Understanding CPF, the French program that pays for your continued learning

And even your motorcycle driving license!

In short:

?? In France, every working person has a personal training account called CPF.

?? The CPF enables individuals to acquire training rights that can be used throughout their working life.

?? Since January 2024, the CPF can also be used to finance motorcycle drivers’ licences.

In France, every working person has a CPF. It is mandatory. CPF stands for "Compte Personnel de Formation", which means "Personal Training Account".

Launched in 2015, the CPF aims to secure an individual's career by increasing autonomy and removing obstacles to mobility. It is open to all workers from the age of 16, or 15 for apprentices, when they enter the job market, until they claim all their pension rights.

Who pays for the CPF?

If you are employed, your employer pays. As a freelancer, you pay yourself. The standard annual amount that is deposited into the CPF account is €500. The maximum amount per account is €5.000. Meaning: You cannot get more money if you don't use it for 10 years.

The French government regulates the CPF system. Individuals can access their CPF account online to manage their education credits. The CPF cannot be withdrawn without the consent of the account holder.

What can you do with the CPF?

The accumulated CPF credits can be used for programs aimed at improving job-related skills or acquiring new qualifications. According to Caisse de Dép?ts, a total of 182,472 CPF-funded training courses were available in October 2023.

For example: Language courses. Software skills. Management or entrepreneurship courses. Needless to say, the CPF program is a huge business opportunity for adult education programs and schools.

Between November 2019 and October 2023, a total of 6,73 millions CPF requests have been admitted, accounting for €9.35 billion in training purchases.

New in the catalog: Driving licenses

As of January 2024, the CPF can also officially be used to sponsor "all categories of land motor vehicle driving licenses," including motorcycle licenses. This is made possible by a June 2023 law on facilitating the issuance and acquisition of driver's licenses. To be covered by the CPF, the license in question must be an element that allows you to keep your job or is part of the realization of a professional project you have.

According to Les Echos, the motorcycle license in particular has been in high demand: In the week of April 15, nearly 18.000 applications for financing of this license were validated through the CPF account, for a total of €15 million. This is more than double the previous weekly record set a month ago. As of April 21, the Caisse des Dép?ts, which manages the program, had validated €100 million for motorcycle licenses, only 17 million less than for car licenses.

These amounts are not insignificant compared to the €2.2 billion budget that France Compétences has forecast for the CPF this year.