How To View And Use Your Online Training Account?

If you are (or if you have been an employee), you have undoubtedly accumulated a little money in your personal training account. The system put in place since 2015 is automatic, and allows you to save an amount each year intended for your professional or personal training. It must be admitted that today, most French people do not even know how to access their pay. To take stock and avoid scams, we take stock. You’ll see, it’s not that complicated.

What is the CPF?

The CPF is your personal right to training which is acquired throughout your working life. Concretely, since 2015, if you work full-time, your employer “pays” each year a contribution intended to finance possible training. You do not receive the money in cash: it is a credit in euros or in hours (for civil servants) that you can use to follow a course recognized by the State.

The mechanics are simple: you accumulate €500 per year if you work full time (from 16 years old), with a maximum ceiling of €5,000, which you can then use to follow training. These rights accumulate without time limit until your retirement. Please note, the process is not completely free. Since decree no. 2024-394 of April 29, 2024, a remainder is obligatory for the employee, in order to avoid “abuse”. Since the revaluation of January 5, 2026, if you register for training, you must contribute financially, up to a minimum of €103.20.

How to access your CPF account?

All French people with a CPF must go through the official platform moncompteformation.gouv.fr. The site is managed by Caisse des Dépôts, and there is no alternative. Be careful with platforms that promise to act as intermediaries, this is often an attempted scam or balance embezzlement.

The first step to using your CPF is to log in or create an account on moncompteformation.gouv.fr. To identify yourself, the easiest way is to bring your France Idété application and your biometric identity card. It’s the easiest and fastest way to connect. As part of a first visit, you will need to confirm your email address, as well as some personal data (name, address, telephone number, etc.), before accessing your balance. Note that it is also possible to connect via your impots.gouv, La Poste or Ameli identifiers. You will finally have the possibility to create an account manually with your Social Security number and an email address.

How to use your CPF account?

Once connected, you access your balance from the “Your training rights” tab. You can also check the progress of your requests from the “Your training files” area, and search for the ideal course via “Search for training”.

From there, it is possible to be accompanied by an advisor, who will help you refine your professional project free of charge. If you prefer to go it alone, simply search for keywords from the search bar, and select your region (or the remote option). The list of accessible training courses is displayed, with an hourly volume and a Price. Artificial intelligence, graphics, no-code or even the creation of video games, everything (or almost) is accessible with total or partial financing. You can also take the opportunity to certify yourself in a foreign language, obtain your license (under conditions), or even prepare for your ceramic turning CAP. Ultimately, the hardest part is choosing.

Note that not all training is eligible for the CPF. Only training courses registered in the National Directory of Professional Certifications (RNCP) or the specific Directory are eligible for funding. Concretely, this concerns diplomas, professional titles and certifications leading to a real profession. Conversely, not all eligible training is necessarily synonymous with quality. Take the time to do some research on the organization concerned before getting started.

Steps to getting training

You’ve found the training of your dreams, and that’s good, your CPF can cover the entire cost. You will be able to apply. first click on “My training files” in your personal space, then select “Create a folder”. You indicate the chosen training (it must already appear in the search engine), accept the general conditions of use, and confirm your commitment to spend your CPF credits. The training organization then receives your request and may accept or refuse it according to its reception policy.

Don’t panic, some organizations process CPF files quickly, others much less. If your balance proves insufficient, you can request a supplement in your region, from an OPCO (Skills Operator) or from Pôle Emploi. In all cases, it will be possible to supplement the price of the training via an extension from your pocket.

For existing employees, there are numerous uses: improving your skills, starting a retraining via diploma training, preparing for an exam or a professional competition, or validating your years of experience via a Validation of Acquired Experience which will allow you to obtain an equivalent diploma. The era of the permanent contract for life is over, and the CPF has the advantage of leaving a few doors open for you in the event of an unexpected change of vocation. For job seekers, the system not only allows them to finance their driving license, but also to train while waiting to return to work.

Beware of traps

Not everything is rosy, and although CPF scams are much less widespread (thanks to the law prohibiting telephone canvassing), fraud persists. Check the seriousness of the training organization that interests you, and do not give in to the promise of a “cash refund” of your balance, which in addition to being completely illegal, risks making you lose thousands of euros of training.

Second trap: don’t let your money sleep for too long. Your balance grows each year until it reaches €5,000, then stagnates. You cannot therefore continue to accumulate indefinitely. If you don’t use it, the money simply sits in your account until you retire. It’s legal, but not really strategic if you want to progress professionally.

Can my employer refuse to allow me to take training?

Yes, your employer can refuse training financed by your CPF in certain cases, in particular if it takes place during your working time. He may refuse for reasons such as an overload of activity, an unsuitable schedule or content not relevant to your missions, but not for the cost or duration of the training alone. Note that he has 30 days to respond to your written request (60 days before if the training lasts less than 6 months, 120 days otherwise). If there is no response, authorization is automatically granted. In addition, no agreement is necessary if the training takes place outside of your working time, or if you plan to obtain a VAE.

Please note, even if your balance is significantly higher than the amount of the training, as an employee, you will have to pay a compulsory flat-rate contribution of €103.20 for any training financed by your CPF in 2026. This “remaining charge” is revalued annually according to inflation, and officially helps to avoid abuse.

How to optimize your CPF?

To get the most out of the system, start by checking your balance once a year, ideally at the start of the year. Then identify training that really strengthens your employability or that opens up a concrete retraining path. Contact the training organization directly before compiling your file to check that it accepts CPF files and to find out the processing times. Inform your employer to obtain their agreement, and, if necessary, prepare to take out your wallet.