When someone earns their bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or doctorate, it is commonly said that they are “graduated.” The term seems obvious. However, depending on the degree obtained, the administrative context, or the targeted profession, the terms vary. A person who has obtained an official diploma has a name that depends on the level of education, the academic grade, and sometimes the professional regulations.
Grade, title, and diploma: three words that are often confused
Before naming the person, it is necessary to distinguish what they have obtained. A diploma is the document issued by an institution. The grade is the academic level recognized by the state (bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate). The title refers to the professional qualification, sometimes listed in the RNCP (National Directory of Professional Certifications).
You may have noticed that we say “doctor” for a physician, but rarely “masterian” for a master’s degree holder? This is because not every diploma automatically generates a common name. Some grades have produced a common term, while others have not.
This distinction is not just a linguistic curiosity. On a CV, in a civil service exam, or in front of a professional order, using the correct term changes the perception of your background. To better understand the name on an obtained diploma, one must go back to the logic of the French higher education system.
Graduated, holder, certified: which term to use according to the context
“Graduated” is the generic term in French to refer to anyone who has obtained an official diploma. It works in spoken and written language, in everyday life. We say “graduated from an engineering school,” “graduated in law.”
In administrative usage, we often prefer “holder of a diploma.” This formulation is more precise: it indicates that a person holds a particular diploma, without ambiguity about the level. “Holder of a master’s degree in biology” provides more information than “graduated in sciences.”
Names related to a specific diploma
Some diplomas have generated a proper name for their holder. Here are the most common cases in the French educational system:
- Licentiate: a person holding a bachelor’s degree, a term used since the Middle Ages in French universities.
- Doctor: a person who has defended a doctoral thesis. The title of doctor is protected by the education code in France.
- Baccalaureate holder: a person who has obtained the baccalaureate, a national diploma at level 4.
- Certified: a person holding a certificate, such as the higher technician certificate or the national diploma of the certificate.
For the master’s degree, no derived term has established itself in usage. We do not say “masterized” or “masterian.” We stick to “holder of a master’s degree” or simply “graduated with a master’s degree.”
State-recognized diploma and right to practice a profession
Obtaining a diploma does not always mean being able to practice the corresponding profession. This nuance is often overlooked.
In regulated professions (medicine, law, architecture, teaching), the diploma is a necessary but not sufficient condition. A graduate in medicine must also validate an internship, obtain a practice authorization, and register with the Order of Physicians. Without these steps, they remain graduated but cannot present themselves as practicing physicians.
The role of the RNCP in official recognition
The National Directory of Professional Certifications classifies diplomas and certifications by level. A diploma registered in the RNCP guarantees that the training meets a framework validated by the state.
Why is it useful to know? Because not all certificates issued by training organizations are diplomas in the strict sense. A skills certificate does not have the same value as a state diploma. The former certifies an aptitude, while the latter validates a nationally recognized level of education.
The difference is concretely seen in funding: training leading to a diploma registered in the RNCP is eligible for CPF, apprenticeships, and scholarships. Simple certificates are not always.
VAE and atypical paths: graduated without a traditional curriculum
The term “graduated” also encompasses paths that do not follow the traditional school route. The validation of acquired experience (VAE) allows one to obtain an official diploma by recognizing their professional skills.
A person who obtains a CAP through VAE holds exactly the same title as a person who graduated from a vocational high school. The diploma issued by VAE has the same legal value as that obtained through initial training. The education code makes no distinction between the two paths.
This point is particularly important for professionals in transition. An experienced nursing assistant who validates their state diploma through VAE becomes a state graduate, with the same rights to practice as their colleagues trained in an institute.
Which term to use on a CV or official document
On a CV, the clearest formulation remains “graduated from” followed by the name of the institution, or “holder of” followed by the exact name of the diploma. Recruiters and administrations prefer precision.
Some practical guidelines:
- For a university diploma: “holder of a bachelor’s degree in history” or “graduated with a master’s degree in management.”
- For a professional diploma: “holder of the CAP baker” or “certified higher technician.”
- For a doctorate: “doctor in physics” (the title is placed before the disciplinary field).
Avoid vague formulations like “certified level bac+5” if you hold a real master’s degree. The word “certified” refers to professional certifications, not academic diplomas. Confusion can harm an application.
The choice of the right term is not a matter of style. It is a matter of readability for the person reviewing your file, whether it is an employer, a competition jury, or a foreign administration responsible for verifying the equivalence of your studies.