Which medals reward the professional merit of public officials?

Verified 06 February 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

Public officials may not not receive the medal of honor for work.

Other medals recognize the professional merit of public officials specific to their trade or their field of activity.

The information provided below is not not exhaustive. Only medals most often assigned are included.

Tableau - Examples of medals that may be awarded to a public official on the basis of professional merit

Professions

Medal

SNCF Agent

Railway Medal of Honor

Policeman

National Police Medal of Honor

Elected local or public official of local authorities and their institutions

Regional, departmental or communal medal of honor

Personnel in charge of posts and electronic communications, La Poste or France Télécom

Medal of Honor for Post and Telecommunications

Staff of the Prison Service

Medal of Honor of the Prison Service

Staff of the judicial services

Medal of Honor for Judicial Services

Teacher, administrative or inspection body

Academic fins

Professional firefighter

Fire Fighters Medal of Honor

Professional in the health and social field

Medal of Honor for Health and Social Affairs

Civil Aviation and Meteorology

Aeronautics Medal of Honor

Civilian Defense Personnel

Medal of Honor for civilian personnel under the Ministry of Defense

Personnel of the territorial administration of the State

Medal of the territorial administration of the State

Staff of the Ministry of the Interior working in the field of internal security

Internal Security Medal

Please note

The allocation of the medal of honor for health and social affairs is currently suspended. However, persons who have demonstrated services with outstanding or distinguished merit may be eligible to apply to a national order (Legion of Honor or National Order of Merit).

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