CPF and the Mon Compte Formation App
What is the CPF?
The CPF (Personal Training Account) is a French government scheme available to everyone who is currently working or has worked in the past. It allows individuals to accumulate training rights throughout their professional career. Since 2015, these rights were initially expressed in hours, but they have since been converted into euros. These rights remain attached to the individual, regardless of any change of employer, public-sector position, or employment status.
What is it used for?
The CPF enables you to attend training courses to obtain qualifications leading to a diploma, develop the skills required for a higher-level position, complete a skills assessment, or even prepare for starting your own business.
How do you earn CPF credits?
There are two categories of employees who accumulate CPF credits:
- Full-time employees receive between €500 and €800 per year (equivalent to 24 hours per year under the previous system), up to the applicable maximum limit.
- Part-time employees accumulate rights in proportion to their annual working time. They receive up to €500 per year until reaching the applicable limit, after which additional rights are accrued according to the current regulations.
Note: Some individuals are entitled to an annual increase of up to €800, allowing them to reach a maximum balance of €8,000. This applies to people without a CAP or BEP qualification (or an equivalent qualification not recognized by the French State) as well as people with disabilities.
How can you check your CPF balance?
To view your CPF balance, simply visit www.moncompteformation.gouv.fr.
Haven’t activated your account yet? No problem! Simply create an account using your French Social Security number and an email address.
How can you retrieve your DIF balance?
Your DIF (Individual Right to Training) balance should have been provided to you in December 2014 or January 2015, either by post in the form of a rights certificate or on your December 2014 or January 2015 payslip if you were employed in the private sector.
You must then declare your DIF balance on www.moncompteformation.gouv.fr so that your DIF rights can be added to your CPF balance.
Keep your DIF rights certificate, as it will be required when your training application is validated.
When can you take your training?
You may take a training course during your free time or during your working hours.
If the training takes place outside your working hours, you do not need to inform your employer.
However, if the training takes place during your working hours, you must obtain your employer’s approval beforehand.
How do you find the right training course?
Your Mon Compte Activité account provides access to a list of eligible training courses.
You will find a wide range of certified and qualification-based training programs. A free career development guidance service is also available.
Once you have selected your training course, you will need to choose the training provider you wish to study with.
You will then receive a quotation, which you should keep for your records.
OPCOs (Skills Operators) are the funding organizations responsible for verifying whether your training course can be financed using your CPF rights. Depending on the OPCO you belong to, it will contact your chosen training provider directly to arrange payment.
The Mon Compte Formation App
The Mon Compte Formation app has been available for download from app stores since the end of November 2019. You can log in using your name, French Social Security number, and the password you created.
Using the app, private-sector employees can view their CPF balance in euros, including their former DIF rights, while public-sector employees can view their training rights expressed in hours.
Searching for a training course
The app gives you access to thousands of eligible training courses offered by more than 76,000 training providers. You can search using keywords, location, or training format, then refine your search by date, duration, price, and other criteria.
You can choose your training course, register online, complete your application, and monitor its progress directly through the app.
For further information, contact us.