Can a contractor benefit from therapeutic part-time work?
Verified 11 August 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)
Yes, if your state of health warrants it, you may be allowed to work part-time for therapeutic reasons when this allows you to remain or return to work. The rules vary according to your public service (state - EPF, territorial - FPT, hospital - FPH). Here is the information you need to know.
EPF
You may be allowed to work part-time for therapeutic reasons if you are in one the following situations:
- Part-time work allows you to holding or your back to work and is recognized as can help improve your health
- Part-time work allows you to benefit from a rehabilitation or a vocational rehabilitation to find a job compatible with your health.
Part-time work for therapeutic reasons may occur as soon as your state of health warrants it, at the end of a sick leave or without you having been on sick leave before.
Part-time work for therapeutic reasons cannot not be less than half-time.
You can apply to work part-time at 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90% full-time.
Authorization to work part-time for therapeutic reasons shall be granted and renewed in the one-year limit.
You must send your employer to your administration application for authorization part-time work for therapeutic reasons.
Your application must be accompanied by a medical certificate containing the following information:
- Desired amount of part-time (50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90%)
- Desired duration of part-time period up to one year
- Conditions for part-time work (continuous or discontinuous, in days or half-days not worked or in the form of a daily reduction in working hours).
The application for renewal of the authorization to work part-time for therapeutic reasons shall be made in the same way.
Upon receipt of your request, your employer administration may submit you to an examination by a certified physician.
An approved doctor is a general practitioner or specialist appearing on a list drawn up, in each department, by the prefect, on a proposal from the French regional health authority, after consulting the Departmental Council of the Order of Doctors. The role of a certified physician is to carry out counter-visits and expert assessments.
In the event of an unjustified absence from this medical examination, you are considered to be waiving your request for part-time work for therapeutic reasons.
You and your employer authority may challenge the findings of a licensed physician before the medical advice sitting in a restricted formation.
Where the application for part-time work for therapeutic reasons is submitted at the end of a period of sick leave, of severe illness or after a leave for accident at work or occupational disease , the decision of the administration shall take place at the latest on the day of your resumption.
The same shall apply in the case of an application for renewal of the authorization.
In other cases, the decision is made no later than 30 days from the date of receipt of your request by your administration.
The refusal by your employer administration of a 1re request for part-time work for therapeutic reasons or a request for renewal must be justified.
Similarly, an interruption by your employer administration of your authorization to work part-time for therapeutic reasons must be justified.
Where the refusal or interruption of part-time work for therapeutic reasons is based on service requirements, the decision of the administration must be preceded by an interview during which you can be assisted by a person of your choice.
Where the decision to refuse or discontinue part-time work for therapeutic reasons is based on medical grounds, your employer administration must obtain the prior opinion of a certified doctor.
Your employer administration may, at your request :
- Change your part-time work rate before the expected end date of the current period
- Terminate your part-time work before the scheduled date.
In these 2 cases, you must attach a medical certificate to your application.
Your employer administration may also, at your request, terminate your part-time work before the scheduled date if you have been on medical leave for more than 30 consecutive days.
Please note
The occupational physician shall be informed of requests for part-time work for therapeutic reasons and of authorizations granted.
Your administration may submit to you at any time to one examination by a certified physician.
In case of refusal to submit, your authorization to work part-time for therapeutic reasons is interrupted.
You and your employer authority may challenge the findings of a licensed physician before the medical advice sitting in a restricted formation.
If you are authorized to work part-time for therapeutic reasons at the time of referral to the medical council, this authorization shall be extended until the medical council has given its opinion.
You perceive a fraction of your index treatment, your premiums and allowances,'residence allowance and the family treatment supplement (FTS).
This fraction varies according to your part-time work ratio:
Amount of part-time work | Fraction of remuneration |
|---|---|
50% | 50% |
60% | 60% |
70% | 70% |
80% | 6/7e |
90% | 32/35e |
If you only have one child, your SFT remains the same.
If you have multiple children, your part-time SFT cannot be less than the minimum amount of the SFT paid to an agent with the same number of children and working full-time either:
- €77.71 for 2 children
- €194.03 for 3 children
- €138.66 per additional child.
Your reduced remuneration is supplemented by daily allowances from the Social Security.
The partial reimbursement of the public transit ticket that you use to perform your commuting rest identical.
Your annual leave and RTT entitlements are identical to those of any part-time staff member.
Your part-time period for therapeutic reasons is interrupted if you are placed on leave of absence maternity or of adoption, in additional birth leave or in paternity and childcare leave.
If you were already part-time for another reason before obtaining authorization to work part-time for therapeutic reasons, your previous part-time is terminated.
You cannot no overtime during your part-time period for therapeutic reasons.
During your part-time period for therapeutic reasons, you can request permission to take a course that is incompatible with part-time.
You must, in this case, justify by a medical certificate that this training is compatible with your state of health.
During the training, your authorization to work part-time for therapeutic reasons is suspended and you are restored to the rights of full-time staff (in particular as regards remuneration).
FPT
You may be allowed to work part-time for therapeutic reasons if you are in one the following situations:
- Part-time work allows you to holding or your back to work and is recognized as can help improve your health
- Part-time work allows you to benefit from a rehabilitation or a vocational rehabilitation to find a job compatible with your health.
Part-time work for therapeutic reasons may occur as soon as your state of health warrants it, at the end of a sick leave or without you having been on sick leave before.
Part-time work for therapeutic reasons cannot not be less than half-time.
You can apply to work part-time at 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90% full-time.
If you have 1 or more non-full-time jobs, your therapeutic part-time work rate is set based on your weekly work rate in the job or jobs you hold.
If you work in these jobs in multiple communities, the therapeutic part-time work share is distributed among these jobs by the territorial authorities.
In the event of disagreement on this allocation, the proportion of part-time work shall be allocated in proportion to the working time of each job occupied.
Authorization to work part-time for therapeutic reasons shall be granted and renewed in the one-year limit.
You must send your employer to your administration application for authorization part-time work for therapeutic reasons.
Your application must be accompanied by a medical certificate containing the following information:
- Desired amount of part-time (50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90%)
- Desired duration of part-time period up to one year
- Conditions for part-time work (continuous or discontinuous, in days or half-days not worked or in the form of a daily reduction in working hours).
The application for renewal of the authorization to work part-time for therapeutic reasons shall be made in the same way.
Upon receipt of your request, your employer administration may submit you to an examination by a certified physician.
An approved doctor is a general practitioner or specialist appearing on a list drawn up, in each department, by the prefect, on a proposal from the French regional health authority, after consulting the Departmental Council of the Order of Doctors. The role of a certified physician is to carry out counter-visits and expert assessments.
In the event of an unjustified absence from this medical examination, you are considered to be waiving your request for part-time work for therapeutic reasons.
You and your employer authority may challenge the findings of a licensed physician before the medical advice sitting in a restricted formation.
Where the application for part-time work for therapeutic reasons is submitted at the end of a period of sick leave, of severe illness or after a leave for accident at work or occupational disease , the decision of the administration shall take place at the latest on the day of your resumption.
The same shall apply in the case of an application for renewal of the authorization.
In other cases, the decision is made no later than 30 days from the date of receipt of your request by your administration.
The refusal by your employer administration of a 1re request for part-time work for therapeutic reasons or a request for renewal must be justified.
Similarly, an interruption by your employer administration of your authorization to work part-time for therapeutic reasons must be justified.
Where the refusal or interruption of part-time work for therapeutic reasons is based on service requirements, the decision of the administration must be preceded by an interview during which you can be assisted by a person of your choice.
Where the decision to refuse or discontinue part-time work for therapeutic reasons is based on medical grounds, your employer administration must obtain the prior opinion of a certified doctor.
Your employer administration may, at your request :
- Change your part-time work rate before the expected end date of the current period
- Terminate your part-time work before the scheduled date.
In these 2 cases, you must attach a medical certificate to your application.
Your employer administration may also, at your request, terminate your part-time work before the scheduled date if you have been on medical leave for more than 30 consecutive days.
Please note
The occupational physician shall be informed of requests for part-time work for therapeutic reasons and of authorizations granted.
Your administration may submit to you at any time to one examination by a certified physician.
In case of refusal to submit, your authorization to work part-time for therapeutic reasons is interrupted.
You and your employer authority may challenge the findings of a licensed physician before the medical advice sitting in a restricted formation.
If you are authorized to work part-time for therapeutic reasons at the time of referral to the medical council, this authorization shall be extended until the medical council has given its opinion.
You perceive a fraction of your index treatment, your premiums and allowances,'residence allowance and the family treatment supplement (FTS).
This fraction varies according to your part-time work ratio:
Amount of part-time work | Fraction of remuneration |
|---|---|
50% | 50% |
60% | 60% |
70% | 70% |
80% | 6/7e |
90% | 32/35e |
If you only have one child, your SFT remains the same.
If you have multiple children, your part-time SFT cannot be less than the minimum amount of the SFT paid to an agent with the same number of children and working full-time either:
- €77.71 for 2 children
- €194.03 for 3 children
- €138.66 per additional child.
Your reduced remuneration is supplemented by daily allowances from the Social Security.
The partial reimbursement of the public transit ticket that you use to perform your commuting home - work rest identical.
Your annual leave and RTT entitlements are identical those of any part-time staff member.
If you have 1 or more non-full-time jobs, your annual leave entitlements are calculated in proportion to the length of time you work in each job.
Your part-time period for therapeutic reasons is interrupted if you are placed on leave of absence maternity or of adoption, in additional birth leave or in paternity and childcare leave.
If you were already part-time for another reason before obtaining authorization to work part-time for therapeutic reasons, your previous part-time is terminated.
You cannot no overtime during your part-time period for therapeutic reasons.
During your part-time period for therapeutic reasons, you can request permission to take a course that is incompatible with part-time.
You must, in this case, justify by a medical certificate that this training is compatible with your state of health.
During the training, your authorization to work part-time for therapeutic reasons is suspended and you are restored to the rights of full-time civil servants (in particular with regard to annual leave).
FPH
You may be allowed to work part-time for therapeutic reasons if you are in one the following situations:
- Part-time work allows you to holding or your back to work and is recognized as can help improve your health
- Part-time work allows you to benefit from a rehabilitation or a vocational rehabilitation to find a job compatible with your health.
Part-time work for therapeutic reasons may occur as soon as your state of health warrants it, at the end of a sick leave or without you having been on sick leave before.
Part-time work for therapeutic reasons cannot not be less than half-time.
You can apply to work part-time at 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90% full-time.
Authorization to work part-time for therapeutic reasons shall be granted and renewed in the one-year limit.
You must send your employer to your administration application for authorization part-time work for therapeutic reasons.
Your application must be accompanied by a medical certificate containing the following information:
- Desired amount of part-time (50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90%)
- Desired duration of part-time period up to one year
- Conditions for part-time work (continuous or discontinuous, in days or half-days not worked or in the form of a daily reduction in working hours).
The application for renewal of the authorization to work part-time for therapeutic reasons shall be made in the same way.
Upon receipt of your request, your employer administration may submit you to an examination by a certified physician.
An approved doctor is a general practitioner or specialist appearing on a list drawn up, in each department, by the prefect, on a proposal from the French regional health authority, after consulting the Departmental Council of the Order of Doctors. The role of a certified physician is to carry out counter-visits and expert assessments.
In the event of an unjustified absence from this medical examination, you are considered to be waiving your request for part-time work for therapeutic reasons.
You and your employer authority may challenge the findings of a licensed physician before the medical advice sitting in a restricted formation.
Where the application for part-time work for therapeutic reasons is submitted at the end of a period of sick leave, of severe illness or after a leave for accident at work or occupational disease , the decision of the administration shall take place at the latest on the day of your resumption.
The same shall apply in the case of an application for renewal of the authorization.
In other cases, the decision is made no later than 30 days from the date of receipt of your request by your administration.
The refusal by your employer administration of a 1re request for part-time work for therapeutic reasons or a request for renewal must be justified.
Similarly, an interruption by your employer administration of your authorization to work part-time for therapeutic reasons must be justified.
Where the refusal or interruption of part-time work for therapeutic reasons is based on service requirements, the decision of the administration must be preceded by an interview during which you can be assisted by a person of your choice.
Where the decision to refuse or discontinue part-time work for therapeutic reasons is based on medical grounds, your employer administration must obtain the prior opinion of a certified doctor.
Your employer administration may, at your request :
- Change your part-time work rate before the expected end date of the current period
- Terminate your part-time work before the scheduled date.
In these 2 cases, you must attach a medical certificate to your application.
Your employer administration may also, at your request, terminate your part-time work before the scheduled date if you have been on medical leave for more than 30 consecutive days.
Please note
The occupational physician shall be informed of requests for part-time work for therapeutic reasons and of authorizations granted.
Your administration may submit to you at any time to one examination by a certified physician.
In case of refusal to submit, your authorization to work part-time for therapeutic reasons is interrupted.
You and your employer authority may challenge the findings of a licensed physician before the medical advice sitting in a restricted formation.
If you are authorized to work part-time for therapeutic reasons at the time of referral to the medical council, this authorization shall be extended until the medical council has given its opinion.
You perceive a fraction of your index treatment, your premiums and allowances,'residence allowance and the family treatment supplement (FTS).
This fraction varies according to your part-time work ratio:
Amount of part-time work | Fraction of remuneration |
|---|---|
50% | 50% |
60% | 60% |
70% | 70% |
80% | 6/7e |
90% | 32/35e |
If you only have one child, your SFT remains the same.
If you have multiple children, your part-time SFT cannot be less than the minimum amount of the SFT paid to an agent with the same number of children and working full-time either:
- €77.71 for 2 children
- €194.03 for 3 children
- €138.66 per additional child.
Your reduced remuneration is supplemented by daily allowances from the Social Security.
The partial reimbursement of the public transit ticket that you use to perform your commuting rest identical.
Your annual leave and RTT entitlements are identical to those of any part-time staff member.
Your part-time period for therapeutic reasons is interrupted if you are placed on leave of absence maternity or of adoption, in additional birth leave or in paternity and childcare leave.
If you were already part-time for another reason before obtaining authorization to work part-time for therapeutic reasons, your previous part-time is terminated.
You cannot no overtime during your part-time period for therapeutic reasons.
During your part-time period for therapeutic reasons, you can request permission to take a course that is incompatible with part-time.
You must, in this case, justify by a medical certificate that this training is compatible with your state of health.
During the training, your authorization to work part-time for therapeutic reasons is suspended and you are restored to the rights of full-time staff (in particular as regards remuneration).
Articles 23-1, 23-2, 23-3 1st paragraph, 23-8 to 23-13
Articles 13-1, 13-2 1st paragraph, 13-7 to 13-12
Articles 13-1, 13-2 1st paragraph, 13-7 to 13-10, 13-12, 13-13
Article L323-3
Remuneration by the CPAM
Ministry in charge of the Civil Service