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Public Service Competition
Verified 07 July 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)
All the rules applicable to recruitment, promotion, promotion, remuneration, etc., to all officials who are members of the same body or framework of posts
A set of officials subject to the same set of rules, called special status, fixed by decree, and intended to occupy the same posts
Marriage, Civil partnerships or cohabitation (common-law)
Person not living in a relationship and solely responsible for the care of at least one child
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
Recruitment of a staff member is usually done through a competitive process. The conditions for access to competitions vary depending on whether the competition is an external, internal or a called competition 3è competition and the level of employment covered: category A, B or C employment. We will detail these conditions of access to the public service.
What applies to you ?
State Civil Service (EPF)
To apply for a Public Service entrance examination, you must complete the general conditions for access to the public service.
You must also meet the requirements of the special status of the body which you want to access.
Depending on the target body, these conditions may be conditions of diploma, seniority, particular physical aptitude, age, etc.
Where an age limit is laid down, it may be deleted or postponed if you are in any of the following situations:
- You have a disability and can benefit from the obligation to employ
- You made a civic service or an international volunteer mission
- You are a European national and have performed the national service in your country of origin
- You are or have been a high-performance athlete on the list established by the Ministry of Sport
- You are a parent of at least 3 children and live as a couple or you are single parent one or more children
There are 3 types of competitions for access to State civil service bodies:
- Competition external
- Competition internal
- Competition called 3e competition
Who can apply for an external competition?
External competitions are open to candidates with certain diplomas or evidence of completion of certain studies.
To enter an external competition category A, you must have a Bachelor's degree + 3 or more, depending on the body you want to access.
To enter an external competition category B, you must have a Bac to Bac + 2 level diploma, depending on the body you want to access.
To enter an external competition category C, you must have a level 3 diploma (CAP, BEP, college certificate).
If you don't have the required degree, you may, subject to conditions, still enter the contest if you can prove a qualification equivalent to the diploma required.
This equivalent qualification may be attested by one of the following:
- Other diploma or certificate proving that you have successfully completed a course of study at least equivalent to the diploma required
- Diploma awarded in another country of the European Economic Area
- Professional experience falling within the same socio-professional category as that of the profession to which the competition gives access
Diploma equivalence can be granted automatically if you have a diploma of the same level as that required.
It can also be granted after examination of your file by an equivalence commission of diplomas and diplomas.
You must submit your application for equivalency at the time of registration to the contest authority.
If you are parent of 3 or more children, you can enter any contest without being subject to the condition of diploma.
If you justify a diploma or a military qualification, this diploma or qualification may replace, under certain conditions, the diploma required by the particular status of the body to which you wish to accede.
If you are or have been high-level athlete listed by the ministry in charge of sports, you can enter any competition without being subject to the condition of diploma.
You must meet the graduation condition on the date of 1re test of the competition or, in the case of a selection including an examination of the diplomas of the candidates, the date of 1re meeting of the jury responsible for selecting the files, unless the particular status of the body to which you wish to accede provides for other provisions.
Who can run for a closed competition?
You can enter a closed competition if you complete one of the following conditions :
- Be a civil servant or military officer or magistrate on active employment, secondment or parental leave
- Be a contract worker or on parental leave
- Or work in an international intergovernmental organization
You must have completed a fixed period of public service and, possibly, have received some training.
The length of actual public services or public services, and possibly the training, required are determined by the particular status of the body you wish to access.
Please note
if you work in an international intergovernmental organization, the services performed in that organization are treated as public services.
You can also enter a closed competition if you fill out the following 3 conditions:
- You are a national of a country of the European Economic Area or a national of the Principality of Andorra or the Principality of Monaco or Switzerland
- You prove a period of service in an administration, organization or establishment of one of these countries whose missions are comparable to those of French public administrations and establishments
- In one of these countries, you have received training equivalent to that required by the special status of the body to which you wish to have access
The length of service required is determined by the particular status of the body you want to access.
FYI
If you have performed a civic service or an international volunteering mission, the time spent on civic service or on an international volunteering mission is taken into account in calculating the length of service required.
You must meet the condition of duration of public services, and possibly training, fixed by the special status of the body to which you wish to access, on the date of 1re competition test.
If this is a selection that includes an examination of the candidates' diplomas, you must meet this condition on the date of 1re meeting of the selection panel.
The particular status of the body you want to access may provide for other arrangements.
Who can run for a "3rd contest"?
The competition called 3e competition is addressed to candidates who have practiced for a fixed period one of the following activities :
- One or more professional activities, whatever their nature
- One or more local elected office
- One or more activities as head of an association (voluntary or not)
The period required shall be fixed by the special status the body you want to access.
FYI
If you have been in apprenticeship contract or professionalisation contract, the duration of that contract shall be taken into account in the calculation of the period of service required.
The duration of these activities or mandates is taken into account if you were not a public officer, magistrate or military member when you exercised them.
However, if you have exercised a trade union activity while being a public official, the duration of that trade union activity shall be taken into account.
You must meet the condition of working life set by the particular status of the body you want to access, on the date of 1re competition test.
If this is a selection that includes an examination of the candidates' diplomas, you must meet this condition on the date of 1re meeting of the selection panel.
The particular status of the body you want to access may provide for other arrangements.
The assistance may consist of either tests (written and/or oral), or selection on the basis of titles and works candidates by a jury.
FYI
In certain situations (disability, pregnancy, geographic remoteness, health crisis), the tests can be organized remotely by video conference.
Written and/or oral tests
The tests may consist of an administrative note, short answer questions (QRC), etc.
They may consist in the presentation by the candidate of his or her stated professional experience acquired from professional experience, whatever it may be, including in the form of civic service.
The tests may also consist of a placement in a professional situation in relation to the duties for which the competition is intended.
Selection on titles and work by a jury
Candidates shall be selected either on the basis of the diplomas or on the basis of the diplomas and work completed by the candidate.
This selection may be supplemented by tests.
Vocational experience may also be presented in addition to diplomas or diplomas and studies.
General rules
Information on the competitions is available on the state competition and recruitment website (Score) and on the websites of the ministries and institutions recruiting.
Registration shall take place in accordance with the conditions laid down in the competition notice:
- Either online on the website of the department or institution recruiting
- Either by means of a file withdrawn on the spot or sent by post
A summons to the tests is addressed to you.
Not all competitions are held under the same conditions.
Some begin with a pre-selection test, others directly with one or more admissibility and admission tests, sometimes supplemented by other tests such as sports or psychological tests.
The results are available online.
You are also informed by post of your admission or not to the contest.
When you are accepted into the competition, the administration informs you of the location and date of your assignment.
Schools and training institutes
The contest may be intended to allow you to enter a school or training institute specialized in the vocational training of civil servants.
Some of these schools are ministry-specific and allow for employment in the ministry concerned (in central administration or in decentralized services).
These include the National Registry School (ENG), the National Police Schools (ENP) and the National Judicial School (ENM).
Other schools are interdepartmental and provide access to jobs from different departments.
These are the Regional Institutes of Administration (Ira) and the National Institute of Public Service (INSP).
The purpose of these institutes is to provide so-called initial of the winners of the competitions (i.e. before 1re assignment to a post) and to organize continuing training for full-time officials.
Finally, other schools have preparatory classes, called Prepas Talents of public service, who propose preparations for their own external competition or for a Talents competition where one exists.
The purpose of these Pre-Talent Programs is to help students or job seekers of modest means prepare for competitions.
They provide enhanced pedagogical support, financial support and the competence of a tutor.
The selection of candidates shall be subject to conditions of resources, merit and motivation.
Please note
Pupils in Prépa Talents can benefit, under certain conditions, from a talent scholarship.
Each competition shall result in the establishment of master list and a supplementary list ranking the successful candidates in order of merit.
The supplementary list is intended to allow the replacement of candidates on the main list who cannot be appointed.
The supplementary list is also intended to make it possible to appoint officials to posts which have become vacant between two competitions.
The additional list shall automatically cease on the date of the beginning of the tests in the following competition and, at the latest, two years after the date of its establishment.
The candidate on the supplementary list who is not appointed to the end of the period of validity of this list loses the benefit of the contest.
Successful candidates are appointed trainee officials in the order in which they appear on the main list and then on the supplementary list.
An official on traineeship in school or training institute shall choose his 1er assignment position generally according to the rank obtained at the end of school at the end of the classification tests.
FYI
During the school training period, you are paid by the school.
Territorial (FPT)
To apply for a Public Service entrance examination, you must complete the general conditions for access to the public service.
You must also meet the requirements of the special status of the employment framework which you want to access.
Depending on the type of job, these conditions may be conditions of diploma, seniority, special physical aptitude, etc.
There are 3 types of competitions for access to job managers in the territorial public service:
- Competition external
- Competition internal
- Competition called 3e competition
Who can apply for an external competition?
External competitions are open to candidates with certain diplomas or evidence of completion of certain studies.
To enter an external competition category A, you must have a Bachelor's degree + 3 or more, depending on the job framework you want to access.
To enter an external competition category B, you must have a Bac to Bac + 2 degree, depending on the job framework you want to access.
To enter an external competition category C, you must have a level 3 diploma (CAP, BEP, college certificate).
If you do not have the required diploma, you can, under conditions, still enter the competition if you can prove a qualification equivalent to the diploma required.
This equivalent qualification may be attested by one of the following:
- Other diploma or certificate proving that you have successfully completed a course of study at least equivalent to the diploma required
- Diploma awarded in another country of the European Economic Area
- Professional experience falling within the same socio-professional category as that of the profession to which the competition gives access
Diploma equivalence can be granted automatically if you have a diploma of the same level as that required.
It can also be granted after examination of your file by an equivalence commission of diplomas and diplomas.
You must submit your application for equivalency at the time of registration in the contest to the organizing authority of the contest.
If you are parent of at least 3 children, you can enter any contest without being subject to the diploma condition.
If you justify a diploma or a military qualificationHowever, this diploma or qualification may, under certain conditions, replace the diploma required by the particular status of the job manager to which you wish to accede.
If you are or have been shigh-level athlete listed by the ministry in charge of sports, you can enter any competition without being subject to the condition of diploma.
You must meet the graduation condition on the date of 1re test of the competition or, in the case of a selection including an examination of the diplomas of the candidates, the date of 1re meeting of the selection board responsible for selecting the files, unless the special status of the job manager to which you wish to accede provides for other provisions.
Who can run for a closed competition?
You can enter a closed competition if you complete one of the following conditions :
- Be a civil servant or military officer or magistrate on active employment, secondment or parental leave
- Be a contract worker or on parental leave
- Working in an international intergovernmental organization
You must have completed a fixed period of public service and possibly have received some training.
The length of public services, and possibly the training, required are determined by the particular status of the job manager to which you wish to have access.
Please note
if you work in an international intergovernmental organization, the services performed in that organization are treated as public services.
You can also enter a closed competition if you fill out the following 3 conditions :
- You are a national of a country of the European Economic Area or a national of the Principality of Andorra or the Principality of Monaco or Switzerland
- You prove a period of service in an administration, organization or establishment of one of these countries whose missions are comparable to those of French public administrations and establishments
- In one of these countries, you have received training equivalent to that required by the special status of the body to which you wish to have access
The length of service required is determined by the particular status of the job manager you wish to access.
FYI
If you have performed a civic service or an international volunteering mission, the time spent on civic service or on an international volunteering mission is taken into account in calculating the length of service required.
You must meet the condition of duration of public services, and possibly training, fixed by the special status of the job manager you wish to access, on the date of 1re competition test.
If this is a selection that includes an examination of the candidates' diplomas, you must meet this condition on the date of 1re meeting of the selection panel.
The particular status of the job manager you wish to access may provide for other arrangements.
Who can run for a "3rd contest"?
The competition called 3e competition address to the candidate who has exercised for a fixed period one of the following activities :
- One or more professional activities, whatever their nature
- One or more local elected office
- One or more activities as head of an association (voluntary or not)
The period required shall be fixed by the special status the job box you want to access.
FYI
If you have been on an apprenticeship or a professional contract, the duration of that contract is taken into account in calculating the length of service required.
The duration of these activities or mandates is taken into account if you were not a public officer, magistrate or military member when you exercised them.
However, if you have been a trade union employee while a public official, the length of time you have been a trade union employee is taken into account.
You must meet the length of service condition set by the special status of the job manager you wish to access, on the date of 1re competition test.
If this is a selection that includes an examination of the candidates' diplomas, you must meet this condition on the date of 1re meeting of the selection panel.
The particular status of the job manager you wish to access may provide for other arrangements.
The assistance may consist of either tests (written and/or oral), or in a selection on titles and works candidates by a jury.
Written and/or oral tests
The tests may consist of an administrative note, short answer questions (QRC), etc.
They may consist in the presentation by the candidate of his or her stated professional experience acquired from professional experience, whatever it may be, including in the form of civic service.
The tests may also consist of a placement in a professional situation in relation to the duties for which the competition is intended.
Selection on titles and work by a jury
Candidates shall be selected either on the basis of the diplomas or on the basis of the diplomas and work completed by the candidate.
This selection may be supplemented by tests.
Vocational experience may also be presented in addition to diplomas or diplomas and studies.
Competitions for admission to the territorial civil service shall be organized by the following authorities:
- CNFPT: titleContent for categories A + (administrator, chief engineer, library curator, heritage curator)
- Management Centers for other categories A and B and C
- Local and regional authorities not affiliated to a management center for C-category jobs
- Ministry of the Interior for officer firefighters
- Departmental Fire and Rescue Services (Sdis) for the Non-Officer Fire Fighters Class C Occupations
Enrollment in a contest is usually done online.
A summons to the tests is addressed to you.
The results are available online.
You are also informed by post of your admission or not to the contest.
FYI
The City of Paris organize its own recruitment competitions.
A list of suitable candidates shall be drawn up for each competition, in alphabetical order.
FYI
If you have registered and you are admitted to several competitions for access to the same or different categories of employment, you may be entered on only one list of suitable candidates.
The following persons shall also be entered on the list of suitable candidates within the limit of the number of posts declared vacant for which the competition has been opened:
- Candidates admitted to a previous competition who have not yet been appointed as trainees
- Trainee territorial officials whose internship ended before tenure for a reason other than service
Once you are on this list, you must search for a job by applying to local communities and public institutions.
The list of suitable candidates is valid throughout France.
As a result, you can search for a job throughout the country.
Each local authority or establishment shall publish its job vacancies on its website.
You remain on the list of suitable candidates for 2 years.
If at the end of the 2 years you have not found a job, you can ask in writing to the organizing authority of the competition to which you have been admitted, to be re-registered for a 3e year.
And if at the end of the 3 years you have not found a job, you can apply to be re-enrolled for a 4e year.
If at the end of the 4 years you have not found a job, you lose the benefit of the competition.
FYI
The 4-year period shall be extended if no new contest is organized during this period, until the date of organization of a new contest.
You must submit your request for re-enrollment on the Eligibility List at least 1 month before the end date of your current enrollment.
The maximum period of 4 years to be included on the list of suitability shall be suspended for subsequent periods :
- Parental, maternity, adoption, parental and family solidarity leave
- Long-term leave
- Fulfillment of local elected office
- Recruitment on a temporary basis as a contractor in the territorial civil service to replace an employee or contractor who is temporarily unavailable on a job within the job framework for which you have applied
- Civic service engagement
If you have been recruited by a territorial employer as a probationary official and your probationary period is terminated prior to your establishment because of the termination of your employment or for any reason other than the manner in which you have served, you may apply in writing to the organizing authority of the competition to which you have been admitted to be re-entered on the list of suitable candidates.
The total duration of your enrollment on the aptitude list (before and after your probationary period) is limited to 4 years.
If no competition for access to your job framework has been organized within this period, you will remain on the list of suitable candidates until the date of the organization of a new competition.
If you refuse 2 job offers sent by a community or institution to the organizing authority of the competition, you are removed from the list of suitability and lose the benefit of the competition.
If you are admitted to a competition for entry to a category A post office +, you are nominated by the CNFPT and receive initial training at the Institut national des études Territoriales (Inet) for a period determined by the specific status of the employment framework to which you wish to have access.
It is only at the end of this training that you are placed on a list of suitable candidates and that you can look for a job.
FYI
During the training period at Inet, you are paid by the institute.
Hospital (FPH)
To apply for a Public Service entrance examination, you must complete the general conditions for access to the public service.
You must also meet the requirements of the special status of the body which you want to access.
Depending on the target body, these conditions may be conditions of diploma, seniority, particular physical aptitude, age, etc.
When a age limit is planned, it can be deleted or postponed if you are in any of the following:
- You have a disability and can benefit from the obligation to employ
- You made a civic service or an international volunteer mission
- You are a European national and have performed the national service in your country of origin
- You are or have been a high-performance athlete on the list established by the Ministry of Sport
- You are a parent of at least 3 children and live as a couple or you are single parent one or more children
There are 3 types of competitions for access to hospital public service bodies:
- Competition external
- Competition internal
- Competition called 3e competition
Who can apply for an external competition?
External competitions are open to candidates with certain diplomas or evidence of completion of certain studies.
To enter an external competition category A, you must have a Bachelor's degree + 3 or more, depending on the body you want to access.
To enter an external competition category B, you must have a Bac to Bac + 2 level diploma, depending on the body you want to access.
To enter an external competition category C, you must have a level 3 diploma (CAP, BEP, college certificate).
If you don't have the required degree, you can still enter the contest, subject to conditions, if you have a qualification equivalent to the diploma required.
This equivalent qualification may be attested by one of the following:
- Other diploma or certificate proving that you have successfully completed a course of study at least equivalent to the diploma required
- Diploma awarded in another country of the European Economic Area
- Professional experience falling within the same socio-professional category as that of the profession to which the competition gives access
L'equivalence degree can be granted automatically if you prove a diploma of the same level than the one required.
It can also be granted after examination of your file by an equivalence commission of diplomas and diplomas.
You must submit your application for equivalency at the time of registration in the contest to the organizing authority of the contest.
If you are parent of 3 or more childrens, you can enter any contest without being subject to the condition of diploma.
If you justify a diploma or a military qualification, this diploma or qualification may replace, under certain conditions, the diploma required by the particular status of the body to which you wish to accede.
If you are or have been high-level athlete listed by the ministry in charge of sports, you can enter any competition without being subject to the condition of diploma.
You must meet the graduation condition on the date of 1re test of the competition or, in the case of a selection including an examination of the diplomas of the candidates, the date of 1re meeting of the jury responsible for selecting the files, unless the particular status of the body to which you wish to accede provides for other provisions.
Who can run for a closed competition?
You can enter a closed competition if you meet one of the following conditions:
- Be a civil servant or military officer or magistrate on active employment, secondment or parental leave
- Be a contract worker or on parental leave
- Working in an international intergovernmental organization
You must have completed a fixed period of public service and possibly have received some training.
The length of public services, and possibly the training, required are determined by the particular status of the body you wish to access.
Please note
If you work in an international intergovernmental organization, the services performed in that organization are treated as public services.
You can also enter a closed competition if you meet the following 3 conditions:
- You are a national of a country of the European Economic Area or a national of the Principality of Andorra or the Principality of Monaco or Switzerland
- You prove a period of service in an administration, body or establishment of one of these States whose missions are comparable to those of French public administrations and establishments
- In one of these countries, you have received training equivalent to that required by the special status of the body to which you wish to have access
The length of service required is determined by the particular status of the body you want to access.
FYI
If you have performed a civic service or an international volunteering mission, the time spent on civic service or on an international volunteering mission is taken into account in calculating the length of service required.
You must meet the condition of duration of public services, and possibly training, fixed by the special status of the body to which you wish to access, on the date of 1re competition test.
If this is a selection that includes an examination of the candidates' diplomas, you must meet this condition on the date of 1re meeting of the selection panel.
The particular status of the body you want to access may provide for other arrangements.
Who can run for a "3rd contest"?
The competition called 3e competition shall be addressed to candidates who have been engaged in one of the following activities for a fixed period:
- One or more professional activities, whatever their nature
- One or more local elected office
- One or more activities as head of an association (voluntary or not)
The period required shall be fixed by the special status the body you want to access.
FYI
If you have been on an apprenticeship or a professional contract, the duration of that contract is taken into account in calculating the length of service required.
The duration of these activities or mandates is taken into account if you were not a public officer, magistrate or military member when you exercised them.
However, if you have been a trade union employee while a public official, the length of time you have been a trade union employee is taken into account.
You must meet the length of service requirement set by the particular status of the body you want to access, on the date of 1re competition test.
If this is a selection that includes an examination of the candidates' diplomas, you must meet this condition on the date of 1re meeting of the selection panel.
The particular status of the body you want to access may provide for other arrangements.
The competition may consist either of tests (written and/or oral) or of a selection based on the qualifications and work of the candidates by a jury.
Written and/or oral tests
The tests may consist of an administrative note, short answer questions (QRC), etc.
They may consist in the presentation by the candidate of his or her stated professional experience acquired from professional experience, whatever it may be, including in the form of civic service.
The tests may also consist of a placement in a professional situation in relation to the duties for which the competition is intended.
Selection on titles and work by a jury
Candidates shall be selected either on the basis of the diplomas or on the basis of the diplomas and work completed by the candidate.
This selection may be supplemented by tests.
Vocational experience may also be presented in addition to diplomas or diplomas and studies.
General rules
The competitions are organized by the following authorities:
- National Center for the Management of Hospital Practitioners and Management Staff of the Hospital Public Service (CNG). It concerns management and senior administrative and caring staff (e.g. hospital administration attaché, hospital director, director of care)
- Public hospitals for other bodies. Competitions can be organized for several schools in a department or region. Competition notices are published on the web portal of the FPH competitions managed by the Ministry of Health.
Registration shall take place in accordance with the conditions laid down in the competition notice:
- Either online on the site of the organizing establishment
- Either by means of a file withdrawn on the spot or sent by post
A summons to the tests is addressed to you.
Results are generally available online and by posting on the premises of the organizing institution and by post.
FYI
Assistance publique-Hôpitals de Paris (AP-HP) organizes its own recruitment competition.
Training School
The competitions organized by the CNG are intended to allow you to join the École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (EHESP).
This school has a dual mission of training and research in public health and social action.
The competitions organized by the CNG are those allowing access to the bodies of senior administrative and nursing staff of the hospital public service:
- Directors of health, social and medico-social institutions
- Director of Care
- Management staff
- Hospital Administration Attachés
Each competition establishes a master list and an additional list ranking the successful candidates in order of merit.
Where the special status of the body so provides, the list of admitted candidates shall be drawn up in alphabetical order.
The supplementary list is intended to allow the replacement of candidates on the main list who cannot be appointed.
The supplementary list is also intended to make it possible to appoint officials to posts which have become vacant between two competitions.
Registration on these lists is not recruitment.
The number of posts which may be filled by the appointment of candidates on the supplementary list may not exceed a percentage, fixed by decree, of the total number of posts offered in the competition.
The supplementary list shall cease automatically on the date of opening of the following competition and, at the latest, 1 year after its date of drawing up.
Appointments shall be made in the order in which they appear on the main list and then in the order in which they appear on the supplementary list.
Where the purpose of the competition is to fill the posts of more than one institution, each candidate shall be assigned to one institution in accordance with his or her preferences.
Preferences of candidates shall be taken into account in order of merit or, where the particular status of the body so provides, in alphabetical order.
If you are admitted to a competition organized by the NGC, you are appointed as a student of the École des Hautes Études en Santé publique (EHESP).
The duration of schooling is 12 to 24 months depending on the body concerned.
The training includes theoretical sessions and practical placements in institutions.
At the end of the training, you are placed on an aptitude list and then assigned to a position.
FYI
during the training period at EHESP, you are paid by the school.
FAQ
Service-Public.fr
Service-Public.fr
Ministry of Public Service
Ministry of Public Service
Ministry of Public Service
National Federation of Territorial Public Service Management Centers (FNCDG)
National Center for Territorial Public Service (CNFPT)
Ministry of the Interior
City of Paris
Ministry of Health
Public Assistance - Hospitals of Paris (AP-HP)