For what students?
Vocational studies are designed for students interested in a specific professional field (trade, catering, arts and crafts, food industry…) wanting to train themselves for a profession rapidly.
Objective
Vocational studies primarily lead to a certificat d'aptitude professionnelle (CAP - vocational training certificate), a brevet d'études professionnelles (BEP - vocational diploma) then the vocational baccalaureate; all these qualifications are geared to the labour market.
Length of studies
Students follow a two-year course after lower secondary school to prepare for the CAP and BEP, in a lycée professionnel (LP - vocational high school) or a centre de formation d'apprentis (CFA - centre for apprenticeship training).
Qualifications
The CAP includes about 210 specializations and the BEP about 60, all of which can include options.
Continuing one's studies
The CAP normally leads to a job. Students can nonetheless continue their studies (1 or 2 years) to specialize further and acquire another skill.
After the BEP, one can study for a further 2 years to prepare for a vocational baccalaureate.
Those not wanting to prepare for a baccalaureate can opt for other courses of study.
