Period of Professionalization in the State Public Service (FPE)

Verified 30 March 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

You are a public official (civil servant or contract worker) and you have a professional project? The period of professionalization can be a solution. It results in the alternation between service (work) and training. In particular, it enables new functions to be performed. It shall intervene at the request of the administration or agent. Its duration varies from 3 to 12 months (one year). We present you the regulations to know.

A period of professionalization consists in alternate :

  • Work (service activity)
  • And training.

The situation differs depending on whether you are a civil servant (incumbent) or a contractor (non-incumbent):

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Public servant

The purpose of the professionalization period is to allow the realization of a professional project aimed at accessing a job:

  • Requiring new skills
  • Or corresponding to different professional activities.

It can also allow you, if you are in activity, to access another body or framework of jobs of the same level and category.

Contractual

The purpose of the professionalization period is to allow the realization of a professional project within a State, territorial or hospital administration.

It also aims to gain access to employment:

  • Requiring new skills
  • Or corresponding to different professional activities.

FYI  

The period of professionalization is adapted to the specificities of the job you are aiming for. It may take place in a different job than the previous assignment.

The period of professionalization may be requested:

  • By you
  • Or by your administration.

Your department head has 2 months for:

  • Accept your request
  • Or reject your request with reasons for its refusal. He must seek the opinion of the HEADING: titleContent.

Yes.

Alone 2% of the total number of staff of the service or division concerned may be admitted during the period of professionalization, unless the administration to which the staff member belongs decides otherwise.

Whether the service matters less than 50 agents, the acceptance of a period of professionalization may be postponed if another agent already benefits from it.

Training can take place in whole or in part out of service time.

They can be tracked as part of the hours earned on your Personal Training Account (PTA), after your written consent.

The period of professionalization lasts 3 to 12 months (one year).

The rules differ depending on whether you are a civil servant (incumbent) or a contractor (non-incumbent):

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Public servant

The implementation of a period of professionalization gives rise to an agreement between you and the administrations concerned.

This Convention defines the following points:

  • Functions for which you are intended
  • Duration of the period of professionalization
  • Qualifications to be acquired
  • Training planned.

The agreement also specifies whether the purpose of the professionalization period is to allow you to to access a new body or framework of jobs. It must then obtain the agreement of the authority or authorities empowered to order the posting and integration into the body or framework of posts of destination.

Contractual

The implementation of a period of professionalization gives rise to an agreement between you and the administrations concerned.

This Convention defines the following points:

  • Functions for which you are intended
  • Duration of the period of professionalization
  • Qualifications to be acquired
  • Training planned.

If you are a public servant, you are activity position in your original body.

Whether you are a civil servant or a contractor, your remuneration is maintained.

The rules differ depending on whether you are a civil servant (incumbent) or a contractor (non-incumbent):

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Public servant

If the purpose of the professionalization period is to allow you to access another body, an evaluation is carried out at the end of the period.

This evaluation:

  • Aims to establish your suitability to occupy the position targeted for your retraining or professional reorientation in the target body
  • Based on a grid of criteria. This grid shall be established on the basis of the competences defined for the desired job in the interdepartmental directory of government trades or the departmental trades directory and on a detailed job description
  • Gives rise to an interview conducted by your supervisor in your reception station.

If you are deemed fit, you are detached in the host body.

After 2 years of secondment, you can ask to be integrated in this body.

Contractual

The period of professionalization offers you the opportunity to change jobs within your administration. If you have a permanent contract, you can also change employers for retraining purposes.