Traineeships of a young person under 16 years of age: what are the rules?

Verified 25 March 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You are under 16 and you want to discover the professional world during your school? Several devices are put in place during your school journey. An employer can welcome you, especially as part of an information visit, an observation sequence or an internship. Here are the possibilities and rules to follow.

Your school can organize information visits in a company, regardless of your age and class.

These visits allow you to define your orientation choices and your professional project.

The visit should not last longer than 2 days consecutive.

It must also comply with strict safety rules. For example, you cannot access or manipulate machines.

Please note

the medical examination is not necessary for an information visit.

Compulsory hosting agreement

The head of the establishment must sign an agreement with the head of the company.

This agreement shall specify in particular the following information:

  • Educational objectives
  • Student concerned
  • Planned organization (timetable, nature of tasks entrusted, management conditions, monitoring)
  • Possible payment of accommodation, catering, transport and insurance costs

The head of company who welcomes you undertakes to take all necessary measures to ensure your safety.

Insurance

The terms of the insurance are the same as for a school outing.

Video: The 3-year internshipe

Vidéo - The 3rd stage
Credits : Public Service (DILA)

I'm third. Is an internship mandatory?

Yeah. Yeah. If you are in 3rd grade, you must do an observation period, also called “observation sequence”. It usually takes place in the 2nd trimester of the school year. It lasts up to 1 week.

What is the purpose of my 3rd year internship?

This internship allows you to discover a professional environment (the functioning of the world of work, the different professions). It should help you build your orientation choices.

In what professional environment should I do my internship?

You can do your job at a company, an association, or a public sector body (for example, a city hall, a high school, a national museum).

You can contact the employers you are interested in directly by submitting an unsolicited application. You can also play your network or that of your entourage (family, friends, teachers...).

You may be asked for a CV and a cover letter.

Is my internship paid?

No, in principle your internship is not paid.

However, the host organization may decide to pay you an allowance called a "gratuity".

Your transport and catering costs can also be covered.

This information must be specified by the employer and your college in the traineeship agreement.

What schedules will I have to do in internship?

A day of training must last a maximum of 7 hours. It must start at 6:00 a.m. at the earliest and finish at 8:00 p.m. at the latest.

If you are under 15 years of age, the duration of your internship cannot exceed 30 hours per week. If you are 15 years of age or older, it cannot exceed 35 hours per week.

Is my internship rated?

Yes, most of the time. But it depends on your college.

There are a number of things that can be considered in your note. For example, the letter of motivation drawn up to search for an internship, but also the internship report and its oral presentation if your college so provides. The evaluation grid completed by the company at the end of the course can also count. Your head teacher will tell you how to do the assessment.

Happy internship to all!

The observation sequence is obligatory if you are a student of 3e (3-year coursee).

Its maximum duration is1 week.

It allows you to prepare your orientation project.

An observation sequence can also be proposed, in some cases, if you are a student of 4e or high school student. It is then added to the mandatory sequence of 3e.

During this course, you can, under the control of your tutor, participate in activities in the company. However, you cannot access machines or products.

You're not paid, but a gratification can be paid to you.

Your school may ask you to write a internship report.

Please note

the medical examination is not necessary for a sequence of observations.

Compulsory hosting agreement

Your head of school must sign an agreement with the head of the company. You must also sign this agreement.

This agreement shall specify in particular the following information:

  • Educational objectives
  • Student concerned
  • Planned organization (timetable, nature of tasks entrusted, management conditions, monitoring)
  • Possible payment of accommodation, catering, transport and insurance costs

The head of company who welcomes you undertakes to take all necessary measures to ensure your safety.

Insurance

The head of the establishment must have insurance covering your liability (for damage that you could cause in the workplace).

You must participate in a observation sequence of 2 weeks if you're in second-general and technological.

This observation sequence is also called second stage.

The observation sequence takes place during the last month of the school year.

However, the observation sequence is optional if your second-level training includes an induction course or an application course in a professional environment.

You may also be exempted from observation if you participate in one of the following missions during the last month of the school year:

  • A stay of cohesion or a mission of general interest within the framework of the national universal service
  • A period of European and international school mobility of at least 2 weeks in the second class or 4 weeks in the first class

The observation sequence allows you to prepare your orientation project.

Internship offers are available on this online service:

Find a second internship

You can apply directly on the platform.

During this course, you can, under the control of your tutor, participate in activities in the company. However, you cannot access machines or products.

You're not paid, but a gratification can be paid to you.

Your school may ask you to write a internship report.

Please note

the medical examination is not necessary for a sequence of observations.

Compulsory hosting agreement

Your head of school must sign an agreement with the head of the company. You must also sign this agreement.

This agreement shall specify in particular the following information:

  • Educational objectives
  • Student concerned
  • Planned organization (timetable, nature of tasks entrusted, management conditions, monitoring)
  • Possible payment of accommodation, catering, transport and insurance costs

The head of company who welcomes you undertakes to take all necessary measures to ensure your safety.

Insurance

The head of the establishment must have insurance covering your liability (for damage that you could cause in the workplace).

The course is reserved for students of over 14 years.

It is only organized if your curriculum includes a period of vocational training.

During the course, you are followed individually by a teacher and a tutor, a member of the host organization.

The internship allows you to discover different professional environments.

It is especially addressed to you if you are educated in class of 3rd "pre-trades".

You can carry out activities there, and under supervision, light work authorized to minors by the Labor Code. However, you cannot access machines and products that are forbidden to minors.

You're not paid, but a gratification can be paid to you.

Your school may ask you to write a internship report.

Please note

a medical examination is not necessary for an introductory course in a professional environment.

Schedules

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Before age 15

The internship must not exceed 7 hours a day and 30 hours a week.

The rest is 2 days per week, if possible consecutive.

You get school holidays.

Internship hours must be between 6am and 8pm.

From 15 years

The internship must not exceed 7 hours a day and 35 hours a week.

The rest is 2 days per week, if possible consecutive.

You get school holidays.

Internship hours must be between 6am and 8pm.

Compulsory hosting agreement

Your head of school must sign an agreement with the head of the company.

You and your parents must also sign this agreement.

This agreement shall specify in particular the following information:

  • Educational objectives
  • Student concerned
  • Planned organization (timetable, nature of tasks entrusted, management conditions, monitoring)
  • Possible payment of accommodation, catering, transport and insurance costs

The head of company who welcomes you undertakes to take all necessary measures to ensure your safety.

Insurance

The head of the establishment must have insurance covering your liability (for damage that you could cause in the workplace).

The course is reserved for students of over 14 years.

It is only organized if your curriculum includes a period of vocational training.

During the course, you are followed individually by a teacher and a tutor, a member of the host organization.

The internship allows to put into practice in the professional environment the knowledge and know-how acquired during the schooling.

It concerns you in particular if you are a student of 4e or 3e of adapted general and vocational education sections (Segpa) and Regional Adaptive Education Institutions (REETs).

During the course, you can access machines and products necessary for your training, except those prohibited to minors by the labor code.

You're not paid, but a gratification can be paid to you.

Your school may ask you to write a internship report.

Schedules

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Before age 15

The internship must not exceed 7 hours a day and 30 hours a week.

The rest is 2 days per week, if possible consecutive.

You get school holidays.

Internship hours must be between 6am and 8pm.

From 15 years

The internship must not exceed 7 hours a day and 35 hours a week.

The rest is 2 days per week, if possible consecutive.

You get school holidays.

Internship hours must be between 6am and 8pm.

Compulsory hosting agreement

Your head of school must sign an agreement with the head of the company.

You and your parents must also sign this agreement.

This agreement shall specify in particular the following information:

  • Educational objectives
  • Student concerned
  • Planned organization (timetable, nature of tasks entrusted, management conditions, monitoring)
  • Possible payment of accommodation, catering, transport and insurance costs

The head of company who welcomes you undertakes to take all necessary measures to ensure your safety.

Medical visit

You must undergo a medical check-up if you have the opportunity to work on machines during your training.

Insurance

The head of the establishment must have insurance covering your liability (for damage that you could cause in the workplace).

The period of training in a professional environment is obligatory to obtain a technological or professional degree (HEADING: titleContent, BEP: titleContent or second pro in particular).

It allows you to acquire skills.

During this period, you can use the production machines or devices, but never alone.

The duration of vocational training depends on the degree (between 12 and 16 weeks for CAP for example).

You're not paid, but a gratification can be paid to you.

You may also be entitled to a traineeship allowance.

Your school may ask you to write a internship report.

Schedules

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Before age 16

The work must not exceed 8 hours a day and 35 hours a week.

The rest is 2 consecutive days and must include Sunday, except in case of legal derogation.

For each 24-hour period, the minimum daily rest period shall be 14 consecutive hours.

After 4 and a half hours of daily work, the break is at least 30 consecutive minutes.

Working hours must be understood between 6am and 8pm.

From 16 years

The work must not exceed 8 hours a day and 35 hours a week.

The rest is 2 consecutive days and must include Sunday, except in case of legal derogation.

For each 24-hour period, the minimum daily rest period shall be 12 consecutive hours.

After 4 and a half hours of daily work, the break is at least 30 consecutive minutes.

Working hours must be between 6am and 10pm.

Compulsory hosting agreement

Your head of school must sign an agreement with the head of the company.

You and your parents must also sign the agreement.

This agreement shall specify in particular the following information:

  • Educational objectives
  • Student concerned
  • Planned organization (timetable, nature of tasks entrusted, management conditions, monitoring)
  • Possible payment of accommodation, catering, transport and insurance costs

The head of company who welcomes you undertakes to take all necessary measures to ensure your safety.

Medical visit

You must undergo a medical examination if you have the opportunity to work on machines during the training period.

Insurance

The head of the establishment must have insurance covering your liability (for damage that you could cause in the workplace).

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