Preparing for your return to work-study on 1 September 2026 and want to make sure your CFA will actually be open? Good news: an interministerial instruction of 19 June 2026 asks regional prefects, rectors and DREETS to mobilise the regional interministerial cells to monitor CFAs in difficulty and guarantee the learning continuity of your training.
In short: faced with a rise in CFA closures (financial difficulties, loss of Qualiopi certification, suspected fraud), the government published on 19 June 2026 a joint instruction from the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of the Civil Service. The goal: identify at-risk CFAs early, support every apprentice facing interruption, and offer at least one alternative solution before the 2026 back-to-school season.
What does the 19 June 2026 instruction actually say?
The text, co-signed by the DGEFP, the Ministry of Agriculture (MAAQ), the DGESCO, the DGESIP, the DGER and the DGAFP, was published in the Bulletin officiel des affaires sociales in early July 2026. It replaces the previous circular and broadens the remit of the regional cells.
In practice, each regional prefect must now:
- map the CFAs in their territory using the Tableau de bord de l'apprentissage (TBA) and reports from DREETS;
- flag without delay structures in receivership, judicial liquidation, or whose Qualiopi certification is suspended or withdrawn;
- convene the regional cell (State, rectorat, region, consular chambers, OPCO) at least once per quarter, and as a matter of priority before the September 2026 back-to-school season;
- propose at least one solution to every apprentice whose CFA ceases activity: reorientation to another CFA, switch to distance learning, or adapted pathway.
"The objective is that no apprentice is left without a solution for the 2026 back-to-school season," the DGEFP summarises in its communication to decentralised services.
How many CFAs are actually in difficulty?
The 19 June 2026 instruction comes in a degraded context. The Cour des comptes, in its 2026 report on apprenticeship, estimates that around 10% of public funds invested in apprenticeship are exposed to a risk of fraud or abuse. Several high-profile closures have occurred in recent months, triggered by:
- financial difficulties linked to the fall in OPCO funding levels;
- withdrawals of Qualiopi certification following unfavourable audits;
- administrative suspensions for funding fraud (sham contracts, unperformed hours).
Added to this is the fall in State grants to the regions for apprenticeship — from €134 million planned down to €33 million actually paid out in 2026 — which weakens CFAs run by regional councils.
What to do if your CFA is affected?
The instruction provides a three-step alert and support scheme:
- Report the situation to your employer, your apprenticeship tutor and the regional cell via your regional DREETS. You can also contact the mission locale or the youth information network (CRIJ).
- Identify replacement CFAs through the La Bonne Alternance directory and the training search engine on our training page. Filter by diploma, speciality and location to find an institution that delivers the same certification (same RNCP code).
- Activate the continuity clause in Article L. 6222-12 of the French Labour Code: your apprenticeship contract is suspended, then transferred to the new training organisation, without termination or salary amendment. Your pay and seniority are preserved.
What remedies if you are hit by a sudden closure?
Three concrete levers are available to you:
- Your employer's OPCO: it funds your training. It has a list of partner CFAs and must help you find a new institution. Find the OPCO for your sector directly through the job search by selecting your industry.
- The regional interministerial cell: it has been instructed to handle each situation individually and to propose a solution within 15 working days. The regional prefect leads the scheme.
- The apprenticeship mediator: if the training break causes harm (loss of diploma, inability to re-enrol in a full cycle), you can refer the matter to the regional mediator. To go further on remedies in case of termination, read our guide apprenticeship contract termination: rights and procedure.
How to anticipate now?
If you are signing an apprenticeship contract this summer for a September 2026 start, three simple habits can save you from a nasty surprise:
| Habit | Why it matters | How to do it |
|---|---|---|
| Check the CFA's Qualiopi certification | Only certified CFAs can deliver a fundable apprenticeship contract | France Compétences directory + CFA website |
| Request a pre-back-to-school interview | Spot early warning signs (changing trainers, closed premises, administrative issues) | Contact the pedagogical secretariat as of July |
| Have a training "plan B" | Save time in case of sudden closure | List 2 to 3 CFAs delivering the same diploma within 50 km |
To quickly find a contract and a reliable CFA, browse the alternance vacancies updated every week, and prepare your application with our alternance CV template. If your CFA lets you down along the way, you can restart your applications without losing time.
The key takeaways
The 19 June 2026 instruction does not change your rights: it strengthens the regional safety net in case of CFA failure. As long as your contract is signed and your CFA is certified, your 2026 back-to-school season is secure. If you spot warning signs, react fast: the earlier you alert the regional cell, the more levers it has to propose a suitable solution.