To become a teacher, assess the training and access routes, but also to understand the organization of middle schools and high schools, follow this guide and discover the other skills in education, those who contribute to ensuring good living conditions for students, for students… and their teachers!
Schools and high schools are institutions known as local public educational establishments (EPLE). As in primary school, the dominant profession in these two institutions is that of teacher: teachers do not work alone but are surrounded by a team whose size varies according to the establishment.
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Regardless of their category or the sector to which they belong — administrative, technical, teaching, management, health and social… —, the agents are tasked with ensuring that students study in the best possible conditions. Take stock of the role of others.
Technical Assistant of Educational Establishments (ATTEE) — Category C
As in primary schools, category C territorial agents are employed to control reception (information, access control, message transmission…), maintenance and upkeep of premises and unfinished surfaces. They may be called upon to organize, coordinate, and execute the work of workers or technicians, depending on their qualifications.
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Territorial technical assistants of the 2nd class are recruited without a competitive exam (based on a cover letter, resume, and interview) while the 1st class territorial technical assistants are recruited through a competitive exam — external (CAP-BEP level), internal, and third competition or after registration on an eligibility list.
The recruitment is carried out by departmental local authorities for middle school students and regional authorities for high schools.
For more information on the missions, recruitment conditions, and remuneration of technical assistants, see Becoming a Territorial Technical Assistant in Educational Establishments and Becoming a Territorial Technical Assistant.
Administrative Assistant of National Education and Higher Education (ADJAENES) — Category C
For the proper functioning of middle schools and high schools, administrative staff is essential. Administrative assistants are primarily responsible for simple secretarial or management tasks.
For more information about the profession, recruitment conditions, and remuneration of ADJAENES, see the file Becoming an Administrative Assistant of National Education and Higher Education.
For more information about the events and program of the ADJAENES exam, see Success in the National Education and Higher Education Administrative Assistants Exam.
Administrative Secretary of National Education and Higher Education (SAENES) — Category B
SAENES are recruited through competitive exams (external or internal) of category B (Bac level) for administrative application tasks: writing, accounting, control, and analysis.
For more information on the profession, competition, and remuneration of SAENES, see Becoming an Administrative Secretary (State).
Secondary School and College Teacher — Category A
All teaching staff leave the State civil service. Regardless of the level you wish to teach, you will generally need a master’s degree (Bac +5 in a teaching subject) or an equivalent diploma to participate in a category A competitive exam. In some cases, no diploma will be required.
Several competitive exams are presented to you:
- The certificate of aptitude for teaching in the second degree (CAPES for teaching in high school and middle school).
- Certificate of aptitude for teaching in private secondary schools under contract (CAFEP for private education, which is the same exam as CAPES, corrected by the same jury).
- The certificate of aptitude for the chair of physical education and sports (CAPEPS for teaching physical education and sports).
- The certificate of aptitude for the chair of technical education (CAPET for teaching in technical high schools).
- The certificate of aptitude for the position of professional high school teacher (CAPLP for teaching in vocational high schools): the courses offered, access conditions, and tests for this exam are specified on the site be enseignant.gouv.fr.
- The certificate of aptitude to teach in the second degree, particularly in post-baccalaureate classes (although about 15% of candidates are assigned each year to middle school): it is obtained through a very selective exam accessible, also, with a master’s degree. The grid is higher and the number of weekly teaching hours is lower than that of certified students.
- The third competition: it is reserved for candidates without a diploma but with some years of professional experience.
Successfully passing one of the competitive exams listed above remains the best way to enter national education. The successful candidates, after a year of training, enter the civil service at a level with the status of civil servants and all the benefits attached to it.
But other possibilities exist. You can become:
- Student apprentice teacher (EAP): this system allows young students, since early 2015, to benefit from professional training and alternating training.
- Replacement teacher: replacement teachers (contractual in the public sector, substitutes in the private sector) are most often candidates who have succeeded in one of the teacher exams. These positions, precarious and temporary, allow you to “get your foot in” education.
- Contractual instructor: If public secondary institutions have very little flexibility to mobilize external instructors, private schools and universities can offer educational opportunities, occasional or regular, in specific subjects. Even though there are needs in baccalaureate classes, higher education is more particularly concerned (preparatory courses, BTS, university courses). Technical materials are highly sought after such as engineering sciences, food industry, plumbing… The title “teacher” being, in principle, these positions, which are available for competition winners, take different names: course or conference leaders, trainers, etc. To search for this type of position, it is necessary to contact each institution directly.
- Teacher in an apprentice training center (CFA): Consular bodies, such as chambers of industry and chambers of commerce, recruit many positions for CFA each year. The access conditions are less stringent than in national education and allow for the accumulation of craft activity.
Teacher in SEGPA or ULIS — Category A
In many middle schools, a SEGPA (Section for Adapted General and Vocational Education) is attached to the establishment. It welcomes students from sixth to third who present serious and lasting school difficulties. There may also be ULIS (Localized School Inclusion Unit) welcoming disabled students.
Intervening in these structures are teachers holding 1st and 2nd degree CAPPEI (certificate of professional aptitude for inclusive school practices) which has replaced since early 2017 the CAPA-SH (certificate of professional aptitude for specific assistance, adapted teaching, and the schooling of disabled students) and the 2CA-SH (full certificate for adapted teaching and the schooling of disabled students).
Documentary Teacher — Category A
Each establishment has a CDI, a documentation and information center. It is the documentary teachers who are in charge of it. They belong to the category of teaching staff. They maintain close relationships with other teachers to best meet their needs and those of the students.
In charge of their CDI, they are responsible for initiating studies in documentary research, but also for maintaining relationships with the outside (national center for educational documentation, other institutions…) and exploiting the press to make it available to students and to stimulate their curiosity.
The recruitment (under the same conditions as other CAPES) is done through a competitive exam called CAPES of documentation which is prepared in ESPE.
Principal Education Advisor (CPE) — Category A
Principal education advisors (CPE) are responsible for the functioning of the establishment through the organization of school life.
They promote dialogue with the various actors in school life, including students. They are generally a privileged interlocutor for parents and students (for reasons of absences, they differ with a teacher…). With the help of educational assistants and supervisory staff (contractual), they ensure respect for all and the application of the internal regulations.
The recruitment of CPE is done through an external or internal competitive exam that can be prepared in one of the higher schools of teachers and education (ESPE).
For more information on DEC assignments, recruitment conditions, and remuneration, consult the sheet Becoming a Principal Education Advisor.
National Education Psychologist (PsyEN) — Category A
Even though documentary teachers provide information on orientation, they are not specialists in the subject, but this is the case for national education psychologists (PsyEN) of the 2nd degree, formerly called orientation and psychology advisors. Holding a master’s degree in psychology, they passed the PsyEN exam in the specialty “Education, development, and guidance counseling in school and professional orientation.”
They are attached to a guidance and information center (CIO) and are involved in several schools.
In schools, they hold, on average, one day per week, where they receive students (sometimes with their parents) to help them develop and implement their professional project. They lead information events as well as educational activity programs on orientation.
At the CIO, they welcome the public, regardless of age, to inform them. It is therefore essential to always be aware of training and education.
For more information on the missions of the CEP, recruitment conditions, and remuneration, consult Becoming a National Education Psychologist.
For more information on the events and program of the COP exam, consult the successful national education psychologists competition sheet.
Steward Manager — Category A
The steward manager is responsible for the material and financial management of the establishment. He is the one who directs the administrative, union, and service staff. He is recruited after successfully passing a competitive exam:
- from Regional Institutes of Administration (IRA),
- or Attaché of the National Education and Higher Education Administration (ADAENES, Bac +3).
When the director is not responsible for the accounting of the establishment, it is often a SAENES (Administrative Secretary of National Education and Higher Education) who collects revenues and pays expenses.
For more information on the profession and the manager’s competition, read Christophe’s testimony: “I passed the competition for Attaché of the National Education and Higher Education Administration.”
Nurse and Social Worker — Category A
Among the other professionals who may be present in middle and secondary schools, we mention the nurse and the social services assistant who may be present full-time or part-time in the establishment. They play a very important role in the educational community.
For more information on the nursing profession and training, see Becoming a Nurse.
For more information on the profession and training of social services assistants, see Becoming a Social Services Assistant.
Head of Establishment — Category A
The management staff of middle and secondary schools consists of several different types: the high school principal, the middle school principal, and their assistants. Recruitment is done through competitive exams and a number of positions are set each year. The exam is open to individuals with five years of effective service as staff.
After successfully passing the exam, one usually starts as a deputy principal, and after three years of practice, one becomes a principal in another institution, and after a few years, one can apply as a deputy principal and finish their career as a principal.
The head of establishment is the representative of the State. He is the one who directs the establishment and executes the budget voted by the board of directors. He is also responsible for the safety of people and property. He must preside over the board meetings that meet at least three times a year.
He can delegate certain competencies to his deputy in agreement with him. The functions of the deputies are defined in a mission letter that the head of establishment sends to the rector as the evaluation of deputies and heads of establishment falls under the competencies of regular pedagogical inspectors.
In technological and vocational high schools, a teacher may take on the role of head of employment to coordinate the teams involved in workshops.
Useful links:
Working in primary schools: all professions
Working in higher education: all professions
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Tag: the profession of primary school teacher