What are the differences between an "attestation" and a "certificat" for vocational training in France?

Are you planning to take a training course in France, but not sure about what you will earn from it? Some training courses lead to an “attestation de formation professionnelle” and others a “certificat de formation professionnelle”. What are the differences between these two documents? Are they real diplomas? Which types of training lead to a certificate? Which types of training lead to an “attestation”? What credit will they earn you in the eyes of the French government and employers? Read this guide to find the answers to all these questions.

What is an “attestation de formation” ?

An “attestation de formation” is a document issued at the end of a training course. It attests to the learner’s attendance, as well as their acquisition of skills developed during the course. Since 2009, training bodies in France are required to issue this document for vocational training courses (even for short training courses).

Professional training

Who can issue a “certificat de formation”?

The CQP can be awarded by an approved training body or school.

What is a “certificat de formation” worth?

A “certificat de formation” may or may not be registered on the RNCP. If it is not, it is only recognised in the sectors or companies concerned by the training. A professional certificate registered on the RNCP, on the other hand, often makes it possible to obtain ECTS credits. These correspond to the amount of work completed by a learner or student. A "certificat de formation’ with credits therefore attests to a certain level of studies and can be considered to be a diploma.

As we have seen, an “attestation de formation professionnelle” and a “certificat de formation professionnelle” are very different. They are granted following the completion of a “formation qualifiante” (training leading to an “attestation”) or a “formation certifiante” (training leading to a “certificat”), and have different levels of credibility in the eyes of employers. Furthermore, their vocational aims have varying degrees of directness. Training courses leading to an ‘attestation’ are more relevant to people who have already embarked on their careers, whereas those leading to a “certificat” have a wider audience. Is this something that interests you? Please don’t hesitate to contact us to get information on our training courses (concerning attestation or certification, duration, dates and payment methods).