Training is always a good idea. Whether it's to evolve, reconvert, boost your skills or just stay in touch, training is a powerful lever. Yeah, but here's the thing: the price can slow down. In France, there are several solutions to fund your training. CPF, OPCO, Pôle emploi support or self-funding: let us look at how each option works in simple terms.
📘 The CPF, or how to fund (in part) your training with your rights
The Training Personnel Account (CPF) is an essential leverage to fund your training projects. Each year, depending on your professional activity, you earn training rights:
- A full-time employee receives 500 euros a year, cumulative up to a maximum of 5 000 €.
- For persons with disabilities, these fees are increased by EUR 300 per year, with a ceiling of EUR 8 000.
🧠 Good to know: your CPF balance is visible at any time on mycompteformation.gouv.fr. Log in to your account and click on the "Rights" tab to view it.
Every year, your account is automatically credited. If the training you are targeting is eligible for the CPF, it is simple: the amount available is automatically deducted from the cost of training when you register. You have nothing to do.
But beware, since 1 January 2025, a compulsory flat-rate participation of the 102,23 € remain at your expense, unless:
- you are a job seeker
- your employer partially funds the training
- you use points from your occupational risk prevention account (C2P)
- you mobilize an abundance linked to a permanent disability of at least 10%
Who are involved in a CPF?
The Personnel Training Account (PCF) is available from the age of 15, for young people who have signed an apprenticeship contract as well as for anyone between the ages of 16 and 65.
To receive training via the CPF, you must be part of one of the following profiles:
- private sector employee,
- job seeker,
- self-employed or self-employed,
- intermittent of the show,
- Public Service Officer.
What if the CPF balance is not enough?
There are several options available to you:
- Requesting additional funding : the State, your region, an OPCO, Pôle emploi or even your employer may provide additional funding. 💡
- Pay the rest at the expense by credit card, directly on the My Account Training platform. 💳
🏢 What about the employees? Think about your company's OPCO
The OPCO (Competition Operators) are there to support companies (and therefore employees) in the financing of vocational training. Each company contributes to an OPCO according to its branch of activity.
OPCOs can finance:
- Alternative training (apprenticeship or professionalisation)
- Continuing training schemes for employees Specific schemes such as the FNE-Training (which can cover 50-70% of the teaching costs)
What are the different OPCOs in France?
In France, we count 11 Competence Operators (OPCO). Each of them is linked to one or more specific professional areas. Their main mission is to: financing vocational training collecting contributions from companies.
Here is an overview of the OPCOs and the sectors they accompany:
- Afdas : actors in culture, the media, communication and leisure.
- OPCO 2i : groups the industrial branches (up to 15).
- Atlas : dedicated to banks, insurance, financial services and consulting firms.
- OPCO Mobility : includes trades related to transport (automotive, rail, etc.).
- Ocapiate : concerns agriculture, fisheries, agri-food and agricultural cooperation.
- Constructions : supports the construction and public works sector (BTP).
- Opcommerce Supports trade and distribution activities.
- Akto : supports trades based on a large workforce (interim, cleaning, security, etc.).
- OPCO EP (Proximity Companies) : crafts, local trade, catering, etc.
- Uniformation : is aimed at the structures of the social economy, social housing and social protection.
- OPCO Health : includes public and private health institutions.
📚 How can training be financed by an OPCO?
You want to train your collaborators and wonder if OPCO can cover the costs? Here's what you need to know.
✅ What are the conditions to benefit from it?
First of all, your business must be up to date in its contributions to vocational training (around 0.55% to 1% of payroll). These contributions, collected by URSSAF, fund the OPCOs.
Getting funding through your OPCO is not complicated, but it requires a specific process:
1️⃣ Start by identifying the OPCO your company belongs to.
2️⃣ Choose a Qualiopi-certified training provider and request a quote.
3️⃣ Send your OPCO the signed quote together with a funding application.
4️⃣ Wait for your OPCO to approve or decline the application.
The final settlement is carried out once the training has been completed, provided that the organization attests to the presence of the learner throughout the course.
💡 Good to know: if the OPCO does not cover 100% of the costs, the employer can pay the supplement.
💶 What kind of support can we hope for?
OPCO funds part of the training costs: pedagogy, remuneration, transport and accommodation.
Under a professional training contract or the Pro-A retraining scheme, it can also cover mentoring, with additional support for small businesses. For apprenticeships, certain expenses incurred by apprenticeship supervisors or mentors are covered within set limits. Since 2019, the CPF has been managed by the Caisse des dépôts rather than the OPCOs. For a skills development plan, the costs remain the employer’s responsibility.
👥 Who can enjoy it?
Many profiles are concerned:
- The employees in CDI (skills, security...)
- The alternates (learning or pro)
- The CSD, even for short missions
- The Interim, via FAF.TT
- The employees in integration (CUI, CEC)
- Employees undergoing conversion via Pro-A
- Sometimes the jobseekers, if they have a hiring project
- And even the Leaders, in very small structures
🎓 What training courses can be financed?
It all depends on your area! Each OPCO has its own list. But these are the big families of training that we often find:
- Certifying or qualifying : to validate professional skills
- Mandatory : safety, hygiene, etc.
- In alternation : apprenticeship or vocational training
- Skills development : to evolve or adapt
- VAE : to make his experience recognized
- Competency assessment : to take stock of his career
💡 The simplest: contact your OPCO for a list of trainings and financial organizations.
Watch the timing!
Each OPCO has its own rules, but one thing is certain: it's better anticipate.
👉 In general, it is advisable to submit your application at least 30 days before the start of training. But depending on the sector or complexity of the case, 60 to 90 days in advanceIt's even better.
Why so much anticipation?
🔸 Because OPCO budgets are not unlimited.
🔸 Because a complete file (vis, program, development plan...) takes time to process.
🔸 And most importantly, because a late application can be refused, even if the training is top.
Anyway, if you want to put all the chances on your side: plan early, drop early.
Note: eloRezo courses are eligible for OPCO. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information!
Conclusion
To conclude, let's be honest: what often blocks is not the desire to form... it's the price. But now that you know the devices like the CPF, the OPCOs, you see that this brake can disappear. The best training is one that aligns you with your projects and ambitions. And if it is almost 100% fundedIt's even more motivating to jump, isn't it?