Opening a training centre or private school in Algeria

Updated 29 September 2026

Training OrganizationsRegulation

Algeriatraining centreapprovalprivate schoolprivate higher educationtraining tax

In Algeria, three regimes coexist. A private vocational training or vocational education establishment obtains approval (agrément) from the wilaya director of vocational training and education, then an opening authorisation. A private school falls under the Ministry of National Education. A private higher education establishment requires authorisation from the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS).

Which regime for which project

Project	Authority	Reference text	Required act
Private vocational training or vocational education establishment	Wilaya directorate of vocational training and education	Executive Decree No. 18-162 of 14 June 2018, amended by Decree No. 20-340 of 22 November 2020	Approval, then opening authorisation
Private education and teaching establishment (school)	Minister of National Education	Law No. 08-04 of 23 January 2008; Executive Decree No. 05-432 of 8 November 2005	Creation authorisation, inspection before opening
Private higher education establishment	Minister of Higher Education	Law No. 99-05 of 4 April 1999, amended by Law No. 08-06 of 23 February 2008; order (arrêté) of 18 June 2008	Creation authorisation

The 2018 decree applies to anyone who regularly organizes vocational training for a group of more than ten people.

Private vocational training establishment

The sector falls under the Ministry of Vocational Training and Education (ministère de la Formation et de l'Enseignement professionnels, MFEP). The private establishment is founded by a natural or legal person governed by private law. It provides, for a fee, initial face-to-face training, continuing training or vocational education. It must have at least 20 training places or 30 vocational education places.

The founder. Natural person: at least 25 years old, Algerian nationality, civic rights, no conviction contrary to good morals. Legal person: assets, reception capacity and an authorised representative.

The director. Algerian nationality. A higher education or training diploma and five years of experience in training, teaching or education, or five years as director of a public establishment in the sector. A medical certificate of fitness.

Approval. The founder files the application with the wilaya directorate where the establishment will be located, with a technical file that complies with the specifications (cahier des charges) set by the order of 4 November 2018. A wilaya commission reviews it within a maximum of three months from the receipt. Approval is granted by order of the wilaya director. It lists the specialities, linked to the wilaya training map, and the qualification levels.

The technical file includes in particular the signed specifications, the founder's and director's documents, the title deed or lease, compliance certificates (civil protection, hygiene, construction), a plan signed by an approved architect, the programmes and the trainers' profiles.

Premises. The specifications set minimum areas, for example 40 m² for a classroom (2 m² per trainee) and 40 m² for the infirmary.

Opening. Once approval is obtained, the wilaya director issues the opening authorisation on two conditions: registration in the trade register under the code "Établissement privé de formation professionnelle" and an on-site inspection report. If there are gaps, the founder has at most two months to comply, otherwise the approval is cancelled.

Trainers meet at least the recruitment conditions of the public sector and sign an annual contract. Any new speciality requires prior authorisation.

Private school: the Ministry of National Education

The orientation law of 23 January 2008 makes the opening of a private school subject to the minister's approval, according to specifications. Teaching is in Arabic and follows the official curricula. Any additional activity requires prior authorisation. The director has Algerian nationality. Teachers meet the same recruitment requirements as in the public sector.

The decree of 8 November 2005 sets the procedure. The application is filed with the wilaya education directorate, with a technical file that includes in particular a certificate from the construction technical inspection body (CTC) and proof of a deposit paid to a public financial institution. An ad hoc commission gives its opinion. The minister's order is notified within three months of the receipt, five months at most if reservations are raised. Opening follows an on-site inspection. The director is at least 25 years old, holds a higher education diploma and has either five years of teaching experience or ten years as director of a public establishment.

Before filing, confirm with the education directorate that the 2005 decree is still the applicable text and ask for the specifications in force.

Private higher education establishment: the MESRS

Only a legal person governed by private law can create a private higher education establishment, for the first and second cycles. The minister's authorisation requires in particular:

a director of Algerian nationality;
infrastructure, equipment and qualified teachers;
share capital at least equal to that required for a joint-stock company (société par actions);
a programme that meets national needs.

Medical sciences are excluded. A foreign establishment requires a ratified bilateral agreement. The minister decides within two months of the filing receipt (order of 18 June 2008). A bank guarantee must be proven every year. The minister publishes the list of authorised establishments at each academic year start.

Setting up the legal entity: the CNRC

Registration in the trade register is handled by the National Trade Register Centre (Centre national du registre du commerce, CNRC). Its Sidjilcom platform offers online procedures. For vocational training, registration under the code "Établissement privé de formation professionnelle" is a condition for the opening authorisation.

Funding continuing training

Employers, other than public institutions and administrations, who do not spend at least 1% of their gross payroll on continuing training for their staff, and 1% on apprenticeship and internships, pay the vocational training tax and the apprenticeship tax on the difference. Since the 2026 finance law, the calculation and the return are half-yearly. Eligible expenses include training, transport, accommodation, meals and insurance for the employees concerned.

An approved private establishment can organize tailored qualifying training (formation qualifiante à la carte) for companies, under an agreement. Since an order of 15 February 2026, recipients of unemployment benefit can follow training in an approved public or private establishment.

Diplomas and recognition

Trainees on diploma courses sit the end-of-training examinations organized by public establishments. Initial qualifying training leads to a professional qualification certificate issued by the public establishment. Tailored training leads to a certificate of attendance from the private establishment. Pupils at private schools sit the same examinations as public school pupils. Graduates of private higher education can, after equivalence, continue in a public establishment.

The steps

Choose the regime and define the offer: specialities, levels, reception capacity.
Find compliant premises and appoint a director who meets the conditions.
File the application and obtain the approval or authorisation.
Register in the trade register.
Pass the on-site inspection and obtain the opening authorisation.

Frequently asked questions

Who grants approval for a private training centre in Algeria? The wilaya director of vocational training and education, on the proposal of the wilaya commission, since the decree of 22 November 2020.

How long does it take? At most three months for the wilaya commission to review the approval application. Three months for a school, five at most with reservations. Two months for higher education.

Can a foreigner open an establishment? A founder who is a natural person of a vocational training establishment must be Algerian. The specifications provide for documents in the case of a partnership with a foreign party. The director must be Algerian under all three regimes.

Key takeaways

Vocational training: approval from the wilaya director, then opening authorisation after on-site inspection.
School: authorisation from the Minister of National Education, official curricula, teaching in Arabic.
Higher education: legal person, MESRS authorisation, no medical sciences.
Director of Algerian nationality in all three cases.
Confirm the documents and specifications with the administration before filing.

Sources

Mentivis supports the structuring of training organizations and schools: design of the offer, business model, regulatory file, launch. See training organization set-up · See higher education support

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