Are you preparing a Licence, a Bachelor or a Master through an apprenticeship for September 2026? You may have heard about a "€750 contribution" that worries some candidates. Good news: this measure does not fall on you, but on the employer — and its impact on your chances of being hired stays very limited.
In short: since 1 July 2025 (decree no. 2025-585 of 27 June 2025), companies that hire an apprentice aiming at a bac+3 or higher diploma (Licence, Master…) pay a flat contribution of €750 to the training centre. Contracts at bac and bac+2 level are exempt. This sum is paid by the employer, never by the apprentice: your training stays free and your salary is unchanged.
What is the €750 employer contribution?
Until 2025, the cost of an apprenticeship contract was covered almost entirely by public funds and the skills operators (OPCO). Faced with the surge in the number of contracts and a tight budget context, the government introduced a mandatory employer contribution.
In practice, for each new apprenticeship contract aiming at bac+3 and above, the company pays €750 to the CFA. This amount is flat-rate and one-off, whatever the size of the company. According to the authorities, it aims to make employers "more accountable" while preserving the economic model of training centres.
The employer contribution is a company expense, not a bill for the apprentice. Your work-study training stays free: that is one of the great strengths of the apprenticeship contract.
Which diploma levels are affected?
The rule depends solely on the level targeted by your programme. The table below summarises who pays what:
| Level of study | Examples | Employer contribution |
|---|---|---|
| CAP, Bac pro (levels 3-4) | CAP, Bac pro | €0 (exempt) |
| Bac+2 (level 5) | BTS, BUT 2nd year | €0 (exempt) |
| Bac+3 (level 6) | Licence, Bachelor, BUT 3 | €750 |
| Bac+5 and above (level 7) | Master, Mastère, engineering degree | €750 |
In other words, if you are preparing a CAP, a bac or a BTS, your future employer pays no contribution. The contribution only concerns long higher-education programmes.
How and when is this amount billed?
The contribution is not due at signing. The CFA bills the employer from the 45th day of the apprentice's effective presence in the company — that is, at the end of the so-called probationary period. Two special cases to know:
- Termination before the 45th day: the amount is prorated, the company does not pay the full €750.
- New contract after a termination, for the same qualification: the new employer's contribution is reduced to €200.
These rules prevent a company from being penalised if the contract ends very early. If you want to understand your own rights in the event of an early end, see our guide on the termination of the apprenticeship contract.
Should you worry about your apprenticeship search?
That is the real question for a candidate. The answer is reassuring: €750 stays modest compared with what an employer gains by hiring an apprentice. Put the figures in perspective:
- Hiring aids for apprentices reach €5,000 for companies with fewer than 250 employees (and up to €6,000 for an apprentice with a disability). They cover the contribution very comfortably.
- The training cost (often several thousand euros a year) remains covered by the professional branch through the OPCO.
- The apprentice is operational and contributes to the company for two years.
For a recruiter, a bac+3 or bac+5 work-study profile remains a very worthwhile investment. The contribution is not meant to hold back higher-education hiring, but to balance the funding of the system.
To go further, compare your situation with our overview of the apprenticeship market in 2026, explore the apprenticeship offers matching your level and estimate your future salary with the pay simulator. And remember that several financial aids (housing, mobility, equipment) top up your apprentice pay.
This employer contribution is part of the landscape of apprenticeship funding: understanding it well helps you talk about it calmly in an interview — and show the employer that you know the framework you are committing to.