In France, the path to becoming a nurse is based on a precise regulatory framework. Obtaining the State diploma in nursing (DEI) remains the only legal key to practice. The training lasts three years and takes place in a Nursing Training Institute (IFSI), with 180 ECTS credits and a bachelor’s degree.
This framework, common to all profiles, hides very different realities depending on whether one is coming straight from high school, undergoing a career change, or already working in the healthcare sector.
Further reading : Neighborhoods to Avoid in Paris: Focus on Safety in the Capital
Nursing Engagement Contracts and Financing Studies in IFSI
A still unstable system is changing the game for some students. Since 2024, the Regional Health Agencies (ARS) offer nursing engagement contracts: a monthly salary during training in exchange for several years of practice in high-need areas (rural areas, overseas, emergency services).
This mechanism is inspired by public service engagement contracts already in place for doctors. However, its implementation remains very uneven across regions. Some ARS have widely deployed it, while others have not yet activated it.
Read also : Technological Innovations in France: Professional Solutions That Make a Difference
For those looking to find out how to become a nurse while limiting the financial cost of training, this contract represents a concrete option, provided one accepts the accompanying geographical constraint. Traditional financing comes through regional scholarships, aid from Pôle emploi (for job seekers), or employer coverage as part of professional development.
Admission to IFSI: Parcoursup, Career Change, and Tailored Paths
The entry route depends on the candidate’s profile. Two main pathways coexist, and they do not follow the same rules.
Post-Bac Candidates via Parcoursup
Since the elimination of the entrance exam for new high school graduates, admission is based on a file review. The process is entirely through Parcoursup. The IFSI evaluate grades, the motivation letter, and extracurricular activities. There are no longer written or oral tests for this audience.
This change has made access clearer, but the level of file requirements varies greatly from one IFSI to another. Institutes affiliated with university hospitals in major metropolitan areas remain more selective than those located in less dense areas.
Professionals in Career Change
Individuals undergoing a career change go through a specific exam (continuing professional education). Nursing assistants and childcare assistants with sufficient experience also have a dedicated pathway.
Since the start of the 2024 school year, several IFSI have implemented tailored paths for students in career change with family responsibilities: classes at the end of the day, enhanced online resources, dedicated tutoring. This system benefits from regional funding, at least in Île-de-France, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and Occitanie. Field feedback varies on this point, with some students reporting that the adjustments remain insufficient given the volume of internships required.
Training Content and University Integration of the State Diploma
The training in IFSI is organized into six semesters. It combines theoretical teachings, directed work, simulation, and clinical internships. The volume of internships represents a significant part of the curriculum, spread across different types of services (medicine, surgery, psychiatry, home care).
The theoretical teachings cover several fields:
- Biological and medical sciences (anatomy, pharmacology, pathological processes), which form the technical foundation of the profession
- Human and social sciences (psychology, sociology, ethics), which prepare for the caregiver-patient relationship and complex situations
- Nursing sciences (clinical reasoning, care process, professional legislation), specific to daily practice
A fundamental movement is gradually modifying this program. An experiment launched in 2024 aims to integrate more shared teaching units with university degrees (biology, psychology, social sciences). The stated goal of the Ministry of Health is to increase the share of university teachings in the DEI by 2027. If successful, this re-engineering would bring nursing training closer to the functioning of other health-related university programs.
Professional Practice after the DEI: Registration with the Order and Initial Orientations
With the state diploma in hand, two administrative steps condition the right to practice. The first is the registration of the diploma with the ARS, which issues the ADELI number (or its equivalent in the Shared Directory of Health Professionals). The second is registration with the National Order of Nurses, mandatory since 2009.
The choice of practice mode arises quickly. Employment in a healthcare establishment (public hospital, private clinic, nursing home) remains the main pathway for recent graduates. Liberal practice requires prior experience and setting up in a practice, with contracting constraints.
Specializations accessible after the DEI open other trajectories:
- Anesthesia nurse (IADE), after two additional years of training and at least two years of practice
- Operating room nurse (IBODE), accessible through training or validation of acquired skills
- Childcare nurse, specializing in care for children
- Advanced practice nurse (IPA), master’s training that allows for expanded acts in consultation
The bachelor’s degree obtained with the DEI also makes it possible to pursue studies at the master’s level, including outside the strictly nursing field (public health, health organization management, nursing science research).
The path to becoming a nurse in France has diversified in recent years, with the elimination of the post-bac exam, tailored career change programs, and territorial engagement contracts. The regulatory framework remains the same for all, but access and funding conditions vary according to profile and region. This heterogeneity makes precise research necessary in advance, IFSI by IFSI, ARS by ARS.