How to fund the training of an employee who wants to change roles while staying
Updated
Since 1 January 2026, an employee who changes jobs while staying in the company trains under an internal retraining period (période de reconversion), which replaces Pro-A. The employment contract and pay are maintained, the OPCO covers teaching costs, and the employee's CPF can co-fund up to half of their rights.
The internal retraining period
It leads to a qualification or one or more skill blocks, as part of a career move. A written agreement between employer and employee sets the terms, including duration. Throughout the period, the employment contract continues and the employee keeps the same pay.
Training lasts between 150 and 450 hours, over twelve months at most. A company or sector agreement can set other durations, specify the eligible certifications and designate priority employees.
Funding
The OPCO covers the teaching costs of retraining periods. It can also cover related costs and the employee's pay, under the conditions set by law. With the employee's consent, their CPF can co-fund the training, up to half of their rights for internal retraining. The training provider cannot ask them for any other contribution.
For companies with fewer than fifty employees, the skills development plan, funded by the OPCO, can complement the path. The employer can also top up the employee's CPF for a training of shared interest.
Internal retraining versus external hiring
Internal retraining weighs the cost and risk of an external hire against those of training an existing employee. Training someone who already knows the company for a hard-to-fill job often offers a better cost-risk ratio than hiring a rare profile on the market. It is a skills management lever as much as a funding scheme.
Key takeaways
- The internal retraining period has replaced Pro-A since 1 January 2026.
- A written agreement sets the terms; contract and pay are maintained.
- Training lasts 150 to 450 hours over twelve months at most, unless an agreement says otherwise.
- The OPCO covers teaching costs; the CPF can co-fund up to half of the rights.
- Internal retraining often offers a better cost-risk ratio than external hiring.
Sources
- Labour Code, article L6324-1 (purpose of the retraining period)
- Labour Code, article L6324-3 (internal or external retraining)
- Labour Code, article L6324-4 (training duration)
- Labour Code, article L6324-10 (funding and CPF)
- Labour Code, article L6332-14-1 (OPCO funding)
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