Opening a training centre or private school in Morocco
Updated
In Morocco, the rules depend on what you open. A private vocational training establishment falls under Law No. 13-00 and needs prior authorisation from the vocational training department (département de la formation professionnelle). Since February 2026, a private school falls under Law No. 59.21 and the regional academy of education and training (académie régionale d'éducation et de formation, AREF), and a private higher education institution under Law No. 59.24 and the Ministry of Higher Education. A continuing training firm needs no authorisation, but must be qualified to work under third-party payment (tiers payant).
Which regime for which project
| Project | Text | Authority | Procedure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial vocational training (craftspeople, skilled workers, technicians, specialised technicians) | Law No. 13-00 (2000), Decree No. 2-00-1018 (2001) | Vocational training department | Authorisation, then qualification and accreditation |
| Continuing training for companies | No prior authorisation | Vocational training department | OCF qualification for third-party payment |
| Private school, language centre, tutoring classes | Law No. 59.21 (2026), which repeals Law No. 06-00 | AREF | Agreement in principle, then authorisation |
| Private higher education | Law No. 59.24 (2026), which repeals Law No. 01-00 | Ministry of Higher Education | Authorisation, accreditation, recognition |
Law No. 59.21 classifies language teaching and tutoring classes (cours de soutien) as private school education (article 41). Law No. 59.24 does not apply to vocational training establishments (article 109).
Private vocational training: Law No. 13-00
Opening requires prior authorisation, based on specifications (cahier des charges) (article 4). The application is filed against a receipt with the regional services of the ministry in charge of vocational training (decree, article 1).
The file contains a training project based on a feasibility study (location, programmes, enrolment, job prospects), a teaching file (premises, equipment, staff, programmes), an administrative file proving the premises comply, and internal rules (article 5). The administration decides within 60 days at most, after the opinion of a regional committee and a site visit. If it does not reply within this period, the application is deemed accepted (article 6).
The director must be approved by the administration. He or she must be Moroccan (a foreign national can be authorised), be at least 30 years old, hold a diploma at a higher level than the training provided and have 5 years as a full-time director or trainer (article 25). An exemption is possible from age 25 with 3 years of experience (decree, article 8). Trainers meet the conditions of the specifications, and the establishment hires permanent trainers (articles 21 and 28). Opening without authorisation carries a fine of 20,000 to 50,000 dirhams (article 46).
Qualification, accreditation and diplomas
The qualification of a programme (filière), granted on request, is valid for five years at most (articles 11 and 12). Accreditation allows the establishment to organise its own examinations and award its own diplomas. It requires all programmes to have been qualified for at least three years and is valid for five years at most (articles 13 and 14). The administration's endorsement (visa) on the diploma amounts to State recognition (article 32). Before accreditation, trainees can sit the examinations of public establishments under an agreement (article 34).
Private school: Law No. 59.21
Law No. 59.21, enacted on 11 February 2026, was published in Official Bulletin (Bulletin officiel) No. 7485 of 23 February 2026. It repeals Law No. 06-00. Existing regulations remain applicable, and provisions that require an implementing text await its publication (article 113).
The application is filed with the AREF. The law provides for an online portal. The AREF issues an agreement in principle (accord de principe) within 30 days at most, then decides within 60 days at most from the filing of the complete file. Without a reply, the application is deemed accepted. The agreement in principle is not an authorisation to open, but it allows advertising (articles 43 and 44).
The school complies with specifications on buildings, equipment and staffing (article 46). It submits its educational project to the AREF (article 48), publishes its fees with no increase during the school year (article 49) and signs a written contract with parents (article 50). A foreign curriculum requires a specific authorisation (article 58).
Private higher education: Law No. 59.24
Law No. 59.24, enacted on the same day and published in the same Official Bulletin, repeals Law No. 01-00 (article 111). It distinguishes the authorisation to open, the accreditation of each programme and recognition (reconnaissance), which allows the institution to award diplomas recognised as equivalent to national diplomas (article 2).
The institution is created by one or more legal entities governed by private law (article 17). Authorisation requires suitable premises and equipment, accredited programmes and a permanent teaching staff made up mainly of doctorate holders (article 19). A bank guarantee in the ministry's name is required (article 25), and the institution is evaluated every four years (article 21). The implementing texts of Law No. 01-00 remain in force for three years at most (article 112). Ask the ministry which procedure applies on the date you file.
Setting up the company
The regional investment centres (centres régionaux d'investissement, CRI), governed by Law No. 47-18 as amended by Law No. 22-24, support project owners. The company is created online on the directentreprise.ma platform, run by OMPIC (Law No. 88-17) and rolled out nationwide in March 2025. Registration is not an authorisation to teach.
Funding continuing training
The vocational training tax (taxe de formation professionnelle) is collected by the CNSS. Special training contracts (contrats spéciaux de formation, CSF), managed by OFPPT, reimburse training costs to employers subject to the tax and up to date with the CNSS. Since 2014, only consulting and training organizations (organismes de conseil et de formation, OCF) qualified by the vocational training department can work under third-party payment. The qualification committee sits in March and September, for a qualification valid three to five years. According to the opinion of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) published on 16 July 2026, Law No. 60-17 on continuing training is still only partly implemented. Check the rules in force with OFPPT.
The steps
- Identify the regime: vocational training, continuing training, school or higher education.
- Carry out the feasibility study: needs, programmes, enrolment, job prospects.
- Set up the company, with the CRI's support if needed.
- Secure compliant premises before filing.
- Hire a director and trainers who meet the conditions.
- File the application and keep the receipt.
- Do not take in any learners before authorisation.
- Then apply for programme qualification, followed by accreditation.
Frequently asked questions
Does a continuing training firm need authorisation? No. Continuing training by private operators is not subject to prior authorisation. OCF qualification is still required for third-party payment under the CSF.
What budget is needed to open a private school in Morocco? None of the texts consulted sets a minimum amount. The budget depends on the premises required by the specifications, equipment and payroll. In higher education, add the bank guarantee, whose terms are set by regulation.
Key takeaways
- The applicable text depends on the project: Law No. 13-00, Law No. 59.21 or Law No. 59.24.
- Since February 2026, Laws No. 59.21 and No. 59.24 replace Laws No. 06-00 and No. 01-00; their implementing texts are pending.
- Private vocational training requires authorisation, then accreditation to award recognised diplomas.
- Continuing training requires no authorisation, but OCF qualification is a condition for third-party payment.
- Confirm each step with the competent authority before committing funds.
Sources
- Law No. 13-00 on the status of private vocational training (NATLEX)
- Decree No. 2-00-1018 of 21 June 2001 (NATLEX)
- Official Bulletin No. 7485 of 23 February 2026, Laws No. 59.21 and No. 59.24 (Arabic edition)
- Official Bulletin No. 7526 of 16 July 2026, CESE opinion on continuing training
- OFPPT, eligibility for special training contracts
- CRI Casablanca-Settat, missions
- Ministry of Industry and Trade, online company creation
Mentivis supports the structuring of training organizations and schools: design of the offer, business model, regulatory file and launch. See training organization set-up · See higher education support
Further reading: Opening a training centre or private school in Tunisia · How to develop a training offering internationally