Career Colleges and Vocational Schools in France

France has no single system called "vocational training" in the way Spain has FP. Vocational education is spread over two levels. At secondary level, the vocational track of the lycée prepares students for a trade with qualifications such as the baccalauréat professionnel (bac pro). After the baccalauréat, students can take a two-year higher technical programme leading to the national Brevet de technicien supérieur (BTS). According to Campus France, some of France's 3,000 high schools run these two-year programmes in sections de techniciens supérieurs (STS), and private schools and specialised institutes offer career-focused courses in fields such as fashion, design and communication.

The schools in this directory show this range: the Lycée René Perrin in Ugine (Savoie) is a lycée with a vocational section and BTS classes; SupExup is a private school with campuses in Montpellier, Béziers and Narbonne that teaches BTS, bachelor and mastère programmes in business, real estate and human resources; and MOD'SPE is a fashion school with campuses in Paris and Lille.

How vocational education works in France

• Baccalauréat professionnel: a secondary qualification taught in the vocational section of a lycée. The Lycée René Perrin offers bac pro programmes in production line operation, mechanical production, electrical trades and cybersecurity, IT networks and electronics. The school states that the main aim of the bac pro is entry into work, while students with a good record can continue to a BTS.
• BTS: a two-year higher technical diploma, often described as bac+2. Examples are the BTS in Conception de Processus de Réalisation de Produits and Électrotechnique at the Lycée René Perrin, and the BTS in Management Commercial Opérationnel, Professions Immobilières and Gestion de la PME at SupExup.
• Professional titles: private schools also award bachelor and mastère titles registered on the RNCP, the national directory of professional certifications. SupExup lists its bac+3 programmes at RNCP level 6 and its mastère programmes at RNCP level 7.
• Apprenticeship (alternance): an apprenticeship contract is an employment contract that alternates periods of training in a company and in an apprentice training centre (CFA).

Campus France explains that the value of a French diploma is guaranteed by the State when it is a national diploma, a diploma certified by the Ministry of Education (diplôme visé) or a title registered on the RNCP. A school's own certificate outside these categories is not a state-recognised qualification, so check the status of a programme before you enrol.

Apprenticeships

According to Service Public, the official French government information site, an apprenticeship contract can last from six months to three years, and apprentices must usually be between 16 and 29 years old, with some exceptions. Apprentices are paid a minimum share of the national minimum wage (Smic) that rises with age and year: for an apprentice aged 18 to 20 in the first year, it is 43% of the Smic, or €802.82 gross a month. SupExup states that all its programmes can be taken either with student status or as an employee on an alternance contract, and the Lycée René Perrin reserves five places in its BTS CPRP for alternance students.

Admission, language and visas

Teaching is in French. BTS classes in STS are a selective track: Campus France notes that non-European students who want to enter the first year of a selective track such as an STS apply through Parcoursup, the national platform for first-year higher education. Campus France recommends level B1 or B2 in French for undergraduate study, and level B2 is required for first-year university admission through the DAP procedure. An official certificate such as the DELF, DALF, TCF or TEF proves your level.

Students from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland need a long-stay student visa for a programme of more than three months. Foreign students may work up to 964 hours a year alongside their studies; internships that are part of the course do not count towards this limit.

Costs

Fees at private schools vary by school and city. SupExup's 2026 fees for full-time students are a €350 registration fee plus €4,990 a year for a BTS in Montpellier and €4,490 a year in Béziers and Narbonne. These fees do not apply to students on an apprenticeship or professionalisation contract. Living costs come on top and are higher in Paris and the large cities.

How to choose a vocational school in France

• Type of qualification: a national diploma such as the BTS, an RNCP-registered title or a school certificate
• Full-time study or alternance: student status with internships, or an employment contract with a company
• Public lycée or private school: admission route, class size and fees
• Next steps: the Lycée René Perrin reports that more than half of its BTS CPRP students go on to a professional bachelor's degree or an engineering school
• Location and housing: SupExup's Montpellier campus has student housing on site; elsewhere students find their own housing

Frequently asked questions

What is the French equivalent of FP?

At secondary level, the closest equivalent is the vocational track of the lycée with the bac professionnel. After the baccalauréat, the two-year BTS is the closest equivalent of a higher-level FP qualification.

How do international students apply for a BTS?

According to Campus France, non-European students apply for the first year of an STS, where the BTS is taught, through the Parcoursup platform. Teaching is in French, so you need a good level of French, usually shown with a DELF, DALF, TCF or TEF certificate.

Can I do an apprenticeship in France?

An apprenticeship is an employment contract of six months to three years that combines work in a company with training at a CFA. Apprentices are usually aged 16 to 29 and receive a minimum wage set as a share of the Smic.

Are private vocational school qualifications recognised?

The State guarantees national diplomas, diplomas certified by the Ministry of Education and titles registered on the RNCP. Check that a private school's programme belongs to one of these categories.