Professionalization contract
Verified 01 May 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)
A contract of professionalization is a contract of work alternating between an employer in the private sector and an employee meeting certain criteria. It allows the acquisition, within the framework of continuing training, of a professional qualification. The professionalization contract must be in writing and may be for a fixed term (CDD) or for an indefinite period (CDI). The employee has the support of a tutor.
Before age 26
The contract of professionalization is a contract of employment alternating. This principle makes it possible to combine teaching in a continuing training organization with periods of practicing in one or more companies.
It is intended to obtain diplomas or diplomas corresponding to one of the following qualifications:
- Qualification of the national register of professional qualifications (RNCP)
- Qualification recognized in the classifications of a national sectoral collective agreement
- Qualification included in the list giving entitlement to a certificate of professional qualification
The experiment that allows a “tailor-made” training path (not necessarily qualifying or certifying) is extended until December 23, 2023.
Employers and skills operators may define themselves, in agreement with the employee, the skills to be acquired under the professionalization contract.
Data subjects
The professionalization contract is addressed to the following persons:
- Young people aged 16 to 25 years (26 years less a day) to complete their initial training
- Beneficiary of the RSA: titleContent
- Recipient of the specific solidarity allowance (SSA)
- Recipient of Disabled Adult Allowance (DAA)
- Person exiting a single insertion contract (CUI)
Employers concerned
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Private Employer
Any private sector employer (company, association, mutual, cooperative).
Please note
the individual employer is excluded from the scheme.
Public Employer
Only the Epic: titleContent and weapons companies.
Shape
The professionalization contract must be in writing and may be concluded within the framework of a fixed-term contract (CDD) or an indefinite-term contract (CDI). It is established by means of the cerfa form n°12434:
Content
The contract shall appoint a guardian and shall indicate the following information:
- Nature of the contract (CDD or CDI)
- Employment occupied
- Working time
- Salary
- Professionalization measures specifically envisaged
The contract may provide for a trial period.
It may not include depreciation clause.
FYI
a detailed description of the associated training and the training organization concerned shall be annexed to the contract.
Validation
The contract must be addressed to theOpco: titleContent competent within 5 days of signature.
L'Opco: titleContent have 20 days to object to the contract and cancel it, if he considers that it includes provisions that are illegal or not in conformity with the collective agreements.
Agreement with a hosting company
The employee may complete his training in other companies for equipment or technology which is not used by the employer. Reception in these companies is a maximum of half of the company training time provided for in the professionalization contract.
An agreement is concluded between the employer, the host companies and the employee under a professionalization contract. In particular, it specifies the following points:
- Title, diploma or certificate of professional qualification prepared
- Length of the reception period
- Nature of the tasks entrusted to the employee
- Hours and places of work
Commitment of the parties
The employee undertakes to work on behalf of his employer and to follow the training provided for in the contract.
The employer undertakes to provide the employee with training enabling him to acquire a professional qualification. He also undertakes to provide the employee with a job in relation to his professional objective.
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CSD
Initial duration and extension
The contract may be concluded for a period of 6 to 12 months.
The duration of the CDD may, however, be extended up to 36 months for the following:
- Young people aged 16 to 25 out of school without qualification
- Young people aged between 16 and 25 to complete their initial training and registered for more than a year in Pôle emploi
- Beneficiary of the active solidarity income (SSA), of the specific solidarity allowance (SSA) or Disabled Adult Allowance (DAA)
- Person exiting a single insertion contract (CUI)
Its duration may also be extended up to 24 months for other employees or where the relevant qualification so requires. The beneficiaries and the nature of the qualifications are necessarily defined by collective agreements.
Renewal
The contract may be renewed once if the beneficiary who has obtained the relevant qualification prepares a higher or complementary qualification.
The CSD may also be renewed if the beneficiary has not obtained the relevant qualification for one of the following reasons:
- Failed to get qualification
- Maternity or adoption
- Disease
- Accident at work
- Absence or insufficiency of the courses provided by the training organization
DTA
The contract includes training (professionalization action) over a period of 6 to 12 months at the start of the contract.
The duration of this training period may, however, be extended up to 36 months for the following:
- Young people aged 16 to 25 out of school without qualification
- Young people aged between 16 and 25 to complete their initial training and registered for more than a year in Pôle emploi
- Beneficiary of the active solidarity income (SSA), of the specific solidarity allowance (SSA) or Disabled Adult Allowance (DAA)
- Person exiting a single insertion contract (CUI)
Its duration may also be extended up to 24 months for other employees or where the relevant qualification so requires. The beneficiaries and the nature of the qualifications are necessarily defined by agreements or conventions.
The extension shall take place during the period of alternation. The contract of employment continues under the CDI.
The length of work differs according to the age of the employee.
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Major employee
The length of working time must be mentioned in the contract.
The legal working time staff is set at 35 hours per week. The time spent at the training center is actual working time and counts in the work schedule.
The working time of the employee under a professionalization contract is identical to that of other employees.
He can't work any more than the maximum daily working time.
An employee on a professional contract may work overtime. They may not refuse to work these hours except for a valid reason (for example, if it prevents them from taking courses at the training center).
The overtime entitle employees to the same consideration as other employees.
Minor employee
All employee under 18 has specific provisions on working hours, rest and public holidays.
Paid Leave
The employee shall enjoy the same rights as other employees as regards the acquisition of the paid leave. Periods in training centers are taken into account in the calculation of the accrual of paid leave.
Leave is taken outside of training periods. The employer may decide the period during which the employee takes his leave.
Please note
if the employee is under 21 years of age on 30 april of the previous year, he or she may apply for additional unpaid leave, within 30 days working days per year. The age requirement shall be assessed on 30 April of the year preceding the application.
Specific holidays
An employee under a professional contract is entitled to the same leave as other employees of the company.
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Unconditional seniority
Some absences give rise to specific leave which, depending on the circumstances, may be remunerated.
Examples include:
- Leave for family events (Civil partnerships, marriage, birth of a child or arrival of a child placed for adoption, death of a relative, announcement of the onset of disability in children)
- Leave related to the arrival of a child at home (absences for medical examinations during pregnancy, on maternity leave, of adoption, of fatherhood)
- Leave related to the child's illness and disability (absences for sick child or parental leave)
- Leave related to a serious illness of a loved one (family solidarity leave or caregiving leave)
With seniority condition
Some absences entitle you to specific leave with seniority conditions.
Examples include:
The training of an employee under a professionalization contract takes the form of evaluation and support actions and general, professional and technological teaching.
Who provides the training?
The training activities are carried out either by the company (if it has a training service) or by a public or private training body. Training is free.
Duration of training
The training time shall be at least 150 hours per year.
It must also represent between 15% and 25% the total duration of the professionalization contract if it is of fixed duration.
Minimum duration may exceed 25% by a branch or inter-branch agreement, and for certain categories of employees, in particular in the following cases:
- Young people aged 16 to 25 out of school without qualification
- Young people aged between 16 and 25 to complete their initial training and registered for more than a year in Pôle emploi
- Beneficiary of the active solidarity income (SSA), of the specific solidarity allowance (SSA) or Disabled Adult Allowance (DAA)
- Person exiting a single insertion contract (CUI)
One national trades card shall be issued by the body or department responsible for the training. It allows you to benefit from reduced rates.
Warning
evaluation and accompanying actions and general lessons must start within 2 months of the signature of the employment contract.
The employee on a professionalization contract is supported by a guardian within the company that employs him and other companies that host him.
The guardian must be a qualified employee of the company and have at least 2 years' professional experience in relation to the qualification in question.
It may not deal with more than 3 beneficiaries of professionalization or apprenticeship contracts. If mentoring is provided by the employer, the maximum is 2.
The professionalization contract can be partially executed abroad for up to 1 year. In this case, the duration of the contract may be extended to 24 months, of which at least 6 months are performed in France.
During this period, the host training company or body is solely responsible for the conditions under which the employee's work is carried out. These are determined by the legal and contractual provisions in force in the host country (remuneration, hours of work, leave, etc.).
An agreement may be concluded between the employee, the employer in France, the employer abroad, the training organization in France and, possibly, the training organization abroad.
The law imposes a minimum wage indexed to the Smic: titleContent for holders of a professionalization contract. The minimum wage varies according to the age and qualification of the employee. It shall apply for the duration of the CDD or, in the case of a CDI, for the duration of the professionalization action.
Contractual provisions or the contract of employment may provide for more favorable remuneration for the employee.
Minimum remuneration
A minimum basic remuneration shall apply to holders of a non-professional diploma or diploma at baccalaureate level or a diploma or diploma below the baccalaureate level.
It is increased if the young person holds a professional title or diploma equal to or greater than the bin level.
Increases linked to the transfer from one age group to another shall take effect from 1er the day of the month following the alternate's birthday.
Age of employee | Minimum basic wage (gross) | Minimum wage plus (gross) |
|---|---|---|
Under 21 | 55% of the Smic, or €960.96 | 65% of the Smic, or €1,135.68 |
From 21 to 25 years inclusive | 70% of the Smic, or €1,223.04 | 80% of the Smic, or €1,397.76 |
FYI
the holder of a general baccalaureate who signs a contract of professionalization shall receive the minimum basic wage.
Deductibility of salary from benefits in kind
The benefits in kind may be deducted from the salary up to 75% permitted deductions for other employees of the company. However, the amount of such deductions may not exceed 3/4 of the minimum monthly remuneration applicable to the contract holder.
Transport costs
The employee shall be entitled to the payment of his transport costs to get from home to work.
At the time of hiring
The employer must organize a information and prevention visit or a medical examination of suitability for employment.
Other medical examinations
The employee also benefits from periodic visits and the resumption visit after a work stoppage.
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CSD
The fixed-term contract (fixed-term contract) terminates either because it is coming to an end or because it is subject to an early termination.
The professionalization contract is subject to the rules of breakdown of the CDD.
FYI
no end-of-contract compensation (or precarious compensation) is due.
DTA
The contract may be terminated under the terms of the DTAs: breakup at the initiative of the employer or the employee, or conventional break.
The employer must provide you with all of the following:
- Work Certificate
- Pôle emploi Attestation
- Balance of all accounts
- Participation schemes, profit-sharing schemes, wage savings plans within the company, summary statement of all sums and securities saved
From 26 years
The contract of professionalization is a contract of employment alternating. This principle makes it possible to combine teaching in a continuing training organization with periods of practicing in one or more companies.
It is intended to obtain diplomas or diplomas corresponding to one of the following qualifications:
- Qualification of the national register of professional qualifications (RNCP)
- Qualification recognized in the classifications of a national sectoral collective agreement
- Qualification included in the list giving entitlement to a certificate of professional qualification
The experiment that allows a “tailor-made” training path (not necessarily qualifying or certifying) is extended until December 23, 2023.
Employers and skills operators may define themselves, in agreement with the employee, the skills to be acquired under the professionalization contract.
Data subjects
The professionalization contract is addressed to the following persons:
- Jobseeker of at least 26 years of age
- Beneficiary of the RSA: titleContent
- Recipient of the specific solidarity allowance (SSA)
- Recipient of Disabled Adult Allowance (DAA)
- Person exiting a single insertion contract (CUI)
Employers concerned
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Private Employer
Any private sector employer (company, association, mutual, cooperative).
Please note
the individual employer is excluded from the scheme.
Public Employer
Only the Epic: titleContent and weapons companies.
Shape
The professionalization contract must be in writing and may be concluded within the framework of a fixed-term contract (CDD) or an indefinite-term contract (CDI). It is established by means of the cerfa form n°12434:
Content
The contract shall appoint a guardian and shall indicate the following information:
- Nature of the contract (CDD or CDI)
- Employment occupied
- Working time
- Salary
- Professionalization measures specifically envisaged
The contract may provide for a trial period.
It may not include depreciation clause.
FYI
a detailed description of the associated training and the training organization concerned shall be annexed to the contract.
Validation
The contract must be addressed to theOpco: titleContent competent within 5 days of signature.
L'Opco: titleContent have 20 days to object to the contract and cancel it, if he considers that it includes provisions that are illegal or not in conformity with the collective agreements.
Agreement with a hosting company
The employee may complete his training in other companies for equipment or technology which is not used by the employer. Reception in these companies is a maximum of half of the company training time provided for in the professionalization contract.
An agreement is concluded between the employer, the host companies and the employee under a professionalization contract. In particular, it specifies the following points:
- Title, diploma or certificate of professional qualification prepared
- Length of the reception period
- Nature of the tasks entrusted to the employee
- Hours and places of work
Commitment of the parties
The employee undertakes to work on behalf of his employer and to follow the training provided for in the contract.
The employer undertakes to provide the employee with training enabling him to acquire a professional qualification. He also undertakes to provide the employee with a job in relation to his professional objective.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
CSD
Initial duration and extension
The contract may be concluded for a period of 6 to 12 months.
The duration of the CDD may, however, be extended up to 36 months for the following:
- Job seeker 26 years and older registered for more than a year in Pôle emploi
- Beneficiary of the active solidarity income (SSA), of the specific solidarity allowance (SSA) or Disabled Adult Allowance (DAA)
- Person exiting a single insertion contract (CUI)
Its duration may also be extended up to 24 months for other employees or where the relevant qualification so requires. The beneficiaries and the nature of the qualifications are necessarily defined by collective agreements.
Renewal
The contract may be renewed once if the beneficiary who has obtained the relevant qualification prepares a higher or complementary qualification.
The CSD may also be renewed if the beneficiary has not obtained the relevant qualification for one of the following reasons:
- Failed to get qualification
- Maternity or adoption
- Disease
- Accident at work
- Absence or insufficiency of the courses provided by the training organization
DTA
The contract includes training (professionalization action) over a period of 6 to 12 months at the start of the contract.
The duration of this training period may, however, be extended up to 36 months for the following:
- Job seeker 26 years and older registered for more than a year in Pôle emploi
- Beneficiary of the active solidarity income (SSA), of the specific solidarity allowance (SSA) or Disabled Adult Allowance (DAA)
- Person exiting a single insertion contract (CUI)
Its duration may also be extended up to 24 months for other employees or where the relevant qualification so requires. The beneficiaries and the nature of the qualifications are necessarily defined by agreements or conventions.
The extension shall take place during the period of alternation. The contract of employment continues under the CDI.
The length of working time must be mentioned in the contract.
The legal working time staff is set at 35 hours per week. The time spent at the training center is actual working time and counts in the work schedule.
The working time of the employee under a professionalization contract is identical to that of other employees.
He can't work any more than the maximum daily working time.
An employee on a professional contract may work overtime. They may not refuse to work these hours except for a valid reason (for example, if it prevents them from taking courses at the training center).
The overtime entitle employees to the same consideration as other employees.
Paid Leave
The employee shall enjoy the same rights as other employees as regards the acquisition of the paid leave. Periods in training centers are taken into account in the calculation of the accrual of paid leave.
Leave is taken outside of training periods. The employer may decide the period during which the employee takes his leave.
Specific holidays
An employee under a professional contract is entitled to the same leave as other employees of the company.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Unconditional seniority
Some absences give rise to specific leave which, depending on the circumstances, may be remunerated.
Examples include:
- Leave for family events (Civil partnerships, marriage, birth of a child or arrival of a child placed for adoption, death of a relative, announcement of the onset of disability in children)
- Leave related to the arrival of a child at home (absences for medical examinations during pregnancy, on maternity leave, of adoption, of fatherhood)
- Leave related to the child's illness and disability (absences for sick child or parental leave)
- Leave related to a serious illness of a loved one (family solidarity leave or caregiving leave)
With seniority condition
Some absences entitle you to specific leave with seniority conditions.
Examples include:
The training of an employee under a professionalization contract takes the form of evaluation and support actions and general, professional and technological teaching.
Who provides the training?
The training activities are carried out either by the company (if it has a training service) or by a public or private training body. Training is free.
Duration of training
The training time shall be at least 150 hours per year.
It must also represent between 15% and 25% the total duration of the professionalization contract if it is of fixed duration.
Minimum duration may exceed 25% by a branch or inter-branch agreement, and for certain categories of employees, in particular in the following cases:
- Job-seeker 26 years of age and over, registered for more than a year in Pôle emploi
- Beneficiary of the active solidarity income (SSA), of the specific solidarity allowance (SSA), of Disabled Adult Allowance (DAA)
- Person exiting a single insertion contract (CUI)
Warning
evaluation and accompanying actions and general lessons must start within 2 months of the signature of the employment contract.
The employee on a professionalization contract is supported by a guardian within the company that employs him and other companies that host him.
The guardian must be a qualified employee of the company and have at least 2 years' professional experience in relation to the qualification in question.
It may not deal with more than 3 beneficiaries of professionalization or apprenticeship contracts. If mentoring is provided by the employer, the maximum is 2.
The professionalization contract can be partially executed abroad for up to 1 year. In this case, the duration of the contract may be extended to 24 months, of which at least 6 months are performed in France.
During this period, the host training company or body is solely responsible for the conditions under which the employee's work is carried out. These are determined by the legal and contractual provisions in force in the host country (remuneration, hours of work, leave, etc.).
An agreement may be concluded between the employee, the employer in France, the employer abroad, the training organization in France and, possibly, the training organization abroad.
Model Mobility Implementation Agreement
Model Mobility Implementation Agreement of 4 weeks or less
The professionalization contract may be partly performed abroad for a period not exceeding 1 year.
During this period, the host training company or body is solely responsible for the conditions under which the employee's work is carried out. These are determined by the legal and contractual provisions in force in the host country (remuneration, hours of work, etc.).
An agreement may be concluded between the employee, the employer in France, the employer abroad, the training organization in France and, possibly, the training organization abroad.
Minimum remuneration
The (gross) remuneration of an employee aged 26 or over may not be less than or equal to the minimum wage (€1,747.20 monthly), or to 85% the minimum remuneration laid down in the relevant agreements in the company.
Contractual provisions or the contract of employment may provide for more favorable remuneration for the employee.
Deductibility of salary from benefits in kind
The benefits in kind may be deducted from the salary up to 75% permitted deductions for other employees of the company. However, the amount of such deductions may not exceed 3/4 of the minimum monthly remuneration applicable to the contract holder.
Transport costs
The employee shall be entitled to the payment of his transport costs to get from home to work.
At the time of hiring
The employer must organize a information and prevention visit or a medical examination for suitability for employment.
Other medical examinations
The employee also benefits from periodic visits and the resumption visit after a work stoppage.
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CSD
The fixed-term contract (fixed-term contract) terminates either because it is coming to an end or because it is subject to an early termination.
The professionalization contract is subject to the rules of breakdown of the CDD.
FYI
no end-of-contract compensation (or precarious compensation) is due.
DTA
The contract may be terminated under the terms of the DTAs: breakup at the initiative of the employer or the employee, or conventional break.
The employer must provide you with all of the following:
- Work Certificate
- Pôle emploi Attestation
- Balance of all accounts
- Participation schemes, profit-sharing schemes, wage savings plans within the company, summary statement of all sums and securities saved
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
For general information
Telephone administrative information - Allo Public ServiceThe informants who answer you belong to the ministry responsible for labor.
Cost: free service
Attention: the service does not respond questions relating to unemployment compensation and representations to Pôle emploi, civil servants or public service contractors, the amount or payment of social, wage or employer contributions.
The service is available at the following times:
- Monday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 to 12:15
- Wednesday: 8:30 to 12:15
- Thursday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Friday: 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m
To inform yourself and find a contact if you are under 26 years old
Local MissionTo inform yourself and find a contact if you are over 26 years old
Pôle emploi
- Labor Code: Articles L6325-1 to L6325-4-1Subject matter and opening conditions
- Labor Code: Articles L6325-5 to L6325-7Training and contract performance
- Labor Code: Articles L6325-8 to L6325-10Wages and hours of work
- Labor Code: Articles L6325-11 to L6325-15Duration and implementation of professionalization measures
- Labor Code: Article L3164-9Employed annual leave under 21 years of age
- Labor Code: Articles L6325-23 to L6325-24Provisions relating to temporary work companies
- Labor Code: Article L6325-25Mobility in the European Union and abroad
- Labor Code: Articles D6325-1 to D6325-5Training, registration and termination of contract
- Labor Code: Articles D6325-6 to D6325-10Tutoring
- Labor Code: Article D6325-11Document specifying the organization of the training, annexed to the professionalization contract
- Labor Code: Article D6325-14 to D6325-18Salary and salary increases in the month following the alternate's birthday
- Labor Code: Article D6325-29Trades student card
- Labor Code: Articles D6325-30 to D6325-32Agreement with the host company
- Labor Code: Articles R6325-33 to R6325-36Mobility within or outside the European Union
- Labor Code: Article D6332-87Professionalization contract: supported by Pôle emploi
- Labor Code: Article R5221-1 to R5221-7Foreigner Student (R5221-7)
- DGEFP Circular No 2012-15 of 19 July 2012 on the implementation of the professionalization contract (PDF - 196.0 KB)
- Decree n°2018-1263 of 26 December 2018 on experimentation extending the professionalization contract to the acquisition of skills defined by the employer and the skills operator
- Order of 26 December 2018 on the specifications for the evaluation of the experimentation of the professionalization contract
- Order of 22 January 2020 on the model agreement for the implementation of a mobility not exceeding 4 weeks
- Order of 22 January 2020 on the Model Mobility Implementation Agreement
FAQ
- Aid for alternance hiring through a professionalization contract
- Loca-Pass Advance: assistance to the tenant for the security depositService-Public.fr
- Wage Contributions - Private Sector EmployeeService-Public.fr
- The professionalization contractMinistry of Labor
- List of Skills Operators (OPCO)Ministry of Labor
- Search for alternance trainingMinistry of Labor
- Trades student card (PDF - 242.4 KB)Ministry of Vocational Training