Professional guides
School nurse in the French Education System: roles, recruitment and placement
· Guide drawn up from the official sources cited.
In short
You must pass the competitive examination on qualifications for nurses in the French Education System and higher education, organised by each académie and open to holders of the State nursing diploma. It comprises a three-hour written test and a thirty-minute oral examination. The successful candidate becomes a civil servant in category A, assigned to a school, university or académie services.
Welcoming pupils, identifying health difficulties that affect schooling, responding to emergencies, implementing preventive action: the school nurse in the French Education System practises a unique profession at the intersection of care and education. This guide presents their roles, the framework in which they work, the recruitment examination, career development and mobility, based on official texts from the Ministry.
What is the role of the school nurse in the French Education System?
The school nurse in the French Education System contributes to the success of pupils and students by acting on their health. They welcome and listen to pupils on any matter of health or school life, implement appropriate nursing care and refer to other professionals when necessary.
They also advise the head of establishment on health, hygiene and safety, take part in developing the establishment's health plan and in the schooling of pupils with disabilities. Their roles are set out in circular no. 2015-119 of 10 November 2015, published in the Bulletin officiel of 12 November 2015.
What are the roles of the school nurse?
Reception and nursing consultation
The circular is clear: the nurse welcomes any pupil or student who requests it, for whatever reason, including matters of a relational or psychological nature, provided there is an impact on their health or schooling. They arrange a consultation and follow-up if necessary. For more information on this activity, consult our guide on nursing consultation.
Health screening and monitoring
As part of the mandatory screening provided for in article L541-1 of the Education Code, the nurse carries out nursing screening and ensures necessary follow-up. They monitor the health of pupils in primary and secondary education, in addition to medical examinations.
Care and emergencies
Whatever their placement, when present in the school or establishment, the nurse ensures emergency response. They record all their actions in the digital application provided, to maintain a record, and take part in implementing the care and emergency protocol for pupils who benefit from an individualised reception plan (PAI).
Emergency contraception
The nurse dispenses emergency contraception under the conditions of article L5134-1 of the Public Health Code. They are also authorised to renew prescriptions for oral contraceptives dating from less than a year ago. Our guide on nursing prescribing details what the nurse can prescribe.
Prevention, protection and health surveillance
- design, organise and evaluate health education actions, individual and collective, in particular within the health and citizenship education committee;
- take part in child protection policy and act to protect the pupil;
- carry out epidemiological observation and surveillance;
- participate in listening cells following a traumatic event;
- collaborate, on medical advice, in prophylactic measures in the event of transmissible disease.
Where does the school nurse in the French Education System work?
The nurse may be assigned:
- in a public local education establishment (secondary school, upper secondary school, EREA), sometimes with boarding facilities;
- in a cross-phase post, shared between a secondary school and the schools in its sector;
- in a university;
- in a department education services directorate, at the académie or central administration, notably as a technical adviser.
Good to know: in a cross-phase post, académie authorities must ensure a fair balance in your timetable between your assigned secondary school and the schools in the sector.
Under whose authority does the school nurse work?
In an establishment or cross-phase post, the nurse works under the authority of the head of the assigned establishment.
They are bound by professional confidentiality under the conditions of articles 226-13 and 226-14 of the Penal Code. According to the circular, confidentiality covers not only what has been confided to them, but also what they have seen, read, heard, observed or understood. They inform the family of their findings and ensure follow-up is given, unless the pupil manifestly objects. General rules are presented in our guide on patients' rights.
Networking is essential: the nurse liaises with maternal and child health services, hospital departments, psychiatric services and general practitioners.
How to become a school nurse?
Recruitment is through competitive examination based on qualifications, organised on a decentralised basis by regional education authorities. It provides access to the corps of school nurses and higher education nurses.
Entry requirements
- hold a qualification mentioned in articles L4311-3 and L4311-5 of the Public Health Code (State nursing diploma in particular) or authorisation to practise;
- meet the general conditions for access to the civil service.
Application steps
- Choose your region: each region organises its own examination. For Créteil, Paris and Versailles, the inter-regional examination and competition service (SIEC) manages applications.
- Apply online via the Cyclades application, candidat.examens-concours.gouv.fr. Applications generally open in February for approximately one month: check the calendar published each year on education.gouv.fr.
- Submit your file within the deadline, with copies of your qualifications and a detailed curriculum vitae. A missing or late file will result in elimination.
- Sit the examination on the dates set by your region.
What are the examination components?
The examination comprises a written admissibility test and an oral admission test, as defined by the order of 23 October 2012.
- Written examination (three hours, coefficient 1): answering one or more questions concerning nursing practice. A mark below 8 out of 20 is eliminatory.
- Oral examination (thirty minutes, coefficient 2): a presentation of no more than ten minutes, followed by an exchange of at least twenty minutes with the panel, who will assess your motivation, your analytical skills and your professional knowledge.
Important note: jury reports emphasise the importance of correct spelling, knowledge of the management structure of schools and the regulations governing the profession. In the oral examination, present your career thematically rather than chronologically, and make eye contact with the panel rather than reading from your notes.
The number of posts is set by each region: read the jury reports published by regional education authorities to gauge the expected standard.
What status and career prospects?
The successful candidate is appointed as a probationary civil servant and then confirmed in post after the probationary period. The corps of school nurses and higher education nurses, governed by decree no. 2012-762 of 9 May 2012, is classified as category A. It comprises two grades of eleven steps each: nurse and senior nurse.
The pay scale is set by decree no. 2024-291 of 30 March 2024. In addition to basic salary, there is an allowance scheme (RIFSEEP), a family supplement and, depending on the post, allowances for working in residential settings or in priority education areas (REP, REP+). The ministry publishes current amounts on its page dedicated to the profession.
Like any civil servant, you may request secondment, temporary assignment or leave of absence.
How do I get a transfer?
School nurses are part of a corps with decentralised management. Two recruitment rounds are organised each year:
- Inter-regional movement: to change regions, you must pre-register on the national AMIA application, generally in January.
- Intra-regional movement: you consult available posts and submit your preferences within your region in spring, then confirm your request.
Timetables and priority rules are set out in the management guidelines published by each region.
Finally, like any nurse, you must be registered with the Nursing Board to practise: see our guide onregistration with the Nursing Board.
Official sources
- Ministry of National Education:Being a school nurse,The school nurse examination,Circular no. 2015-119 of 10 November 2015 on the duties of school nurses
- Légifrance:order of 23 October 2012 setting the examination components
- Academies: jury report for the nurse competition (Montpellier academy), School nurse (Clermont-Ferrand academy), Mobility of health professionals (Normandy academy)
- Service-public.fr: Civil servant probation and permanent appointment
Frequently asked questions
- Is specialisation required to become a school nurse?
- No. The competition is open to holders of the State nursing diploma or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Public Health Code, with no specialisation required.
- When can you register for the school nurse competition?
- Registration generally opens in February for approximately one month, via the Cyclades application. The exact timetable is published each year on education.gouv.fr.
- How long is the written examination?
- Three hours. It consists of answering one or more questions on nursing practice, and a mark below 8 out of 20 is grounds for elimination.
- Is the school nurse in category A?
- Yes. The corps of school nurses and higher education nurses is classified in category A, with two grades of eleven steps each.
- Can a school nurse dispense emergency contraception?
- Yes. They dispense it under the conditions set out in the Public Health Code and may renew prescriptions for oral contraceptives less than one year old.
- Is the school nurse bound by professional confidentiality?
- Yes, under the conditions of articles 226-13 and 226-14 of the Criminal Code. Confidentiality covers what has been confided to them, but also what they have seen, heard, observed or understood.
- How do you change academy?
- By taking part in the inter-academy transfer process, after mandatory pre-registration via the AMIA application, then the intra-academy transfer process of the desired academy.