Public Service competition
Verified 15 May 2020 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Recruitment of a staff member is usually by competition. The conditions of access to the competitions vary according to whether it is an external, internal or open competition 11st contest and the level of employment: Category A, B or C. Competitions may consist of written and/or oral tests or selection by a jury. Once admitted, the conditions of appointment vary depending on the public service and the category of employment concerned.
State Civil Service (FPE)
To enter a competition, you must complete the general conditions of access to the public service.. You must also meet the conditions set out in special status of the target body (e.g. diploma, seniority, special physical ability, age limit).
When an age limit is set, it can be removed or pushed back if you are in one of the following situations:
- You recognized as a disabled worker by the CDAPH
- You made a civic service
- You have done the national service in your country of origin if you are a European citizen
- You are a high-level athlete on the list of the Ministry responsible for sports
- You are a parent of at least 3 children and you live together or you isolated one or more children
There are 3 types of contests:
- Competition external
- Competition internal
- Contest 1e contest
External competition
It is aimed at candidates with certain diplomas or who have completed certain studies.
To take an external competition from category A, you must have a Bachelor's degree + 3 or more, depending on the trade.
To take an external competition from category B, you must have a Bachelor's degree + 2, depending on the trade.
To take an external competition from category C, you must have a degree of level V or VI (CAP, BEP, college certificate).
If you do not have the required diploma, you may, under conditions, enter the competition if you have an equivalent qualification. 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 required degree
- Diploma issued 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 equivalency can be granted automatically if you justify a degree of the same level as the one required. It may also be granted after a review of your file by an equivalency commission for degrees and diplomas.
Internal competition
To enter an internal competition, you must meet one of the following conditions:
- Be a civil servant or a contract employee in the French civil service on call or parental leave
- Working in an international intergovernmental organization
- Justify a term of service in a jurisdiction, agency or institution the European Economic Area.. Your missions must be comparable to those of the French administrations.
In all cases, you must have completed a certain length of public services and, sometimes, have received some training.
These terms and conditions of service and training shall be specified by the special status the body to which the contest gives access.
Third competitions
The contest says 1e contest applies to a candidate who has exercised for a fixed term:
- one or more professional activities, whatever their nature,
- and/or one or more terms of office as a local elected official,
- and/or one or more activities as a volunteer or non-volunteer leader of an association.
The duration required shall be fixed by special status the body to which the contest gives access.
The competition may consist of either written and/or oral tests or a selection by a jury.
FYI
in certain situations (disability, pregnancy, geographical remoteness, health crisis), events can be organized remotely by videoconference.. In particular in the event of a health crisis, oral tests may be abolished or replaced by written tests.
Written and/or oral evidence
They may consist of:
- in writing an administrative note, short-answer questions (QRC)...,
- in the presentation by the candidate of his professional experience acquired professional experience, of any kind, including in the form of a civic service,
- in a professional situation in relation to the duties for which the competition is intended.
Selection by jury
This selection is made:
- or in view of the diplomas,
- in the light of the diplomas and work performed by the applicant. This selection may be supplemented by tests.
Vocational experience can also be presented in addition to diplomas or diplomas and works.
General rules
Information on competitions is available on the State Competitions and Recruitment Site (Score) and on the websites of the ministries and institutions that recruit.
Registration shall be carried out under the conditions laid down in the notice of competition:
- online on the website of the recruiting department,
- or by means of a dossier withdrawn on the spot or sent by mail.
A call 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 eligibility tests and then admission.
The results are available under different conditions depending on the department that is recruiting (online, by posting at an address previously communicated and systematically by mail).
The administration will inform you of the place and date of your assignment.
Schools and training institutes
The purpose of the competition may be to school or training institute specialized in the professional training of civil servants.
Some of these schools are ministry-specific and provide employment in the ministry (in central administration or in decentralized services).
Example :
École Normale Supérieure (ENS), École Nationale de Police (ENP), École Nationale de la Magistrature (ENM).
Other schools are interdepartmental and provide access to jobs from different ministries. These are the Regional Institutes of Administration (Ira) and the National School of Administration (Ena).
These schools and institutes generally have the following tasks:
- Provide the said training initial successful candidates, that is, prior to their assignment to a position
- Conduct ongoing training for full-time staff
Finally, other schools have integrated preparatory classes (IPCs) that offer preparations for their own external competitions. The purpose of these IBAs is to assist students or job seekers, on a modest basis, in the preparation of competitions. They provide enhanced educational support, financial support and the competence of a tutor.
The selection of candidates is based in particular on resources and geographical origin (city policy areas or rural areas to be revitalized).
Please note
under certain conditions, students of the ICC may benefit from public service diversity allowance..
Each competition shall give rise to the drawing up of a main and a supplementary list classifying the candidates admitted in order of merit.
The supplementary list is intended to allow the replacement of candidates on the main list who cannot be appointed or to occupy available jobs between 2 competitions.
The candidates shall be appointed trainee officers in the order in which they were added to the main list and then to the supplementary list.
The trainee official in training school shall choose his 1to post by grade level at the end of the course of graduation.
Territorial (FPT)
To enter a competition, you must complete the general conditions of access to the public service.. You must also meet the conditions set out in special status of the employment framework (e.g. degree, seniority, special physical ability).
There are 3 types of contests:
- Competition external
- Competition internal
- 1e contest
External competition
It is aimed at candidates with certain diplomas or who have completed certain studies.
To take an external competition from category A, you must have a Bachelor's degree + 3 or more, depending on the trade.
To take an external competition from category B, you must have a Bachelor's degree + 2, depending on the trade.
To take an external competition from category C, you must have a degree of level V or VI (CAP, BEP, college certificate).
If you do not have the required diploma, you may, under conditions, enter the competition if you have an equivalent qualification. 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 required degree
- Diploma issued 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 equivalency can be granted automatically if you justify a degree of the same level as the one required. It may also be granted after a review of your file by an equivalency commission for degrees and diplomas.
Internal competition
To enter an internal competition, you must meet one of the following conditions:
- Be a civil servant or a contract employee in the French civil service on call or parental leave
- Working in an international intergovernmental organization
- Justify a term of service in a jurisdiction, agency or institution the European Economic Area.. Your missions must be comparable to those of the French administrations.
In all cases, you must have completed a certain length of public services and, sometimes, have received some training.
These terms and conditions of service and training shall be specified by the special status the employment framework to which the competition gives access.
Third competition
The contest says 1e contest, addressed to a candidate who has exercised, for a fixed period:
- one or more professional activities,
- and/or one or more terms of office as a local elected official,
- and/or one or more activities as a volunteer or non-volunteer leader of an association.
The nature and duration of the activities required shall be determined by the special status the employment framework to which the competition gives access.
The competition may consist of either written and/or oral tests or a selection by a jury.
FYI
in certain situations (disability, pregnancy, geographical remoteness, health crisis), events can be organized remotely by videoconference..
Written and/or oral evidence
They may consist of:
- in writing an administrative note, short-answer questions (QRC)...,
- in the presentation by the candidate of his professional experience acquired professional experience, including in the form of a civic service,
- in a professional situation in relation to the duties for which the competition is intended.
Selection by jury
This selection is made:
- or in view of the diplomas,
- in the light of the diplomas and work performed by the applicant. This selection may be supplemented by tests.
Vocational experience can also be presented in addition to diplomas or diplomas and works.
Competitions for entry into the territorial civil service shall be organized by:
- the CNFPT: titleContent for Category A job managers + (administrator, engineer or chief engineer, library curator, heritage curator),
- the management centers for other category A, B and C job managers,
- local and regional authorities for category C job managers,
- the ministry of the interior for firefighters ..
Registration shall be carried out under the conditions laid down in the notice of competition:
- online on the organizing body's website,
- or by means of a dossier withdrawn on the spot or sent by mail.
A call to the tests is addressed to you.
The results are generally available online and by posting on the organization's premises and systematically by mail.
FYI
the City of Paris organize its own recruitment competitions.
Competition for access to A-level job managers +
They shall give rise to the establishment of a main and a supplementary list of qualifications.
They relate to competitions for colonel firefighters and those that provide access to the following job frames:
- Administrators
- Engineers and Chief Engineers
- Librarians and Heritage Conservators
The main list ranks the candidates in alphabetical order, the supplementary list, in order of merit. The supplementary list is intended to allow the replacement of candidates on the main list who have decided not to take part in the competition or who do not meet the requirements for appointment as pupils.
Candidates admitted shall be appointed pupils of the CNFPT: titleContent for a period fixed by special status the employment framework concerned and follow a initial application training..
Initial application training includes both theoretical and practical community sessions. It shall give rise to the issue of a certificate of fitness.
At the end of the training, students are placed on an aptitude list in alphabetical order.
Entry on the list of suitable candidates is not equivalent to recruitment.
It is the responsibility of each candidate to seek employment by applying to the territorial public authorities and institutions.
The candidate can look for a position throughout France.
Other job frameworks
Each competition shall be followed by the drawing up of a list of suitable candidates in alphabetical order.
Where the same candidate is admitted to competitions for access to the same grade, organized by different management centers, it may be included in only one list.
Entry on an aptitude list is not equivalent to recruitment.
It is the responsibility of each candidate on an aptitude list to seek employment by applying to territorial public authorities and institutions.
The candidate can look for a position throughout France.
Hospital (FPH)
To enter a competition, you must complete the general conditions of access to the public service.. You must also meet the conditions set out in special status of the target body (e.g. diploma, seniority, special physical ability, age limit).
When an age limit is set, it can be removed or pushed back if you are in one of the following situations:
- You recognized as a disabled worker by the CDAPH
- You made a civic service
- You have done the national service in your country of origin if you are a European citizen
- You are a high-level athlete on the list of the Ministry responsible for sports
- You are a parent of at least 3 children and you live together or isolated one or more children
There are 3 types of contests:
- Competition external
- Competition internal
- 1e contest
External competition
It is aimed at candidates with certain diplomas or who have completed certain studies.
To take an external competition from category A, you must have a Bachelor's degree + 3 or more, depending on the trade.
To take an external competition from category B, you must have a Bachelor's degree + 2, depending on the trade.
To take an external competition from category C, you must have a degree of level V or VI (CAP, BEP, college certificate).
If you do not have the required diploma, you may, under conditions, enter the competition if you have an equivalent qualification. 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 required degree
- Diploma issued 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 equivalency can be granted automatically if you justify a degree of the same level as the one required. It may also be granted after a review of your file by an equivalency commission for degrees and diplomas.
Internal competition
To enter an internal competition, you must meet one of the following conditions:
- Be a civil servant or a contractor in the French civil service, on call or parental leave
- Working in an international intergovernmental organization
- Justify a term of service in a jurisdiction, agency or institution the European Economic Area.. Your missions must be comparable to those of the French administrations.
In all cases, you must have completed a certain length of public services and, sometimes, have received some training.
These terms and conditions of service and training shall be specified by the special status the body to which the contest gives access.
Third competitions
The contest says 1e contest, addressed to a candidate who has exercised, for a fixed period:
- one or more professional activities, whatever their nature,
- and/or one or more terms of office as a local elected official,
- and/or one or more activities as a volunteer or non-volunteer leader of an association.
The duration of the required activities shall be determined by the special status the body to which the contest gives access.
The competition may consist of either written and/or oral tests or a selection by a jury.
FYI
in certain situations (disability, pregnancy, geographical remoteness, health crisis), events can be organized remotely by videoconference..
Written and/or oral evidence
They may consist of:
- in writing an administrative note, short-answer questions (QRC)...,
- in the presentation by the candidate of his professional experience acquired professional experience, of any kind, including in the form of a civic service,
- in a professional situation in relation to the duties for which the competition is intended.
Selection by jury
This selection is made:
- or in view of the diplomas,
- in the light of the diplomas and work performed by the applicant. This selection may be supplemented by tests.
Vocational experience can also be presented in addition to diplomas or diplomas and works.
General rules
The competitions are organized by the following bodies:
- National Hospital Practitioners and Executive Management Center (NMC) .. It concerns management and senior administrative and nursing staff (e.g. hospital administrative officer, hospital director, director of care).
- Public hospitals for other bodies. Competitions can be organized for several institutions in a department or region. The competition notices shall be published on theARS: titleContent and posted on the premises of the ARS, the Prefecture and the establishment.
Registration shall be carried out under the conditions laid down in the notice of competition:
- online on the website of the organizing institution,
- or by means of a dossier withdrawn on the spot or sent by mail.
A call to the tests is addressed to you.
The results are generally available online and by posting on the premises of the organizing institution and by mail.
FYI
the Assistance publique-Hôpital de Paris (AP-HP) organizes its own competitive examination ..
Training School
The competitions organized by the NMC are aimed at integrating the School of Advanced Studies in Public Health (EHESP).
This school has a dual mission of training and research in public health and social action.
It provides initial training for senior administrative and nursing staff in the hospital public service.
It also offers preparations for certain competitions in the hospital and state public service in the field of public health.
Management and senior administrative and nursing staff
The bodies concerned are:
- directors of health, social and medico-social institutions,
- the director of care,
- management personnel,
- hospital administrative officers.
The successful candidate is appointed as a student of the School of Advanced Studies in Public Health (EHESP):
- by the Director General of the NMC if he has been awarded the competitions of hospital director, director of health, social and medico-social institution or director of care,
- by the Minister of Health if he or she has been awarded the Hospital Administration Attaché competition.
The length of schooling is from 12 to 24 months, depending on the body. Students undergo initial training, including theoretical sessions and practical internships in schools.
At the end of the training, students are placed on an aptitude list and then assigned to a position.
Please note
during the EHESP training period, the pupil is paid by the school. He receives a training allowance.
Other personal
Each competition shall give rise to the establishment of a main and a supplementary admission list. These lists rank candidates in order of merit. Registration on these lists is not equivalent to recruitment.
The supplementary list is intended to allow the replacement of candidates on the main list who cannot be appointed or to occupy available jobs between 2 competitions.
The candidates shall be appointed trainee officers in the order in which they are listed and then in the order in which they are listed.
Where the competition is organized for more than one institution, each candidate shall be assigned to an institution on the basis of his or her preferences taken into account according to his or her classification in the supplementary list.
- Act No. 83-634 of 13 July 1983 on the rights and obligations of civil servantsArticle 6
- Act No. 84-16 of 11 January 1984 laying down statutory provisions relating to the EPFArticles 19 to 21
- Act No. 84-53 of 26 January 1984 laying down statutory provisions relating to the FPTArticles 12-1-II, 14, 23, 36-38, 44, 45
- Act No. 86-33 of 9 January 1986 laying down statutory provisions relating to the FPHArticles 29 to 32
- Decree No. 95-681 of 9 May 1995 laying down the conditions for entry into competitions for access to the State civil service by electronic means and its extension to the hospital civil service
- Decree No. 2003-532 of 18 June 2003 on the establishment and use of supplementary lists for admission to examinations for admission to the State civil service
- Decree No. 2007-196 of 13 February 2007 on the equivalencies of diplomas required to take part in competitions in the civil service
- Decree No. 2013-593 of 5 July 2013 on the general conditions for recruitment and promotion of grade and various statutory provisions in the FPT
- Decree No. 2010-311 of 22 March 2010 on the recruitment of European nationals in the civil service
- Order of 26 July 2007 fixing the equivalences of diplomas required to take part in competitions in the civil service
- Order of 26 July 2007 on the committees responsible for deciding on applications for equivalence of diplomas for access to the EPF competitions
- Order of 19 June 2007 concerning the commissions of equivalence of diplomas for access to the competitions of the FPT
- Order of 21 September 2007 on the commissions responsible for deciding on applications for equivalence of diplomas for access to the FPH competitions
- Circular of 15 April 2011 on the recruitment and reception of European Economic Area nationals in the French civil service (PDF - 161.0 KB)
FAQ
- Can a public service competition be held by videoconference?
- What are the conditions for access to the public service?
- Can a pregnant candidate take an administrative competition?
- Category, body, employment framework, grade and step: what differences?
- What is the classification of degrees by level?
- Appointment of Public Service Intern: which resumes seniority?
- What are the administrative positions in the public service?
- Recruitment in the Public ServiceService-Public.fr
- Public Service: internship and tenureService-Public.fr
- State Public Service competition calendarMinistry of Public Service
- The site of competitions and recruitment of the State (Score)Ministry of Public Service
- State Public Service Training SchoolsMinistry of Public Service
- FPT Management Center CompetitionNational Federation of Territorial Civil Service Management Centers (FNCDG)
- Competitions and exams organized by the CNFPTNational Center for Territorial Public Service (CNFPT)
- Schedule of competitions and professional examinations of firefightersMinistry of the Interior
- Contest of the City of ParisCity of Paris
- FPH National Management Center (NMC) Competitions and ReviewsNational Hospital Practitioners and Executive Management Center (NMC)
- Public Assistance Competition - Paris Hospitals (AP-HP)Public assistance - Hôpital de Paris (AP-HP)