Between weeks in the company, classes at the training centre and exams, apprentices often wonder how much time off they can actually book. Good news: they enjoy the same leave as any employee, plus a few specific rights that few people know about.
In short: an apprentice is entitled to 2.5 working days of paid leave per month, i.e. 30 working days (5 weeks) per year. On top of this come 5 working days of leave to revise for exams (paid, taken in the month before the tests) and, for apprentices under 21, the option to request up to 30 days of leave even without having earned all their rights — the extra days then being unpaid. Leave is booked on company days, never during CFA time.
How much paid leave for an apprentice?
An apprentice is a fully-fledged employee: they earn 2.5 working days of paid leave per month of actual work, which gives 30 working days per year, the equivalent of 5 weeks. A key point that is often overlooked: time spent training at the CFA is treated as working time. It therefore counts fully when calculating leave rights, just like the weeks spent in the company.
Paid leave is taken on days that would normally be worked in the company. You cannot "book" a leave day on a day already scheduled at the CFA: that training time is compulsory.
The apprentice's pay is maintained during this leave. To understand how your base salary is calculated according to your age and year of contract, read our guide understanding your pay in an apprenticeship.
The 5 days of leave to revise for exams
This is the most valuable and least known right. Article L6222-35 of the Labour Code grants every apprentice 5 additional working days of leave to prepare directly for the exam leading to the qualification set out in their contract.
These 5 days follow precise rules:
- they fall in the month before the tests;
- they entail full salary maintenance;
- they are added on top of ordinary paid leave (the 5 weeks a year);
- they only serve to prepare the final qualifying exam, not intermediate assessments or continuous assessment;
- they are used once per qualification, not every year.
At this exam-results time of year, if you are already preparing your next steps, keep this right in mind for your upcoming session. And to anticipate the official calendar, see our updates on the BTS 2026 results and the bac 2026 dates.
Under 21: broader leave rights
Many apprentices start their contract in September. By the following summer they have therefore not yet built up their full 5 weeks. The Labour Code provides a specific protection for the youngest.
Under Article L3164-9, employees (including apprentices) under 21 as of 30 April of the previous year can, on request, benefit from a total leave of 30 working days, even if they have not worked long enough to earn it. The trade-off: days taken beyond the leave actually earned are not paid. It is unpaid leave, but a right the employer cannot refuse without legitimate grounds.
| Type of leave | Duration | Paid? |
|---|---|---|
| Paid leave (any apprentice) | 2.5 days/month, i.e. 30 working days/year | Yes |
| Exam revision (L6222-35) | 5 working days, once per qualification | Yes |
| Under-21 youth leave (L3164-9) | up to 30 working days in total | No beyond earned rights |
How to schedule your leave in an apprenticeship?
Coordination is key, because your diary is split between the company and the training centre. A few useful habits:
- Get the CFA calendar at the start of the year: class weeks are fixed, your leave slots into company periods.
- Anticipate the revision leave: request it in writing from your employer, in the month before the exam, quoting article L6222-35.
- Book your summer leave early: quiet company periods (August) are often the easiest to negotiate.
- Check your collective agreement: some provide extra days more generous than the legal minimum.
These rights are part of a broader set that secures your journey: pay, social protection, financial support. Explore the schemes you can tap into on our financial aid page, and if you are still looking for your contract for the new term, browse the apprenticeship offers posted right now.
In short: an apprentice is no worse off than any other employee — quite the opposite. Five weeks of paid leave, five days dedicated to passing the exam and a safety net for under-21s: enough to catch your breath without putting your qualification at risk.