Starting an apprenticeship often means needing professional equipment from day one: technical tools, software, digital equipment… The first pedagogical equipment allowance exists to reduce this cost. In 2026, its amounts now depend on the qualification level.
In short: for apprenticeship contracts signed since 30 July 2026, decree no. 2026-679 of 27 July 2026 caps first-equipment funding at €500 for levels 3 and 4 (CAP, bac pro), €300 for level 5 (BTS), and abolishes it for levels 6 and 7 (bachelor's, master's). It is not money paid to the apprentice: the employer's OPCO reimburses the CFA for the equipment it provides. A plan for a flat cut to €200 had been blocked by minister Sabrina Roubache in May 2026.
What is the apprentice first equipment allowance?
The first pedagogical equipment allowance is funding provided by the employer's skills operator (OPCO). It covers the first equipment costs needed for the training when they are borne by the apprentice training centre (CFA), according to a flat rate set by the OPCO within a cap (article D. 6332-83 of the French Labour Code).
In practice, the apprentice does not receive any money: the CFA supplies or buys the equipment and is then reimbursed by the OPCO. It covers professional tools specific to the training, software and the computer equipment needed for distance learning. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is excluded: in the company, it must be provided free of charge by the employer.
"The first pedagogical equipment costs necessary for the training are covered" by the OPCO, within a cap. — Article D. 6332-83 of the French Labour Code
This aid matters most in fields where starter equipment is expensive. According to apprenticeship stakeholders quoted by the specialist press, a basic kit can cost €300 to €600 for a hairdressing CAP and €600 to €1,200 for a masonry CAP.
What changes in 2026 for this allowance?
Timeline of decisions
2026 saw a real regulatory saga around this allowance:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 2026 | Draft decree proposing to cut the cap from €500 to €200 |
| 4 May 2026 | The minister in charge of apprenticeships, Sabrina Roubache, announces she has blocked the plan |
| July 2026 | New draft decree varying the aid by qualification level |
| 27 July 2026 | Decree no. 2026-679 signed, published in the Official Journal on 29 July |
| 30 July 2026 | Entry into force for contracts signed from that date |
New amounts by level
Decree no. 2026-679 of 27 July 2026 limits funding to diplomas and titles up to level 5 and sets caps according to the level targeted by the apprenticeship contract:
| Level | Qualifications concerned | Funding cap |
|---|---|---|
| Level 3 | CAP, BEP | €500 |
| Level 4 | Vocational bac, BP | €500 |
| Level 5 | BTS, DUT | €300 |
| Level 6 | Bachelor's, BUT | No longer funded |
| Level 7 | Master's, engineering degree | No longer funded |
These caps apply to contracts signed since 30 July 2026. For contracts signed before that date, the aid could reach €500 whatever the level. Another new rule: the CFA must send its request to the OPCO within 12 months of the contract being signed, otherwise it can no longer be processed.
Why this modulation by level?
The government chose to refocus the aid on short programmes (CAP, bac pro, BTS), where starter tools weigh most, rather than apply the flat cut to €200 considered in the spring. In bachelor's and master's programmes, equipment is often limited to a laptop, which many students already own.
This approach was debated. In spring 2026, ANAF (the national association of apprentices of France), FNADIR (the national federation of CFA directors) and other stakeholders warned about the consequences of cutting the aid for apprentices in the most equipment-intensive fields. The compromise — keeping the €500 cap for levels 3 and 4 and €300 for level 5 — protects those fields, but ends the aid for levels 6 and 7.
How to receive the first equipment allowance?
The apprentice has nothing to do with the OPCO: everything goes through the CFA.
- The employer and the apprentice sign the apprenticeship contract, which is sent to the OPCO.
- The CFA supplies or buys the teaching equipment needed for the training.
- The CFA sends the funding request to the OPCO within 12 months of the contract being signed.
- The OPCO reimburses the CFA at its flat rate, within the cap for the qualification level.
Practical arrangements (equipment handed over directly, vouchers, mandatory list…) vary from one CFA to another: ask about them when you enrol. If you are looking for a company to sign your contract, see our work-study job search page and our guide to finding a work-study company.
The first equipment allowance in the context of 2026 aid
The first equipment allowance is part of a set of apprenticeship aids that changed a lot in 2026:
- Hiring aid (for the employer): from €750 to €5,000 for the first year depending on company size and qualification level, €6,000 for an apprentice with a disability, for contracts signed since 8 March 2026 (see our article on apprentice hiring aid in 2026).
- Driving licence aid abolished (€500) by the 2026 Finance Act, since 21 February 2026 (see our article on the apprentice driving licence aid).
- Housing aid: Mobili-Jeune, Visale, APL (see our article on apprentice housing in 2026).
To estimate your pay, use our pay simulator and see our financial aid page. The full overview of changes is in our article Apprenticeships in France 2026: what really changes.
The €750 employer remaining charge
Note: since 1 July 2025 (decree no. 2025-585 of 27 June 2025), the employer pays a mandatory €750 contribution for each apprenticeship contract leading to a level 6 qualification or higher. This scheme, separate from the first equipment allowance, drops to €200 when, after an early termination, a new contract is signed with another employer. Details in our article on the €750 remaining charge.
What does the first equipment allowance cover (and not cover)?
The Code du travail numérique, the French labour ministry's official site, details what can be funded:
| Can be funded | Not funded |
|---|---|
| Professional tools necessary and specific to the training (electrician's toolbox, professional scissors…) | Everyday school supplies (books, pencil cases…) |
| Software | Sports equipment |
| Computer equipment needed for distance learning | Consumables (hair products, make-up…) |
| — | Personal protective equipment (safety shoes, gloves, helmet…) |
PPE required for work in the company is paid for exclusively by the employer. In fields where the aid does not cover everything (or no longer covers anything, at levels 6 and 7), other funding may exist: aid from some regions, CFA social funds, sector aid. Ask your training centre as soon as you enrol.
Key takeaways
- Since 30 July 2026, the first equipment allowance depends on the level: €500 for CAP and vocational bac, €300 for BTS, no longer any funding for bachelor's and master's degrees.
- It is funded by the OPCO and managed by the CFA: the apprentice does not receive any money.
- The CFA must submit its request within 12 months of the contract being signed.
- A plan to cut it to €200 was blocked by the minister in May 2026.
- PPE, school supplies and consumables are not covered.
To go further with your work-study project, see our guide on choosing your work-study programme and the one on understanding your pay.
Sources: decree no. 2026-679 of 27 July 2026 (Légifrance), article D. 6332-83 of the French Labour Code, Code du travail numérique (code.travail.gouv.fr), AEF Info, TPE Actu.