JOIN THE TERRITORIAL CIVIL SERVICE
Entrance by written exam
The usual way to join the territorial civil service is by exam organized by the CNFPT. External exams are open to candidates having a given diploma. There are three categories and a specific diploma is required for an external exam.
Internal exams are open to civil servants who already have a certain level of experience in the civil service. For certain careers, a third exam is open to people who have experience as a local elected official, manager of an association or a certain amount of professional experience in the private sector.
Entrance without an exam
It is possible to join the civil service without an exam. Certain career categories are filled by direct recruitment by regional and local authorities.
Such authorities can also recruit people without an exam if a temporary employee is required to replace a civil servant, seasonal or occasional employee for up to six months in the event of an exceptional requirement.
WRITTEN EXAMS
Eligibility
All European citizens are eligible to sit an written exam if they have the necessary qualifications. Each career category is accessible via a specific written exam. There are different types of exam:
external, internal and third exam. Assessment is different for each exam. The exams are usually organized in two parts. The first part is the written assessment, followed by an oral examination a few months later. Exam results are forwarded to the candidate by mail.
Passing an exam does not guarantee a job. Once a candidate has passed an exam he or she may look for a job in a regional or local authority during the validity of the exam.
Exam preparation
The CNFPT offers different methods to help candidates prepare for an exam.
There are exam preparation sessions open to current territorial civil servants. The CNFPT also publishes books for exam candidates so they can study. These books can be consulted in the 29 regional delegations and four national schools in France.
There are also study guides available for candidates.
The previous exams are available online and can be consulted by candidates in order to prepare for the exam.
Checking results
The results of the exams and professional exams organized by the CNFPT are available online after the decision has been made by the panellists.
A letter will be sent to candidates to confirm the result.
After the exam
Passing an exam does not guarantee a job. Therefore, the candidate should look for a job with regional and local authorities during the validity of the exam.
Career and Training
Territorial Civil Service career organization and development
The CNFPT offers a variety of services to help employees throughout their career. Life-long training is available for all employees. Employees can also take part in exam preparation
sessions organized by the CNFPT in order to prepare for upcoming exams.
Employees are allowed to change job and service within the same regional or local authority. They are also allowed to change employer and regional or local authority.