As an apprentice, you are an employee and you earn a real salary. But did you know that you also keep a full student status? The trade student card is the official proof of this dual status — and it unlocks dozens of discounts that are all too often forgotten.
In short: the trade student card is issued free of charge to every apprentice by their CFA, within 30 days of enrolment. Valid throughout the country and renewed each year, it gives access to the same benefits as the higher-education student card: Crous restaurants and housing, cinema, transport, museums, sport, leisure. It is a concrete top-up to your pay, with nothing for you to do.
What is the trade student card?
It is a national card, defined by articles D6222-42 to D6222-44 of the French Labour Code (Code du travail) and made standard by the "Avenir professionnel" (professional future) law of 5 September 2018. It embodies your trade student status, specific to apprenticeship: you combine the rights of an employee (salary, leave, social protection) with those of a student.
It applies to every apprentice on an apprenticeship contract, from the CAP up to a master's, with no age requirement. To clearly tell apart the two work-study paths, read our comparison of apprenticeship vs professionalisation: the trade student card is attached to the apprenticeship contract.
The trade student card is not an optional bonus: the law requires your CFA to issue it to you free of charge. If you haven't received it, ask for it.
What benefits and discounts come with the card?
The principle is simple: anywhere a higher-education student gets a reduced rate, you are entitled to it too. Here are the most useful uses.
| Area | What the card lets you do |
|---|---|
| Dining | Meals at the social rate in university restaurants (Crous) |
| Housing | Apply for Crous housing, proof of student status |
| Transport | Youth/student fares on urban networks and certain trains |
| Culture | Reduced or free entry to museums, cinemas, theatres |
| Sport & leisure | Discounts at gyms, parks, ticketing |
| Digital & shops | "Student" offers (software, subscriptions, partner brands) |
Added up over a year, these benefits represent several hundred euros in savings. They come on top of the financial schemes reserved for work-study students — housing assistance, Mobili-Jeune, the Visale guarantee, driving-licence aid: take a look at our financial aid to make sure you miss nothing. And if you are still unsure about your future salary, our pay simulator gives you your legal minimum in a few clicks.
How do you get your trade student card?
Good news: there is nothing for you to do. It is your apprentice training centre (CFA) that produces the card, based on a national template, and gives it to you:
- automatically, as soon as you enrol in training;
- within 30 days of the start of the contract;
- free of charge, with no application or renewal fee;
- every year of your course, as the card is valid for one year.
If the deadline passes, don't hesitate to follow up with your CFA: it is a legal obligation. Haven't found your work-study placement yet? Compare the available offers and courses and move towards signing your contract.
Trade student card: what happens if the contract is terminated?
Since the card is tied to your apprentice status, it follows the life of your contract. If your apprenticeship contract is terminated, the CFA must take the card back and destroy it. If you move straight on to a new contract, a new copy is issued to you for the rest of your journey. To know your rights in this situation, read our guide on terminating an apprenticeship contract.
In short, the trade student card is one of the most underrated benefits of apprenticeship: full student status, on top of a salary. Remember to ask for it, keep it on you, and show it whenever a "student" rate is displayed.