I want to be alternating - BTS
Verified 01 janvier 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Your situation
- You are currently doing your studies and you want to continue them in the form of alternance
- You want to prepare a BTS
The Higher Technician Certificate (BTS) is a diploma recognized by the State granting a bac+2 level.
It exists at least 100 BTS. They cover many areas: banking, insurance, accounting, health, social, paramedical, etc.
To take a BTS training in alternation, it is necessary have the bac.
The trainings take place within a Apprenticeship Training Center (CFA) or a high school or a specialized establishment depending on the route.
The recruitment is done mainly on-folder and maintenance. Many institutions also organize written tests to select candidates.
Step-by-step approach
It exists 2 types alternating contracts: the apprenticeship contract and the professionalization contract.
Apprenticeship contract
The apprentice must be elderly at maximum from 29 years of age (30 years minus 1 day).
There's no no maximum age in the following cases:
- Apprentice recognized disabled worker
- Apprentice planning to start or take over a company that involves graduation
- Apprentice registered as a top sportsman
- An apprentice who has not graduated and enters into a new contract with another employer to take the exam again.
Contract of professionalization
The professionalization contract is addressed to the following persons:
- Youth of 16 to 25 years of age (26 years minus one day) to complete their initial training
- Youth of 26 to 25 years of age (26 years minus one day) leaving the school system without qualifications
- Youth of 16 to 25 years of age (26 years minus one day) registered for more than 1 year on the list of job seekers
- Jobseeker at least 26 years of age
- Person who perceives the RSA: titleContent
- Person who perceives theASS: titleContent
- Person who perceives theAAH: titleContent
- Person coming out of a CUI.
He is not not possible to sign a professionalization contract with an administration. One exception: it is possible with a Epic: titleContent.
The Parcoursup website offers more than 9,000 BTS trainings by work-study program :
If the candidate for the alternation plans to sign a apprenticeship contract, it must register on Parcoursup :
The site Parcoursup presents how institutions review applicationsand a frequently asked questions about learning.
FYI
If the candidate for the alternation plans to sign a professionalization contract, it has not to apply on Parcoursup. You must register directly with the institution. Only work-study courses under apprenticeship contracts are available on Parcoursup.
In the private sector
The site The good alternation allows to know the companies who recruit :
Find a company that recruits on a work-study basis
Some fairs dedicated to work-study take place throughout the country and allow to meet companies who recruit.
Besides, he's possible to send an application spontaneously (CV and cover letter) to a company, even if they do not post work-study offers.
In the public service
If you are looking for a apprenticeship contract (and not a contract of professionalization), the site pass.fonction-publique.gouv.fr allows to know the offers proposed by the administrations (public functions of State, territorial and hospital):
The rules vary depending on the type of contract:
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Apprenticeship contract
The apprenticeship contract is a contract written.
It shall contain particulars mandatory, in particular:
- Name and surname of employer (or name of company)
- Staff of the company
- Diploma or title prepared by the apprentice
- Salary due for each year of contract or apprenticeship period
- Surname, first name and date of birth of the teacher
- Certificate from the employer stating that the apprenticeship master meets the professional competence requirements
- Conditions for the deduction of benefits in kind.
It shall be concluded using the form cerfa n°10103.
The contract is signed by the employer and the apprentice (and by sound legal representative, if the apprentice is a minor).
One copy is given to the apprentice, the other is kept by the employer.
If the employer is a ascending of the minor apprentice, a declaration may replace the contract. This declaration is a simple document prepared by the employer. It specifies the commitments of the parties (duration of the contract, salary...). It is the equivalent of the apprenticeship contract. It must be signed by the apprentice and the director of the CFA: titleContent .
Contract of professionalization
The professionalization contract must be written. It may be concluded in FIXED-TERM CONTRACT: titleContent or in DTA: titleContent.
It shall be established using the form cerfa no. 12434.
The contract shall appoint a guardian and shall include the following information:
- Nature of the contract (fixed-term or fixed-term)
- Job held
- Working time
- Salary
- Professionalization measures specifically envisaged.
The contract may provide for trial period.
He doesn't can't include deductibility clause.
FYI
A detailed description of the associated training and of the training organization concerned shall be annexed to the contract.
As soon as the trainee has signed an apprenticeship contract, he must transmit as quickly as possible on Parcoursup to receive the final offer of admission on training.
Reminder
If the future student wishes to continue your studies with a professionalization contract, it has not to use Parcoursup.
One simulator estimates the amount of remuneration:
Estimate the salary of an employee on an apprenticeship or professionalization contract
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Apprenticeship contract
The apprentice shall receive remuneration corresponding to a percentage of the Smic: titleContent which varies according to age and progression in the training cycle.
Situation | 16 to 17 years | 18-20 years | 21-25 years | 26 years and older |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1re year | 27% of the minimum wage, or €492.22 | 43% of the minimum wage, or €783.90 | The highest wage between 53% of the minimum wage, i.e €966.21 and 53% of the conventional minimum wage corresponding to the employment held during the apprenticeship contract. | 100% of the minimum wage Highest salary between Smic: titleContent(€1,823.03) and the conventional minimum wage corresponding to the employment held during the apprenticeship contract. |
2e year | 39% of the minimum wage, or €710.98 | 51% of the minimum wage, or €929.75 | The highest wage between 61% of the minimum wage, i.e €1,112.05 and 61% of the conventional minimum wage corresponding to the employment held during the apprenticeship contract. | 100% of the minimum wage Highest salary between Smic: titleContent(€1,823.03) and the conventional minimum wage corresponding to the employment held during the apprenticeship contract. |
3e year | 55% of the minimum wage, or €1,002.67 | 67% of the minimum wage, or €1,221.43 | The highest wage between 78% of the minimum wage, i.e€1,421.97 and 78% of the conventional minimum wage corresponding to the employment held during the apprenticeship contract. | 100% of the minimum wage Highest salary between Smic: titleContent(€1,823.03) and the conventional minimum wage corresponding to the employment held during the apprenticeship contract. |
These amounts may be increased if collective agreement applicable in the company sets a higher minimum remuneration.
Deductions for benefits in kind (food or accommodation) provided for in the apprenticeship contract may be made up to 75% of salary.
The apprentice is entitled to coverage of its transport costs to get from home to work.
The conditions of pay for overtime shall be those applicable to the staff of the company concerned.
Contract of professionalization
Alternate at less than 21 years
The minimum monthly gross remuneration shall be 55% of Smic: titleContent, or currently €1,002.67.
In the event of a change in the course of a contract from the age of 20 to 21, the remuneration shall be increased from 1er day of the month following the anniversary date.
Alternate is at least 21 years old, but less than 26 years old
The minimum monthly gross remuneration shall be 70% of the SMIC, currently €1,276.13.
Please note
The transition from 25 to 26 years during the contract does not increase the remuneration of the employee.
Alternate is at least 26 years old
The minimum monthly gross remuneration shall be Smic: titleContent, or currently €1,823.03.
This amount should be compared to 85% the minimum wage laid down in the collective agreements of a branch or company (conventional minimum wage).
The situation varies according to the type of contract:
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Apprenticeship contract
The apprentice benefits from same rights as other employees of the company. It cannot be excluded from the general provisions of a collective agreement, of a company agreement, of a usage or an undertaking by the employer, if it fulfills the conditions for granting it.
Example :
The apprentice must be entitled to a holiday bonus provided for in the collective agreement, which applies to all employees of the company.
The apprentice is a voter and eligible to participate in staff representative bodies, if he/she meets the conditions.
Paid leave
The apprentice is entitled to paid leave legal, that is to say 5 weeks of paid leave per year. The employer has the right to decide on the period during which the apprentice can take his leave.
If the apprentice is under 21 years of age on April 30 of the previous year, additional leave without pay, up to 30 working days per year. The age requirement shall be reviewed on 30 April of the year preceding the application.
Leave for Examination
For the preparation of his tests, the apprentice is entitled to an additional leave of 5 working days in the month preceding them. These days are in addition to paid leave and are paid.
Other leave
The apprentice has an exceptional leave of absence of 1 day to participate in the defense and citizenship day. This absence does not result in a loss of salary.
Medical visits at the time of hiring
The apprentice benefits from a information and prevention visit (VIP) as part of his hiring. It must take place in the 2 months who follow the hiring.
Where the apprentice is a minor or work at night, this information and prevention visit must take place before he was hired.
If the apprentice is assigned to regulated work, one medical examination for suitability for employment must be carried out by the occupational physician before the assignment to the position.
Other medical examinations
The apprentice also benefits from periodic visits and recovery visit after a work stoppage.
Contract of professionalization
The employee commits to work on behalf of his employer and follow the training provided for in the contract.
He enjoys the same rights as other company employees.
He cannot not be excluded general provisions of a collective agreement, a company agreement, a usage or an undertaking by the employer, if it fulfills the conditions for granting it.
The employee is a voter and eligible for election to the staff representative bodies, if he meets the conditions.
Paid leave
The employee enjoys the same rights as other employees with regard to the acquisition of working days paid leave.
Periods in a training center shall be taken into account in calculating the accrual of paid leave.
Please note
Leave is taken outside the training periods. The employer can decide on the period during which the employee takes his leave.
Specific leave
An employee on a professional contract is entitled to the same leave as other employees of the company.
The right to leave differs according to the length of service of the employee in the company.
Without seniority requirement
- Leave for family events (Civil partnerships, marriage, birth of a child or arrival of a child placed for adoption, death of a relative, announcement of the onset of disability in children)
- Leave related to the arrival of a child at home (absences for medical examinations during pregnancy, on maternity leave, of adoption, paternity)
- Leave related to illness and disability of the child (absences for sick child or parental attendance leave)
- Leave related to a serious illness of a relative (family solidarity leave or caregiver leave)
With seniority condition
Medical visits
At the time of hiring, the employer must organize a information and prevention visit or a medical examination for suitability for employment.
The employee also benefits from periodic visits and resumption visit after a work stoppage.
An alternate may benefit various forms of aid : scholarships, assistance for housing, transportation, meals, health, etc. They vary according to age.
The rules vary depending on the type of contract:
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Apprenticeship contract
The procedure varies depending on whether the contract is terminated before or after the first 45 days of hands-on training in the company:
In the first 45 days
The contract can be broken in writing by the employer or by the apprentice.
This rupture must occur before the end of 45 first days of practical training in the company, even if they are not consecutive.
After 45 days
The contract may be terminated after 45 days and in writing in any of the following cases:
- Joint agreement between employer and apprentice
- By the apprentice who must first grasp the mediator. He then informs his employer after a minimum period of 5 calendar days. The termination of the contract takes place after a minimum period of 7 calendar days after informing the employer.
- By the apprentice who graduates before the end initially fixed provided that he informs his employer in writing 1 month in advance. The break cannot take place before the day following the date of publication of the results.
- By the employer for gross misconduct, incapacity, force majeure and final exclusion of the apprentice from the CFA, in accordance with the dismissal on personal grounds
- In the event of the death of a master employer of a single-person company in accordance with the dismissal on personal grounds.
Following the termination of his contract, the apprentice who has not found a new employer can continue his theoretical training for 6 months in CFA. In this case, he/she shall have the status of vocational training trainee. It retains its social rights.
Contract of professionalization
The rules for termination of the contract vary depending on whether the professionalization contract is in FIXED-TERM CONTRACT: titleContent or in DTA: titleContent.
FIXED-TERM CONTRACT
The fixed-term contract ends either because it is coming to an end or because it is subject to an early termination.
The professionalization contract is subject to the rules of break of the CDD.
FYI
The termination indemnity (or precariousness indemnity) is not due.
DTA
The contract may be terminated under the terms of the CDI: termination at the initiative of the employer or employee.
The situation varies according to the type of contract:
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Apprenticeship contract
In the event of an agreement between the apprentice, the employer and the CFA, the contract may be extended for a maximum of one year to allow repetition in the event of failure to obtain the diploma or reorientation. In this case, the applicable minimum wage shall be that corresponding to the last year preceding that extension.
Contract of professionalization
The professionalization contract fixed-term can be renewed once with the same employer if the alternate failed the exam.
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Ministry of Higher Education and Research
Ministry of Higher Education and Research
Ministry of Higher Education and Research
Ministry of Higher Education and Research
Ministry of Higher Education and Research
Ministry of Higher Education and Research