Yes, you can fund artificial intelligence training with your French CPF (Compte personnel de formation), on one condition: the course must lead to a certification registered with the RNCP or the répertoire spécifique, and be delivered by a Qualiopi-certified provider. Since 1 April 2026, a mandatory co-payment of 150 € applies to every request, barring exemptions.
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AI training for businesses in France costs between €350 and €3,300 ex. VAT per person in 2026, with up to 100% OPCO funding for SMEs under 50 employees. Since August 2, 2026, the EU AI Act requires every company using ChatGPT, Claude, or Copilot to guarantee minimum AI literacy across its teams, with sanctions up to €7.5M or 1.5% of global annual turnover. Here is how to design a truly operational, funded, and compliant program.
Yes, you can fund AI training with your French CPF (Compte personnel de formation), on one condition: the course must lead to a certification registered with the RNCP or the répertoire spécifique, and be delivered by a Qualiopi-certified provider. Since 1 April 2026, a mandatory co-payment of 150 € applies to every funding request, barring exemptions. This article lays out the exact rules, the current amounts and the trade-offs worth knowing before you draw on your rights. For the bigger picture, see our complete guide to AI training for businesses.
AI training is only CPF-eligible if it leads to an official certification. The CPF does not fund just any course: the training must prepare a certification listed in the national register of professional certifications (RNCP) or the répertoire spécifique (RS), both managed by France Compétences. The provider must also hold the Qualiopi certification, a compliance requirement for any public or pooled funding.
The direct consequence: a one-day AI awareness session, a custom ChatGPT workshop or internal coaching, however useful, are usually not CPF-fundable unless they target a registered certification. For these non-certifying formats, the OPCO or the company skills-development plan is a better route. If certification matters to you, first confirm that the provider is Qualiopi-certified: it is non-negotiable, as we explain here.
A full-time employee accrues 500 € of CPF rights per year, up to a 5,000 € ceiling. Low-qualified employees (without a level-3 diploma, the equivalent of a vocational certificate) receive an enhanced credit of 800 € per year, capped at 8,000 €. These rights are credited automatically each year and remain yours, even when you change employer or go through a spell of unemployment.
For AI training, these amounts rarely cover a full certifying course, which usually costs between 1,500 and 4,500 €. Two options follow: top up with a contribution (employer, OPCO or France Travail) or pay the remainder yourself. You can check your exact balance at any time on moncompteformation.gouv.fr, once logged in with your digital identity.
Since 1 April 2026, any CPF-funded course carries a mandatory 150 € contribution. This financial contribution was introduced by decree no. 2024-394 of 29 April 2024, with an initial amount of 100 € applied from 2 May 2024. It was then revalued, and raised to 150 € by decree no. 2026-234. According to moncompteformation.gouv.fr, this amount applies even when your CPF rights are enough to pay for the entire course.
| Period | CPF co-payment |
|---|---|
| 2 May 2024 to 31 December 2024 | 100 € |
| Year 2025 | 102.23 € |
| 1 January to 31 March 2026 | 103.20 € |
| Since 1 April 2026 | 150 € |
Several groups are exempt from this contribution: jobseekers registered with France Travail, employees benefiting from a contribution by their employer or a sector agreement, holders drawing on their occupational prevention account, and public-sector staff. Worth knowing: an employer can cover this co-payment through a contribution, which effectively neutralises the 150 € for the employee. However, a training provider is strictly forbidden from reimbursing this amount: the practice exposes both the holder and the provider to legal action.
AI certifications split between the RNCP and the répertoire spécifique. The RNCP covers diplomas and professional titles from level 3 to level 8, from vocational certificate to master's, with no CPF funding cap. The répertoire spécifique covers shorter certifications, skill blocks or accreditations, focused on a specific use.
One caveat: since 2026, courses preparing a répertoire spécifique certification are capped in their CPF coverage, whereas RNCP paths remain uncapped. The advertised price and the actual content should therefore be examined closely before enrolling. Our article on the cost of AI training for businesses details the ranges by format and duration.
The CPF funds an individual on their own initiative; the OPCO and FNE fund a collective effort. This is the central trade-off for an SME leader. The CPF makes sense when a motivated person wants to earn a recognised certification at their own pace. As soon as several employees need training, employer schemes are better suited, often more cost-effective and less administratively demanding.
| Scheme | Initiated by | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| CPF | The employee | One person targets a recognised AI certification |
| OPCO | The employer | Several employees to train under the skills plan |
| FNE-Formation | The employer | A collective upskilling project in an SME |
For a team project, read our guide on funding AI training through the OPCO. And if you are still hesitating over the provider, our 9 criteria for choosing an AI training organisation will help you decide quickly.
A concrete example: to train three employees of an SME in generative AI, drawing on three individual CPF accounts means three separate registrations, three 150 € co-payments and as many procedures. OPCO or FNE funding, by contrast, handles the group in a single file, with often higher coverage and content calibrated to your real use cases. The CPF therefore remains the tool of the lone employee, not that of a company training plan.
Everything is done online at moncompteformation.gouv.fr. Four steps are enough:
Allow a few working days of processing between registration and the actual start. Plan ahead if the session has a fixed date or limited seats.
Is non-certifying AI training fundable by the CPF? No. Without an RNCP or RS certification, the course is not eligible. For an awareness format, turn to the OPCO or the skills-development plan.
Does the 150 € co-payment apply to everyone? No. Jobseekers registered with France Travail, recipients of an employer or sector contribution, and public-sector staff are notably exempt.
Can my employer pay my co-payment? Yes, through a contribution. However, a training provider has no right to reimburse you the 150 €.
How long do my CPF rights remain valid? Your rights are acquired and do not expire as long as you are in working life. They follow you when you change employer.
Can I combine the CPF with employer funding? Yes. A contribution from the employer, the OPCO or France Travail can top up your CPF rights to cover a more expensive course.
Is generative AI training capped? If it falls under the répertoire spécifique, its CPF coverage has been capped since 2026. RNCP titles remain uncapped.
GrowthPerf is a Qualiopi-certified training organisation specialising in AI, no-code and automation for SMEs and non-profits in the Paris region. We help you identify the right scheme (CPF, OPCO or FNE), check your eligibility and build a genuinely operational path, not mere awareness. To go further, start from the complete guide to AI training for businesses.
Want to know what your rights can fund? Check your CPF rights with us during a free 30-minute AI training audit.
