IT architecture expert

Title certified in the RNCP (Répertoire national des certifications professionnelles) level 7 (RNCP 39774)certifier 42, registration expiry date 31 october 2029.

Options

  • Network and information systems (option 1)
  • Data and database architecture (option 2)

Training objectives

42 aims at making digital an opportunity to everyone, everywhere. The IT architecture expert certification aims at helping employability in an understaffed market. It offers all the necessary skills to evolve either in the field of network information system architecture or the growing field of database and data development.

Every 42 training course is based on the same principles.

This page presents the specificities of the “IT architecture expert” course.

Common elements

APL

VAE, or Validation des Acquis de l’Expérience, was introduced by the Social Modernisation Act of 17 January 2002. It is a way of obtaining a diploma, without having to undergo training, simply by drawing on one’s professional or non-professional experience. In other words, thanks to VAE, anyone can have their experience recognised by a certificate (diploma, professional qualification, CQP, etc.). Regardless of age, nationality, status or level of training.

The requirements for VAE are the same for all 42 qualifications. For further information, please refer to the dedicated page (in French).

Admission

From 18 years old, after admission at 42 (succeeding in online games, checking-in and passing the Piscine) and after achieving the “common-core syllabus” in 42.

Training course

After validating the first internship (4 to 6 months) following level 9, it is necessary to reach level 21 by validating the specific projects of the course as well as the choice:

  • 2 years work-study contract following level 14 (recommended level: 16)
  • or 1 year work-study contract following level 16 (recommended level: 19)
  • or a second 6-month internship following level 20

Skill blocs

Design of a technical specification for a digital solution

  • Carrying out a continuous technological survey on various fields related to digital technology
  • Developing digital skills
  • Defining the needs of the company/structure and/or users
  • Writing and formalizing the needs of the client in a technical specification

Leading and coordinating the implementation of a computer project.

  • Participating in the recruitment and training of the project team
  • Assessing the requirements and selection criteria for data security
  • Choosing the suppliers and service providers required for the project
  • Carrying out the project organization plan
  • Managing the collaborators and service providers of the project

Supervising the production launch, monitoring and improvement of processes

  • Carrying out and supervising the functional verifications on the architecture with the dedicated teams
  • Carrying out and supervising the load tests on the architecture with the dedicated teams
  • Implementing the transfer of skills
  • Controlling the project achievement by the technical teams
  • Implementing an evolutionary maintenance of the applications
  • Providing the programming of evolutions

Possibility of validating one or more blocks of skills: Yes
Equivalence: No
Transfer to other courses : No
Continuation of course : No

Network Information Systems Architecture (option 1)

  • Creating software that will handle the fundamentals of an operating system through an interface
  • Using parallel and concurrent programming
  • Carrying out a network architecture project
  • Implementing an I.P. network architecture through an understanding and application of the principles of connection between machines
  • Configuring an operating system
  • Providing security within the structure

Database architecture and data (option 2)

  • Identifying and analyzing data management policies and systems in the company
  • Providing the structuring of the data
  • Carrying out the processing of the structured data
  • Representing the results of the data processing, using graphics, animations, or any other means of data visualization and classification
  • Interpreting and exploiting the data in the context of the company

Evaluation terms

  • Fictional professional situational exercise, individual or as a team
  • Real professional situational exercise, individual or as a team
  • Professional situational exercise in project mode
  • Case study
  • Carrying tests on other peers’ projects

Line of business

IT architecture experts’ role may vary according to where they work:

  • In an employing company, “[they can] put down [their] action in the long-term and become a consultant to the information system manager.” They will also have to manage architect and expert teams.
  • In a service company, they are primarily responsible for technical expertise and auditing for their clients. In this context, they can respond to calls for tenders and define their company’s service offering, as well as organize coordination actions with other experts in the context of the projects carried out.

In addition, since the web has become a component of a company’s set of applications, “web architecture issues are increasingly similar to those of companies’ information systems architecture. Therefore, experts in IT architecture are often required to handle both sides – the web architecture and the information system as a whole – in today’s companies. Thus, they can work in both big and small companies, and in any given sector, since IT mastery has become essential to the mastery of performance and to the organization of the labor market as a whole.

Available jobs

The job of expert in IT architecture belongs to the categories of the ROME file M1802: ” Expertise and support in information systems “. A position of great responsibility, it covers multiple missions, including advising the IT department on new developments and technical solutions, providing support and technical assistance to IT teams, and monitoring compliance with quality and security standards and procedures. Possessing highly specialized skills in their field, IT architecture experts may be called upon to assist in all or part of a project that falls within their area of expertise.

Similar naming:

  • Web architect
  • System, storage and network architect
  • Global infrastructure architect
  • Web technic/solutions architect
  • IT project manager
  • Infrastructure software engineer
  • Computer/information system engineer
  • Data/Big data engineer
  • Chief Data Analyst/Big data architect

Statistics

RNCP 7 graduation rate in 2025: 91%.
Employment rate after 6 months RNCP 7 in 2025: 80%.

Apprentice success rate: N/A – currently being compiled for 2025.
Apprenticeship break-up rate: N/A – currently being calculated for 2025.
Apprenticeship abandonment rate: N/A – currently being calculated for 2025.
Study continuation rate for apprentices: N/A – currently being collected for 2025.
Employment rate of apprentices after 6 months: N/A – currently being collected for 2025.
Added value: N/A – currently being collected for 2025.

The CFA informs of the availability of these indicators on the dissemination site.

inserjeunes.education.gouv.fr

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