To be a civil servant teacher and take a civil service competition, there are conditions of diplomas and professional experience.

In primary education

To teach in a public primary school (first level), you can take the School Teacher Recruitment Competition (CRPE) which allows you to work as a permanent teacher in public primary schools.

In secondary education

In middle and high school (secondary level), the conditions differ depending on the discipline practiced:

• To teach the disciplines of general education: you must take the CAPES (Certificate of Aptitude for Teaching in Secondary Education) competition. The subjects of general education are academic and not vocational (examples: French, mathematics, history, science, languages).
• To teach technological education disciplines at the public technological high school: you have to take the CAPET competition (Certificate of Aptitude for Teaching in Technical Education). The subjects of technological education are also non-academic, but much more technical. For example, these are courses in applied arts and design or computer science options.

To take these exams, you must be in one of the following three situations:

• Either have obtained a master's degree or are in the process of validating a master's 2.

• Either have at least 5 years of professional experience completed within the framework of a private law contract.

• Either have worked more than 3 years for the public service as a civil servant or non-permanent agent in the last 6 years and have a BAC +3. This path is aimed in particular at contract workers or substitutes in public or private establishments.

The first degree competition

Registrations generally take place from early October to early November.

1. Go to the website devenirenseignant.gouv.fr and create an account on the Cyclades website
2. Register for the Public CRPE
3. Choose an academy (which generally covers several departments) and complete the wish list

The second degree competition

Registration for secondary school competitions generally takes place from the beginning of October to the beginning of December.

1. Go to the website devenirenseignant.gouv.fr and create an account on the Cyclades website
2. Register for the secondary school competition (CAPES, CAPET) with the desired discipline
3. Choose the academy where you wish to take the exam based on your personal or administrative address as indicated when creating the account.

You should use the programs, subjects and jury reports available on the official websites of each competition.

You can also use paid preparations:

• You can take distance learning through the CNED (National Center for Distance Learning) which offers courses designed and led by experts.
• If you already have a bachelor's degree, you can follow a two-year face-to-face training course as part of a MEEF master's degree (Teaching, Education and Training Professions). This master's degree includes professional internships, including paid internships in the second year of the master's degree. This master's degree is recommended for success in the competitive examination, but is not mandatory if you have another master's degree or obtained a VAE.

Each competition consists of several eligibility and admission tests.

You can read the details of these tests on these links:

• CRPE
• CAPES, CAPET

If you have passed the secondary school competition (CAPES, CAPET, CAPLP, CAPEPS), you are admitted to one of the national education competitions.

1. Formulate assignment wishes to academies

You will be invited to formulate up to 6 inter-academy assignment wishes, that is to say, state your preferences among the academies. You will be able to enter these wishes on the SIAL website (Système d'Information et d'Aide aux Concours).

If you do not make a wish, your wish related to your registration academy will automatically be considered as your one and only wish.
If your wish is not accepted, you will be assigned according to the needs of the academies and your points.

Between May and June, you will know the results of your assignment.

2. Formulate assignment requests to establishments

Between June and July, you will be invited to make intra-academic assignment requests, i.e. for schools within the academy where you have been assigned. You often have to choose from a list of schools.

You are assigned to an establishment as a trainee teacher based on the points you have obtained (success in the competitive examination, tenured or not, dependent children, disability, etc.) and your wishes.

You then complete a year of internship, the details of which depend on each person's situation (type of diploma, experience).

✅ If your internship is completed and validated, you are appointed: Congratulations! You are now a civil servant.

For primary school teachers, the Departmental Education Services Directorate (DSDEN) will ask you to express your wishes (usually between March and April). You will be able to communicate your preferences by geographical area within the department.

❌ In case of non-tenure, you can do a new year of internship. This year may be subject to adjustments to focus on the areas for priority improvement.

If you did not pass one of the competitions, you still have several options:

• Retry the competition next year. There is no limit to the number of times the candidate can try.
• Become a contractual or substitute teacher in a public or private school
• Work in early childhood professions