning program to obtain this diploma deserves to be scrutinized, because the DEEJE is not awarded without practical training periods in a structure. Here we distinguish what can actually be followed online from what is mandatory fieldwork.
Competency Blocks of the DEEJE and Actual Share of Distance Learning
The revised framework of the DEEJE is structured around four competency blocks, three of which are common to social work diplomas of the same level (specialized educator, social service assistant). Only the specific EJE professional block focuses on the educational support of young children.
The theoretical teachings of these blocks (sociology of childhood, developmental psychology, legal framework for child protection, project methodology) lend themselves to a distance format. Several accredited training centers offer synchronous or asynchronous online courses to cover this part of the program.
On the other hand, internships in daycare centers, early childhood relay services, PMI services, or MECS represent a significant part of the curriculum. No certifying organization exempts these field periods. A candidate in retraining who chooses to deepen the theory through a distance DEEJE training on News Connect must integrate this constraint from the construction of their schedule.
Bridges Between Social Work Diplomas: Shortening the Distance Path
The reform of social work diplomas introduced a mechanism that most popular articles overlook: the common competency blocks are transferable from one diploma to another. A specialized educator or a social service assistant already holding a diploma does not have to redo the entire EJE curriculum.
They only need to validate the specific EJE professional block, which significantly reduces the duration of training. This shortened path is particularly well-suited for a mixed organization: theory followed at a distance, internships concentrated over a few months.
We recommend that social work professionals in position check directly with the DREETS of their region what exemptions are granted to them. Exemptions vary depending on the original diploma and the chosen training center.
Profiles That Benefit Most from These Bridges
- Specialized educators wishing to reposition themselves in early childhood without resuming three years of study, capitalizing on already validated blocks
- Social service assistants working in departmental PMI services, already familiar with the institutional framework of child protection
- Holders of a CAFERUIS or another level 6 diploma in the social sector, who share a common base of transversal skills
Admission to the DEEJE: Parcoursup, Retraining, and Current Access Conditions
Access to the DEEJE now goes through Parcoursup, complemented by a motivation interview organized by each training center. Candidates must hold a baccalaureate or a level 4 title registered in the RNCP.
Candidates resuming studies benefit from an alternative condition: having interrupted their studies for at least two years and being at least twenty years old on the date of enrollment. This provision facilitates access for people in professional retraining, especially those already working in the early childhood sector without an EJE diploma.
The motivation interview carries particular weight for distance candidates. The juries assess the coherence of the professional project, knowledge of the profession, and the ability to articulate online course periods and field internships. Preparing for this interview requires being able to describe their logistical organization precisely.
Distance EJE Prep: Useful or Superfluous
Several organizations offer online prep courses to strengthen the Parcoursup application and prepare for the interview. These trainings do not award the DEEJE but work on professional culture, writing skills, and interview posture.
For a candidate who has never worked in the social sector, this preparation can fill a gap in professional vocabulary and field knowledge. For a professional already working in a daycare or childcare center, the investment in a prep course is less justified than hours of voluntary internship in a type of structure different from the one they know.
Funding and Concrete Organization of a Distance EJE Path
France Travail now funds certain early childhood training programs accessible online. Registered job seekers can request coverage through their advisor, provided that the training is listed in the regional catalog.
Employees in position have access to the CPF, but the complete DEEJE far exceeds the average balance of a personal training account. The supplement often comes from employer funding (skills development plan) or from the regional council for job seekers.
- Check that the targeted training center is accredited by the DREETS and registered in the RNCP (RNCP sheet 37679 for the DEEJE)
- Anticipate the cost of travel for in-person gatherings and internships, often underestimated in budget forecasts
- Negotiate a work adjustment if the training takes place during employment, as full-time internship weeks are not compatible with maintaining parallel activity
The most common trap remains to confuse a preparatory training for EJE selections with the diploma-awarding curriculum itself. Only centers accredited by the DREETS award the DEEJE. Online platforms offering “early childhood” modules without this accreditation direct towards other certifications (CAP AEPE, professional title IEPE), which are useful but do not provide access to the same professional status or responsibilities in a care structure.