All employees and job seekers over 16 can benefit from the personal training account from the start of their working life until retirement. These rights can be used throughout professional life. Thus, in order to be able to follow certified training, a job seeker can mobilize his CPF. Find out everything you need to know about this tool for securing career paths.

What is a personal training account and what is it used for?

The CPF or more precisely the personal training account is a means that allows you to develop and professionalize your skills. In other words, the personal training account allows any active person to acquire training rights.

The recent reform of vocational training aims to secure professional paths to prevent and fight unemployment. It involves various modifications, including the personal training account. From 2019, the personal training account is now monetized, credited in euros (and no longer in hours), due to:

  • 500 euros per year for part-time and full-time employees, capped at 5 euros.
  • 800 euros per year for low-skilled employees, capped at 8 euros.

CPF: the implementation of an application that facilitates access to training

Making a first appearance during the second half of 2019, a mobile application allows you to buy your training courses freely and without the intervention of a third party. This service is managed by the Caisse des Dépôts. It allows you to know your rights and to manage your file in total autonomy even in the event of corresponding contributions.

With the application, you will be able to:

  • Know your rights;
  • Find training courses related to your industry;
  • Be able to register without an intermediary and pay online;
  • Consult integration into the labor market at the end of the training;
  • View and write comments on each training session.

Who is concerned ?

All workers aged 16 and over, regardless of their status (private sector employees, job seekers, public or independent agents and retirees). The rights to these accounts are acquired and can be used throughout your life to train you, even in the event of a change of company or loss of employment.

What can your CPF finance?

Your CPF can help you finance:

  • Your professional training;
  • A skills assessment;
  • Light vehicle driver's license;
  • Support for the creation of a business;
  • Obtaining a certification or an authorization.

Why should you train and which training to choose?

The job search period can be an opportunity to reflect on your career, your skills, your strengths. This is also an opportunity to update your CV to catch the attention of recruiters.

Fluency in English is a skill very often requested by companies. Indeed, the internationalization of trade affects all sectors and all positions, whatever the level of responsibility of the positions. Improving your English skills can therefore be a real plus for your job search.

14 companies and organizations around the world trust the TOEIC tests. They chose these exams for their reliability and to compare English levels to support their recruitment and promotion decisions. Thus, you can completely finance the TOEIC test with your CPF.

Are there different types of CPF?

The answer is yes. During your working life, you will get to know 3 different types of CPF which are:

  • The autonomous CPF at the sole initiative of the person concerned (to be used outside of working hours). Mobilization is free and allows everyone to choose the appropriate training from a catalog offered on the site. With the mobile application, no prior validation and no other administrative procedure will be necessary.
  • The CPF co-built. This is an approach shared between the employer and his employee (to be used outside of working hours or during working time). The objective is to build together, employer and employee, training projects around a common interest. This requires an agreement between the two parties as well as a mobilization of the employee's CPF account.
  • The transition CPF which replaces the Individual Training Leave (CIF). The latter is a training leave to work on his skills with an authorized absence from the job.

Job seekers and CPF: What are your rights?

Whether or not you are registered with Pôle Emploi, you have the right to open a CPF account on the moncompteformation.gouv.fr site. You can also do this through the mobile app, available on theApp Store et Google Play.

The training available can allow you to acquire a qualification / certification and to have access to a large number of knowledge and skills.

Unlike an employee, as a jobseeker, you cannot acquire additional rights during your period of unemployment. However, this does not mean that you cannot use your acquired rights until then.

How do you finance your training with CPF funds?

You can mobilize your CPF rights and start training during your period of unemployment. There are two possibilities :

  • If your acquired rights cover all of your training, your project is automatically validated. You will not need the Pôle Emploi agreement to start your training.
  • If your acquired rights do not cover all of your training, Pôle Emploi must validate your training plan. Your Pôle Emploi advisor will therefore be responsible for putting together a “training file” and seeking additional funding from Pôle Emploi. In addition, the Regional Council or other institutions can also help you in this process.

Whatever your situation, as a job seeker, you should contact Pôle Emploi if you have any questions about your CPF.