Getting your professional training funded is often simpler than people think. Depending on your status - employee or self-employed - there are two main schemes: the OPCO and the FAF. Here is how they work and how to draw on them, ideally with no out-of-pocket cost.
The OPCO, for employees
The OPCO(skills operator) funds the training of employees. Each professional sector comes under an OPCO that covers all or part of the course costs, as part of the company’s skills-development plan. It is the employer who submits the request, beforethe training starts. To identify your sector’s OPCO, use the official tool « Trouver son opérateur de compétences » (service-public.gouv.fr).
The FAF, for the self-employed
The FAF(training insurance fund / Fonds d’Assurance Formation) concerns the self-employed: sole traders, the liberal professions, self-employed company directors. It covers the continuing training of the self-employed, subject to annual ceilings specific to each fund. The request is submitted to the FAF you come under, generally before the training. The two main ones are FIF PL (the liberal professions) and AGEFICE (traders, self-employed company directors).
Which scheme for whom?
| Your situation | Main scheme |
|---|---|
| Employee | OPCO (skills-development plan) |
| Sole trader / liberal profession | FAF (FIF PL, AGEFICE…) |
| Director treated as an employee | OPCO |
| Jobseeker | France Travail |
The steps to get your training funded
- Define your need and obtain a detailed quote + programme.
- Identify your funder (your sector’s OPCO or the self-employed FAF).
- Submit the funding request before the start of the training.
- Obtain funding approval.
- Attend the training (attendance sheet), then send the supporting documents.
Why Qualiopi certification matters
Only Qualiopi-certified providers give access to public and pooled funding (OPCO, FAF, etc.). The training provider Alatere Web SAS (Alatere forMa brand) is Qualiopi-certified, registered under number 93.06.07588.06: your training courses are therefore fundable.
Plan for the lead times
An OPCO or FAF application often takes several weeks to process. At Alatere forMa, the personalised quote is sent within 48 hours and training starts on average within 14 days once funding is approved.
Need help putting together your application? Discover our Qualiopi-certified training courses, browse the catalogue or request a quote - reply within 48 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Who funds my professional training?
It depends on your status: the OPCO (skills operator) for employees, the FAF (training insurance fund) for the self-employed, and France Travail for jobseekers.
What’s the difference between OPCO and FAF?
The OPCO funds employee training as part of the employer’s skills-development plan. The FAF funds the continuing training of the self-employed - sole traders, the liberal professions (FIF PL, AGEFICE, etc.) - within annual ceilings specific to each fund.
How can you get your training funded with nothing to pay out of pocket?
Get a quote and a detailed programme, identify your funder (your sector’s OPCO or the self-employed FAF), submit the funding request before the training starts, obtain approval, then send the supporting documents after the training.
Do you need a Qualiopi-certified provider to get funding?
Yes. Only Qualiopi-certified providers give access to public and pooled funding (OPCO, FAF, etc.). Alatere Web SAS (Alatere forMa brand) is Qualiopi-certified, registered under no. 93.06.07588.06.
How long does a funding application take?
An OPCO or FAF application often takes several weeks to process. At Alatere forMa, the personalised quote is sent within 48 hours and training starts on average within 14 days once funding is approved.