Formations et parcours :

Training and path :
The training is ensured by the teacher training colleges (IUFM). There is at least one  IUFM by 'académie' (regional education authority).

 

The qualified teacher and the high-school teacher for vocational training in the 2nd grade.

 

    * 1st year at the IUFM :

      Admission of candidate, holder of a Licence (sometimes a BTS or a DUT and 5 years of professional experience for certain subjects) after examination of the application and an interview with a jury. After a year of disciplinary and professional training, the student will present the desired competitive recruitment examinations.
    * 2nd year at the IUFM :

      The candidate admitted after the competitive examination follows a 2nd year of training at the IUFM. This year will allow one to perfect one's knowledge in the subject, acquire teaching skills and initiate oneself to the functioning of the education system. The student, considered as a trainee teacher, is therefore paid. The appointment occurs at the end of this year depending on the internship, the defence of the written dissertation and the regular attendance at classes at the IUFM.

 

The young teacher is then appointed to a school.

 

A qualified schoolteacher

 

The candidate admitted after the competitive examination is a trainee teacher, he/she is therefore paid. During this year, he/she is responsible for a class and follows a course at the IUFM. The final certification validates the training given at the IUFM and allows for the appointment in a school.

 

Écoles Normales Supérieures (Grande Ecole for training of teachers) : the students of the Ecoles Normales Supérieures may present the competitive examination during their 3rd or 4th year of studies at the school.

 

Teacher in a private school under contract

 

The candidate has a position in private education under contract and is recruited by the CAFEP (Certificat d'Aptitude aux Fonctions d'Enseignement dans les établissements d'enseignement Privé du 2nd degré sous contrat). The condition for access to sections or options of the competitive examination, are the same as the state school's competitive examination.

 

This certificate is prepared in 2 years after the Licence. The training is ensured in partnership with the IUFM and private education (ARPEC) of the region. At the end of the 1st year of training, after having obtained the competitive examination and the collegial consent of the school heads, the student becomes a trainee teacher and starts the 2nd year of training.

 

Access conditions to the CAPES (Certificat d'Aptitude au Professorat de l'Enseignement du 2nd degré)

- Licence or diploma of more or less the same level.

 

Access conditions to the CAPET (Certificat d'Aptitude au Professorat de l'Enseignement Technique)

- Licence or diploma equal to : for example an engineering diploma, or 5 years of professional activity as an executive.

 

Access conditions to the CAPLP2 (Certificat d'Aptitude au Professorat de Lycée Professionnel du 2nd grade)

- Licence, or engineering diploma, or Baccalaureate + 3 diploma level, or 5 years of professional activity as an executive ;

 

Access conditions to a high level competitive examination

- Maîtrise or diploma equal to the same level. In the absence of a Maîtrise, the CAPES, the CAPET, the CAPLP2, allows one to present the competitive examination.

 

These competitive examinations are prepared within the IUFM (except the high level competitive examination) and the universities. One may also prepare them alone or with the help of the CNED (Centre National d'Enseignement à Distance).

TRANSMIT THE KNOWHOW AND METHODS OF APPRENTICESHIP

The teacher ensures that the children acquire the knowledge and know-how in his/her the subject. He/she helps the student to develop a real autonomy in his /her work and to elaborate a personal training project. He/she also participates, within the educational team, to the training and the education of the young person.

Activities
Know how to give a meaning to the learning

The teacher in the education system.
The teacher works in secondary schools with variable characteristics depending on the students, its whereabouts, the size and the courses that are offered.

Within the orientations and the programmes defined by the Ministry, he/she may choose his/her educational choices to create favourable conditions in class to ensure the success of the students.

He/she must update and perfect his/her know-how throughout his/her career.

The teacher in class.
His/her mission is to teach young people, contribute to their education, train them in view of their social and professional integration.

He/she makes sure they acquire the knowledge and know-how in his/her subject.

He/she helps them to develop a critical mind, their autonomy, and elaborate a personal project.

He/she guides the students, helps them to organise themselves in their personal work and evaluate their acquired skills, which necessitates important preparation work and corrections.

He/she prepares the students to be socially aware citizens.

The teacher in school is a member of different teams.
The teacher is a member of an educational and pedagogical team.

He/she contributes in elaborating and implementing the school's project.

He/she also participates in the follow-up, the orientation and the integration of the students in collaboration with the teaching personnels.

Conditions of work
A sole job, but multiple situations

The qualified teacher works between 18 to 20 hours per week, in schools and secondary schools, depending on the subjects.

The qualified schoolteacher teaches 15 hours or 17 hours per week (depending on the subjects), mainly in high-schools, or in schools. He/she may also work in post-baccalaureate classes and in higher education.

The teacher of a secondary school for vocational 2nd grade training, works between 18 to 23 hours per week depending on the subjects. 

Apart from these classical appointments, the teacher may work : abroad  or in other Ministries, territorial communities, research organisations under the responsibility of the Ministry or other ministerial departments on a temporary assignment.

The private education, under contract, employees teachers under conditions similar to those of the state education.

Career-promotion
Future perspectives

A teacher has evolution possibilities in his/her career. He/she may have access to management or inspection functions. He/she may also benefit from internal promotion either by competitive examinations or by an aptitude list. For example, a qualified teacher may become a qualified schoolteacher.

Required skills
Authority and ability to adapt

The teacher must posses a qualification in his/her subject and a high level professional training. These must allow him/her to make the students assimilate the taught subjects by constantly evaluating his/her action and adapting it to the level of the students.

The school life requires a number of personal qualities : flexibility and authority, enthusiasm and rigour, clear speech, availability, etc....

Openings-Salaries
Selective competitive examinations

- 8 005 positions offered at the CAPES in 1998 for 54 382 candidates ;
- 1 245 positions offered at the CAPET in 1998 for 7 154 candidates ;
- 2 260 positions offered at the aggregation in 1998 for 19 841 candidates ;
- 2 050 positions offered at the CAPLP2 in 1998 for 18 989 candidates.

The competitive examinations are open in a number of general education subjects, artistic, technical or professional.

The remuneration evolves throughout their career. It includes a basic salary to which may be added allowances and eventually, overtime.

The annual gross salary for a qualified teacher or for a teacher working in a secondary school for vocational training is of 19 000 Euros at the start of a career, and 22 000 Euros for a qualified schoolteacher.

For information

Bibliography

Minitel : 3615 ONISEP rubrique concours
"Les enseignants". Avenirs nø 500. ONISEP
"Les métiers de l'enseignement" - Parcours - ONISEP

Organisations to be contacted

- Service des examens et concours, service du personnel du rectorat de chaque académie.
- Centre national d'enseignement à distance (CNED), Téléport 4, BP 200, 86980 Futuroscope Cedex - France. Tel. : 33 (0)5 49 49 94 94 - Minitel : 3615 CNED.
- Enseignement privé sous contrat :
- Services académiques pour la formation initiale (SAPFI) des ARPEC régionales (associations régionales pour la promotion pédagogique et professionnelle dans l'enseignement catholique) - Minitel : 3615 UNAPEC.
- Directions diocésaines des départements.