Funding for vocational
training

Competence operators (OPCO)

Since the 1st April 2019, 11 competence operators (OPCO), in charge of supporting vocational training, have been approved. They replace the organisations formerly responsible for collecting the funds used for vocational training (Organisations Paritaires Collecteurs Agréées – OPCA). Their mission is to finance apprenticeship and vocational training contracts, as well as retraining and promotion actions through the Pro-A scheme. They also help the branches to develop professional qualifications, and assist SMEs in defining their training requirements.

OPCOs help finance the implementation of training projects for companies with fewer than 50 employees as part of the skills development plan. Companies with more than 50 employees can also apply to OPCO to benefit from possible co-financing of their training by the State, the local council or the French Employment Agency (Pôle Emploi), for example, all of which can subsidise certain actions.

Under the skills development plan for companies with fewer than 50 employees OPCOs can cover the expenses related to educational costs (costs of training activities), the remuneration of the employee undergoing training, and related expenses.

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Subsidising your Personal Training Account (CPF)

The reform has introduced the possibility of a joint investment, with both companies and the employees putting money into the CPF. A company agreement may provide for additional CPF subsidies for a selection of training courses leading to qualifications or diplomas that are essential to the company. The company will then finance the training and ask the French Caisse des Dépôts to reimburse the part corresponding to the CPF of the employee who has completed the training, within the limits of acquired entitlements. Subsidising employees’ monetised CPF allows them to jointly invest in eligible training, in keeping with the company’s strategic requirements.

The National Employment Fund (FNE)

The National Employment Fund (FNE) helps to fund vocational training, partial unemployment, early retirement and the reduction of working hours.

The eligibility criteria laid down by FNE-Formation 2020 no longer apply, and several new features have also been introduced in the new scheme.

This scheme is open to all sectors:

• companies undergoing partial activity (common law or long term)
• companies in difficulty within the meaning of Article L. 1233-3 of the French Labour Code (excluding cases of cessation of activity)

Tax credit for management training

The tax credit for training expenses for company managers is a scheme introduced for the benefit of all companies subject to a non-presumptive income tax regime (income tax or company tax). This applies regardless of their sector of activity (trade, industry, crafts, services, liberal professions, etc.) or their legal form (sole proprietorship or company). Micro-entrepreneurs are excluded from the scheme.

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The Personal Training Account (CPF)

The Personal Training Account (CPF) allows all working persons, from the moment they enter the labour market until the date on which they claim all their retirement entitlements, to acquire training rights that can be used throughout their professional life. The Personal Training Account allows you to finance some of our courses, as an employee and also as a job seeker.

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Personal funding

Sometimes, you have to pay part or all of the cost of your course yourself. These costs are tax-deductible, whether they relate to the cost of internship or to the cost of getting a diploma or a qualification that will improve your professional situation.

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The professional transition project

The professional transition project is a particular way of mobilising the Personal Training Account (CPF). It enables employees wishing to change jobs to finance training courses leading to certification related to their project. The employee can benefit from a right to leave, and continued remuneration for the duration of the training.

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Exceptional recruitment aid

The government grants exceptional aid for the recruitment of work-study students under professionalisation contracts, up to Master’s degree level, and to all companies.

The financial aid is:
– €5,000 for a student under 18 years of age
– €8,000 for a mature work placement student (up to the age of 29)

For the first year of completion of each professionalisation contract concluded between the 1st July 2020 and the 31st December 2021 preparing:

– a diploma or professional qualification equivalent to or higher than level 7 of the national nomenclature of professional certifications (master’s degree, engineering diploma, etc.)
– a CQP (certificate of professional qualification)
– as well as for experimental contracts concluded in application of VI of Article 28 of law n° 2018-771 dated 5th September 2018