Funding your nursing training: costs, regional support, Transitions Pro, CPF and ANFH

Registration fees, pedagogical costs, remuneration over three years: funding matters as much as selection in a nursing training project, especially in career transition. The answer depends on your situation: secondary school or university student, private sector employee, hospital worker, job seeker. This guide reviews the costs to plan for and the schemes that can cover them.

How much does nursing training cost?

Two types of costs need to be distinguished.

University registration fees

Every student admitted to an IFSI pays registration fees each year to the university with which the institute has a partnership agreement. The amount is set by order of the ministers responsible for the budget and higher education. Current amounts are published on the Service-public information sheet on higher education registration fees.

The pedagogical cost of training

The cost of the training itself is considerably higher. For example, the registration documents of two public IFSIs estimate it at approximately €8,000 per year for one in Île-de-France, and €7,700 per year for another in Dordogne, with amounts revised annually. This cost is paid by a funder (Region, employer, vocational training organisation) or, failing that, by the student.

Important note: before you even register for the entrance examinations, ask the IFSI about the cost of training and the funding conditions that apply to your status. A funding application needs to be prepared several months in advance.

Is training free in initial training?

Not always. The pedagogical cost can be covered by the Region, according to rules specific to each Region. In Île-de-France, for example, a public IFSI indicates that the Region covers:

• young people under 26 continuing their studies without interruption;
• job seekers registered with France Travail at the start of training, when the cost is not covered by France Travail.

The same document notably excludes private sector employees on fixed-term or permanent contracts of more than 78 hours per month, as well as people who have received partial funding from Transitions Pro. Check with your IFSI and your Region, which may also provide remuneration for certain vocational training trainees.

Are training placements paid?

Yes. A training allowance is paid during placements:

• €36 per week in the first year;
• €46 per week in the second year;
• €60 per week in the third year.

Students remunerated by their employer during training are not entitled to this. Transport costs are also reimbursed when the placement takes place outside the institute's municipality, in its region or a neighbouring region. The journey taken into account runs from the placement location to the IFSI, or to your home if it is closer. For public transport, reimbursement is made on the basis of a season ticket, pro rata to the duration of the placement. Allowances and reimbursements are paid at the end of each month of placement, at the latest the following month.

Private sector employee: how can you fund a career transition?

The flagship scheme is the project of professional transition, managed by Transitions Pro, the joint interprofessional commission in your region. It finances training and maintains all or part of your remuneration.

The conditions

On a permanent contract, you must have at least two years of salaried activity, consecutive or not, including one year with the same employer, as of the training start date.

The steps

1. Prepare your project and your admission to an IFSI.
2. Request leave of absence from your employer at the latest 120 days before the start of full-time training lasting six months or more. The employer has 30 days to respond; silence means agreement. It may defer its agreement by up to nine months if your absence would harm the company's operations.
3. Submit your application to Transitions Pro, which will assess the funding.

Remuneration is maintained at 100% of the reference salary up to two SMIC; beyond that, a decreasing percentage applies, according to the rules detailed by Service-public.

Your employer may also finance training as part of its skills development plan, with support from its skills operator (for example Uniformation, mentioned by some IFSIs).

Can you use your CPF to become a nurse?

The personal training account finances qualifying training and can supplement other funding. It is currently credited with €500 per year for an employee working at least half-time, up to a limit of €5,000, and €800 per year up to a limit of €8,000 for certain groups, including low-skilled employees and workers with disabilities. These amounts alone do not cover three years of study: the CPF mainly serves as co-financing.

The account is managed on Mon Compte Formation, with FranceConnect+ login. A flat-rate contribution remains your responsibility in the general case, unless co-financed by your employer or another top-up.

Hospital worker: what are promotional studies?

In the public hospital service, promotional studies allow permanent, probationary or contract staff of public health, social and social care establishments to prepare for a diploma in the health or social sector listed on a schedule set by order, including the State nursing diploma.

• You remain in active employment and retain your salary, residence allowance and family supplement.
• Training is financed by your employer through their training plan, with support from ANFH.
• In return, you undertake to work in the public hospital service for a period equal to the triple of the training duration, up to a maximum of five years. Early departure requires repayment of remuneration received.

Good to know: places in promotional studies are limited and allocated by the establishment. Make your project known during your professional interview, at least one year before your intended start date.

Can professional training leave finance your studies?

If your establishment does not support your project, professional training leave allows you to pursue the training of your choice. You must be in active employment and have completed three years of effective service in the public hospital service. Leave can last up to three years over your entire career; ANFH covers remuneration for up to one year, or even two years under certain conditions.

Since the decree of 22 July 2022, certain staff members benefit from enhanced rights, up to five years' leave of which two are paid: category C staff without level 4 qualification, staff in situations of disability, staff exposed to occupational strain. Allow approximately six months for processing before a decision is made. For the rest of your hospital career, consult our guide nurse in the public hospital service.

Healthcare assistant: who finances access to the second year?

The specific three-month pathway that provides direct access to the second year requires selection by your employer, who commits to this in writing. You pay the university registration fees. The conditions are detailed in our guide VAE and pathways to the nursing diploma.

Job seeker: what support is available?

Registered with France Travail, you may continue to receive your allowance during training if you are entitled to it. Depending on the Region, the training costs may be covered by France Travail or by the Region. Inform your adviser of your project before starting training.

What order should you follow?

1. Identify your status: initial training, private sector employee, public sector staff, job seeker.
2. Contact the IFSI to find out the training cost and possible funding sources.
3. Discuss it with your employer or your France Travail adviser.
4. Submit your funding applications within the required timeframes, sometimes several months before the start of the academic year.
5. Top up with your CPF if needed.

For the admission procedure itself, consult our guide becoming a nurse: IFSI and Parcoursup.

Official sources

• Légifrance: decree of 20 February 2026 on the State nursing diploma (registration fees, training allowances, transport costs)
• Service-public: higher education registration fees, professional transition project, personal training account
• ANFH: promotional studies, professional training leave
• Grand Hôpital de l'Est Francilien: application form for selection tests (cost and funding)
• Périgueux General Hospital:application form for selection tests