Preparing for competitive examinations

Preparing for the CAPES exam

The CAPES (Certificate of Aptitude for Teaching in Secondary Education) is the key to working as a teacher in middle or high school. Starting in 2026, this competitive exam will be open to candidates who hold a bachelor’s degree. For students in the LLCER program, it is possible to register for the exam during your third year of undergraduate studies.
You will find all the necessary information on the government website 

After passing the competitive exam, successful candidates are offered a phased, career-oriented, and paid transition into the teaching profession through a two-year Master’s program in Teaching and Education (M2E):

  • as a civil service trainee in the first year of a master’s program, with a salary of approximately €1,400 net per month and a 12-week internship 
  • as a part-time probationary lecturer teaching Master’s 2 students, with a salary of approximately €1,800 net per month)

Courses offered by faculty members of the SoCLE Department:

The academic staff help students and continuing education learners prepare for the entrance exam, whether in person on campus or remotely. Currently, two preparation courses are offered:

Preparing for the agrégation

The agrégation competitive examination recruitsfuture secondary school teachers , but in literary subjects, it's almost a prerequisite for higher education and research. It is also a popular qualification for careers outside the Education Nationale.

It is a high-level competitive examination. The number of posts is much smaller than for the Capes. Rigorous, sustained preparation is required, starting as soon as the competition syllabus is officially known: in May-June for the following year. This program changes every year.

Download competition information :

Published on November 25, 2015
Updated on April 20, 2026