Building on Cedefop’s expertise in the two areas, this study – based on analysis of 13 practices from 12 countries – explores how coordination between career guidance and validation of non-formal and informal learning can be improved. Results point to three factors:

- Comprehensiveness: provision of adequate information and guidance before a decision to undergo validation is taken, throughout the entire validation process, as well as after it;
- Coherence: use of common qualifications or competence standards, occupational standards or other reference frameworks in all the stages of the practice to identify, document and assess skills;
- Quality of staff, resources, competences, and tools used.

The study concludes with policy recommendations on how to improve the link between guidance and validation.