Can I change my course or specialty in high school?

Verified 29 October 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Yes, if you're a high school student, you can change lanes, i.e. you reorient yourself from the general and technological path to the professional path (or vice versa).

You can also change specialty baccalaureate or diploma specialty (delivered by vocational high schools).

Track

You can, under certain conditions, reorient yourself towards the general and technological path or towards the professional path.

The procedures for changing training paths differ from one academy to another.

Any proposed change of direction should be discussed with the teaching team, especially with the principal teacher and the National Education Psychologist.

Get closer to your senior teacher and the Dasen: titleContent to learn more about the procedure to follow.

Who shall I contact

In considering your lane change request, the following criteria are taken into consideration:

  • Your orientation project
  • Your level of education
  • The number of places available.

Your establishment will accompany you in your change of direction.

The head of the establishment can propose you to follow a gateway internship. You can do this internship during school holidays or during the year.

Warning  

If you are a senior, the internship must take place as early as the All Saints' holidays for a change of orientation as early as possible in the year.

During this internship, you can join a class of the envisaged path.

You develop the content, duration and form of the internship with the pedagogical team (head teacher, principal teacher and other teachers) and the National Education Psychologist.

This information is communicated to your parents.

Specialty

If you are in first or in terminal, you can, under conditions, change the specialty of baccalaureate or diploma specialty (issued by vocational high schools).

Any proposed change of direction should be discussed with the teaching team, especially with the principal teacher and the National Education Psychologist.

The application procedure varies depending on whether the reorientation involves a change of school:

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In the same establishment

Your family must send a written request to the head teacher.

The head of the institution has 1 month to answer you.

It makes its decision after consulting the teaching team (main teacher and other teachers).

Who shall I contact

In another institution

Your family must send a written request to Dasen: titleContent.

The latter takes a decision after consulting the head of the host institution.

Who shall I contact

To consider your request for a change of specialty, the following criteria are taken into consideration:

  • Your orientation project
  • Your level of education
  • The number of places available.

Your establishment accompanies you in your change of specialty.

The head of the establishment can propose you to follow a gateway internship.

You can do this internship during school holidays or during the year.

Warning  

If you are a senior, the internship must take place as early as the All Saints' holidays for a change of orientation as early as possible in the year.

During this internship, you can join a class of the envisaged path.

You develop the content, duration and form of the internship with the pedagogical team (head teacher, principal teacher and other teachers) and the National Education Psychologist.

This information is communicated to your parents.

Who can help me?

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