Apprenticeship at Enerlab

What is the French apprenticeship system?

The French apprenticeship contract ("contrat d'apprentissage") allows students aged 16 to 29 to follow a diploma programme while being employed by a host company. The OPCO sector skills operator pays the school directly — so apprentices pay zero tuition — and the company pays a percentage of the SMIC (minimum wage) as a salary.

Available levels

• CAP (Level 3, 1 to 2 years)
• Vocational Baccalaureate (Level 4, 3 years)
• BTS — French 2-year technical diploma (Level 5)
• Bachelor (Level 6, 1 year top-up)
• Mastère (Level 7, 1 to 2 years)

Typical week pattern

• 3 days in company, 2 days at school (most BTS / Mastère programmes)
• Or 1 week / 1 week alternation
• 5 weeks of paid holiday per year (under French labour law)

For international applicants

Non-EU students can take part in apprenticeship after the first year of study in France (the visa-renewal step makes this possible). For details, see International apprenticeship.