Teacher training reform in the pipeline: what you need to know

(updated September 2025)

The French Ministry of Education is currently working on a reform of teacher training, which could come into effect from the start of the 2025 school year. At this stage, there are still uncertainties regarding implementation, but a decree was published in the Journal Officiel on April 17. Here are the main points, for information only.

Objective of the reform :

The main objective is to simplify the training program, making it clearer and more attractive, while reinforcing the practical dimension of the profession from the very first years of study.

What will change?

  • A competitive examination at the end of the bachelor's degree: from 25-26, the competitive examinations for the majority of recruitment examinations will be held in L3: CRPE / CAPES CAPEPS CAPET CAPLP and CPE recruitment, leading to a paid Master's degree for successful candidates.
  • In 25-26 and 26-27: the French government will maintain the Master 2 competitive entrance examination. There will therefore be two competitive entrance examinations: one at the end of the bachelor's degree (L3); the other at the end of the master's degree (M2). From 2027-28 onwards, there will be only one competitive examination at L3 level.
  • Creation of new master's degrees

From the start of the 2026 academic year, a new Master's degree (M2E) will be available in M1 and M2 for competition winners, who will have a different status.

- in M1, they will be civil servant students paid at 1400 euros net per month, and passage from M1 to M2 will be conditional on M1 results

- In M2, they will become trainee civil servants paid 1800 euros net per month, and at the end of the master's program, they will be granted tenure on the basis of their results.

In principle, remuneration during studies implies a 4-year commitment after tenure.

MEEF masters courses remain openin 25-26 for M1 and M2 / in 26-27 for M2 only.

 

  • PE license creation

From the start of the 2026 academic year, a PE license will be available in L1 and L2, and in L3 from the start of the 27 academic year.

The opening of this license will mean the abolition of the PPPE: L1 and L2 abolished in 26-27 and L3 abolished in 27-28 (students will be integrated into the PE license automatically if they pass their year), but not necessarily of the PLURI&MEEF course, which should evolve to integrate students heading for other courses or who are unsure of preparing for the PE entrance exam.

The transition period :

Graduates of competitive examinations

During the transition period, a number of cases are envisaged for competition winners

- Successful completion of the Licence competitive entrance examination with a validated bachelor's degree, students enter the M1 M2E programme

- Successful completion of the Licence competitive entrance examination with a validated M1 MEEF level, students enter the M2E programme

- Successful completion of the Licence competitive examination with a validated M2 MEEF level, students will become full-time trainee civil servants like those who pass the M2 MEEF competitive examination.

We still don't know anythingabout where we'll be posted as trainees, or after we've been granted tenure (especially for CPEs and 2nd level teachers).

What's next?

To date, these measures have not yet been finalized. Discussions are underway between the Ministry, universities and teachers' representatives. Official details are expected in the coming months.

Things to remember :

The Faculty of Education's L3 Pluri&MEEF and L3s that follow the PPPE include preparation for the CRPE licence exam, and possibly the CPE licence exam depending on the number of students interested, as well as for the STIEF licence.

We'll be sure to pass on official information as soon as it's confirmed.

 

Teacher recruitment examinations

Registration for the competitive examinations to become a teacher in general, technological or vocational schools is open from September 18 to November 6 for the bac + 5 competitive examinations, and from October 14 to December 2 for the bac + 3 competitive examinations.

For more information on competitive examinations, visit devenirenseignant.gouv