Learning and professionalization contract: what differences?
Verified 17 February 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The apprenticeship contract and the professionalisation contract are employment contracts combining practical company training and theoretical training. Differences exist between these two contracts, in particular as regards the duration of the contract, the age or the remuneration of the beneficiary.
We present the main differences between these two contracts.
Apprenticeship contract | Professionalization contract | |
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Objective | Initial training (diploma or professional qualification) | Continuing education (professional qualification) |
Contract Type |
|
|
Duration of contract | Where the contract is of limited duration, its duration shall be Minimum 6 months to a maximum of 3 years. The maximum duration of the contract may be increased to 4 years if the apprentice is in one of the following situations: The duration of the contract shall be specified in an agreement annexed to the contract. | If it is a CDD, the minimum duration is between 6 and 12 months. It may be extended to 36 months in certain situations. If it is a CDI, the professionalization action is at the start of the contract. Its minimum duration is between 6 and 12 months. It may be extended to 36 months in certain situations. |
Age requirements |
The age maximum may be raised to Up to 35 years (36 years minus 1 day) in the following cases: Then it must not flow more than 1 year between the 2 contracts. There's no pitch age limit if the apprentice is in one of the following situations: |
|
Training | At a minimum 25% of the total duration of the contract | 150 hours minimum and between 15% and 25% of the total duration of the contract |
Remuneration | Enter 27% and 100% of the SmicSmic : Minimum cross-industry growth wage depending on age and level of education, or the conventional minimum wage if more favorable | Enter 55% and 100% of the SmicSmic : Minimum cross-industry growth wage according to age and level of education, or 85% the minimum remuneration provided for by the collective agreement or the company branch agreement if more favorable |
Aid for alternators |
| Youth Mobility Aid is a conditional housing assistance for young people under the age of 30 |
Hiring aids | It exists several aids | It exists several aids |
You can use a simulator which makes it possible compare the annual wage cost of an alternate on the basis of either of these contracts:
Definition and regime of the apprenticeship contract
Conclusion of the apprenticeship contract
Duration of the apprenticeship contract
Adjustment of the duration of the apprenticeship contract
Adjustment of the duration of the apprenticeship contract
Succession of apprenticeship contracts
Apprentice's age requirements
Apprentice's age requirements
Duration of apprenticeship contract training
Apprenticeship minimum wage
Subject matter and conditions for the opening of the professionalization contract
Duration and implementation of professionalization measures
Training and performance of the professionalization contract
Salary and working hours of the professionalization contract
Professionalization contract: taken over by France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi)
Provisions applicable to employer groups
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