Overview
The Certificat d'Aptitude Professionnelle (CAP) is a French national vocational diploma, usually taken over two years after the end of collège, that prepares students for a specific trade. It is the entry-level vocational qualification in the French education system, offered in hundreds of trade specialities from catering to construction to hairdressing.
Who can apply
CAP programmes are open to students who have finished collège (usually after Class 3e), either through school-based vocational lycées or through apprenticeship contracts with an employer. Adults can also prepare for a CAP through continuing education or validation of acquired experience (VAE).
Exam pattern
The CAP combines general education papers (French, mathematics and physics-chemistry, prevention-health-environment, a living language, and optional papers such as applied arts) with vocational papers specific to the trade, often assessed through practical or workshop-based tests. For the 2026 session, the written general-education papers for the normal sitting are scheduled for 8 and 9 June 2026, with a resit session on 14 and 15 September 2026. Other papers, such as history-geography, civic education, and oral exams, are organised locally by each académie.
Important dates
For 2026: written general-education exams on 8–9 June 2026 (normal session), resits on 14–15 September 2026.
How to apply
Candidates in school or apprenticeship are usually registered by their establishment. Independent candidates register online through their académie's exam portal (SIEC in the Paris region, or the relevant académie elsewhere) during the registration window published each year.
FAQs
How long does a CAP take?
Typically two years after collège, though durations can vary for apprentices or adult candidates using accelerated or VAE routes.
Is the CAP assessed only by written exams?
No. It combines general-education written papers with vocational papers that are often practical or workshop-based, specific to the trade.