Certified Teacher - France

France

In France, teachers (professeurs) are mainly civil servants, recruited by competitive examination. They must have previously gained college education and receive professional education in IUFMs (University Institutes for Teachers Training). Starting in 2010, IUFM studies will be replaced by a new Master of Education. There are six corps of teachers in France's public service :

• five corps require at least a licentiate (bachelor's degree equivalent) and hold the same pay :
  • Professeurs des écoles : Primary education teachers. They pass the CRPE competitive exam.
  • Professeurs certifiés : high school, mainly junior high, teachers. They hold the CAPES (certificate for teaching in secondary education) or the CAPET (certificate for teaching in technological education).
  • Professeurs de l'enseignement privé : private schools teachers. They hold the CAFEP (certificate for teaching in private education).
  • Professeurs de lycées professionnels : vocational high schools teachers. They hold the CAPLP (certificate for teaching in vocational high schools).
  • Professeurs de l'enseignement physique et sportif : sport teachers. They hold the CAPEPS (certificate for teaching sport education).
• One corps require at least a master's degree and hold a higher pay :
  • Professeurs agrégés : high school teachers. They pass the Agrégation competitive exam. A very prestigious title, often required for applying at academic positions. They represent a minority in high schools.

In addition, every holder of a licentitate may teach on a non-permanent basis.