Training courses in France :

criteria to be taken into account

Training courses

In France, there are three main training paths: apprenticeships, professional training contracts and initial training. All three have their own advantages and disadvantages, and are suitable for different audiences.

Continuing education does not fall into one of the three traditional training paths in France, namely apprenticeship, professionalization contract or initial training.continuing education is training aimed at people who are already employed or looking for work. The aim is to enable them to train or perfect their skills in their field of activity.

The apprenticeship contract

The apprenticeship contract is an employment contract between a young person aged 16 to 29 (30 for disabled people) and an employer. It enables young people to acquire a state-recognized vocational qualification, alternating theoretical training in a CFA (apprentice training center) and practical training on the job.

Rules common to apprenticeship and professionalization contracts

Contract duration: an apprenticeship contract is signed for between 6 months and 3 years. The maximum duration can be extended to 4 years for disabled workers.
Remuneration: the apprentice’s remuneration is calculated as a percentage of the minimum wage, depending on age and level of training.
Social rights: apprentices benefit from the same social rights as employees, such as paid leave, health insurance, etc.

Special features of the apprenticeship contract

Alternating work and training: apprentices spend most of their time at the company, where they are supervised by an apprentice master. They also take theoretical courses at the CFA, which enable them to acquire the knowledge they need to obtain their diploma or qualification.
Accessible diplomas and titles: the apprenticeship contract gives access to all state-recognized diplomas and professional titles, from CAP to Master’s degrees.

Financing apprenticeship training

The employer: the employer is the apprentice’s employer and must pay a salary at least equal to 25% of the minimum wage. They can also benefit from financial aid from the French government, such as the “Aide au contrat d’apprentissage” (ACA).
OPCO: the company’s OPCO (Skills Operator) finances the apprentice’s training. The amount of the subsidy varies according to the level of qualification of the diploma or title being prepared.
The CFA: the CFA can also finance part of the apprentice’s training, notably for transport, catering and equipment costs.
The Personal Training Account (CPF ): apprentices can use their CPF to finance part of their training, up to a limit of 150 hours.
Individual assistance: apprentices who have reached the age of majority can benefit from individual assistance, such as youth mobility assistance or driving license assistance.

Professionalization contract

The contrat de professionnalisation is an employment contract between a young person aged between 16 and 29 (30 for disabled people) and an employer. It enables young people to acquire a state-recognized vocational qualification, alternating theoretical training in a CFA (apprentice training center) and practical training on the job.

Special features of the professionalisation contract

Work-study contracts: the professionalisation contract is similar to the apprenticeship contract, except that the theoretical training is shorter, generally 15% to 25% of the total contract duration.
Target groups: the professionalisation contract is particularly well suited to people who are far from employment, such as jobseekers, RSA recipients or young people without qualifications.

Financing of training courses under professionalization contracts

The employer: the employer is the employer of the beneficiary of the professionalization contract, and must pay a salary at least equal to 55% of the SMIC. It can also benefit from state financial aid, such as the “aide au contrat de professionnalisation” (ACP).
The OPCO: the company’s OPCO finances the training of the beneficiary of the professionalization contract. The amount of the subsidy varies according to the level of qualification of the diploma or title being prepared.
The CFA: the CFA can also finance part of the training of the beneficiary of the professionalization contract, in particular for transport, catering and equipment costs.
The personal training account (CPF ): beneficiaries of a professionalization contract can use their CPF to finance part of their training, up to a limit of 150 hours.
Individual assistance: beneficiaries of the professionalization contract can benefit from individual assistance, such as youth mobility assistance or driving license assistance.

Initial training

Initial training is the classic route to a diploma or university degree. It takes place at a higher education institution, such as a university, engineering school or business school.

Rules common to apprenticeship and professionalization contracts

Length of course: the length of the course varies according to the diploma or qualification concerned.
Remuneration: scholarship students can receive a study allowance.
Social rights: students benefit from the same social rights as employees, such as sick leave, maternity leave, etc.

Special features of initial training

Theoretical training: initial training focuses on theoretical training, enabling students to acquire the knowledge and skills needed for their future profession.
Work-study programs: it is possible to follow an initial training program on a work-study basis, alternating periods of classroom teaching with periods of practical training on the job.

Financing training courses for initial training

Parents: students’ parents can contribute to their children’s tuition fees.
Students: students can work part-time to finance their studies.
Scholarships: students with scholarships receive financial assistance from the French government.
Loans: students can take out a loan with a bank to finance their studies.
The Personal Training Account (CPF ): students can use their CPF to finance part of their training, up to a limit of 150 hours.
Individual aid: students can benefit from individual aid schemes, such as the “Aide à la mobilité des jeunes” (youth mobility aid) or the “Aide au permis de conduire” (driving license aid).

Ongoing training

Continuing education is training for people who are already employed or looking for work. The aim is to enable them to train or perfect their skills in their field of activity.

Continuing training can be organized by an employer, a training organization or an individual. It can be financed by the employer, the employee, the State or local authorities.

How it works

Continuing education can take several forms:

Face-to-face: participants meet in one place to take the course.
Distance learning: participants follow courses remotely, via the Internet or other means.
Work-study: participants alternate between periods of training and periods of practical application on the job.

Financing training courses for continuing education

Continuing education is financed in a variety of ways:

The employer: employers can finance their employees’ continuing training as part of their training plan.
The employee: employees can finance their continuing training themselves, for example by using their personal training account (CPF).
The State: the State can finance continuing training through financial aid schemes such as the Aide individuelle à la formation (AIF), the Plan de développement des compétences (PDC) or the contrat de professionnalisation.
Local authorities: local authorities can also finance continuing training, particularly for jobseekers.

Examples

Here are a few examples of continuing education courses:

Degree courses: professional qualification, master’s degree, university technology diploma (DUT), etc.
Qualifying courses: certificat de qualification professionnelle (CQP), certificat de qualification paritaire de la formation professionnelle (CQPFP), etc.
Advanced training: technical training, language training, management training, etc.