When I launched Beauty'n'Form, one of the first questions aspiring students always asked me was this: "How much does it cost — and can I use my CPF?" It is a completely valid question, and it deserves a thorough answer.
The CPF — Compte Personnel de Formation, France's personal training account — is one of the most powerful tools available in France for funding professional training. When your training provider holds Qualiopi certification, as Beauty'n'Form does, the funding can cover up to 100% of your training cost.
In this guide I will explain everything: what the CPF is, how to check your balance, which beauty qualifications are eligible, and how to submit your application step by step. Whether you are employed, self-employed, or looking for a career change, this guide is for you.
What is the CPF and who can use it?
The Compte Personnel de Formation is a public training finance scheme created by French law on 5 March 2014. It replaced the earlier Droit Individuel à la Formation (DIF) and was significantly reformed in 2019: since that date, the account is no longer measured in hours but directly in euros, making it far simpler to use.
The account is entirely personal. It is not tied to an employer or a specific employment contract. You keep it throughout your entire working life — even if you change jobs, become self-employed, or go through a period of unemployment.
Who is eligible for a CPF?
The CPF is open to:
- Private-sector employees (full-time or part-time, from age 16)
- Self-employed workers and micro-entrepreneurs (since 1 January 2018)
- Job seekers registered with France Travail or not
- Civil servants (under different rules, still counted in hours)
How much is credited each year?
| Profile | Annual credit | Maximum cap |
|---|---|---|
| Qualified full-time employee | €500 | €5,000 |
| Low or unqualified employee (below level 3) | €800 | €8,000 |
| Part-time employee | Pro-rated | Same |
| Self-employed / micro-entrepreneur | €500 | €5,000 |
Credits are added automatically each year based on employment declarations. To check your current balance, visit moncompteformation.gouv.fr or download the Mon Compte Formation app. You log in via France Connect using your tax, social security, or La Poste credentials.
Qualiopi: the certification that unlocks your CPF
Since 1 January 2022, Qualiopi certification has been mandatory for any training provider wishing to access public and joint funding — including the CPF. Without it, a course simply cannot be funded through your account, regardless of its pedagogical quality.
What exactly is Qualiopi?
Qualiopi is a state-backed quality certification that attests to the quality of a training provider's processes. It is awarded by independent auditors accredited by COFRAC (the French accreditation committee) based on 21 quality indicators across 7 criteria:
- Transparency of the information communicated to prospective learners
- Precise identification of learning objectives and adaptation to individual profiles
- Personalised follow-up and support throughout the training
- Adequacy of the pedagogical, technical, and human resources deployed
- Qualifications and ongoing development of training staff
- The provider's engagement in its professional and sectoral environment
- Systematic collection and consideration of learner feedback and complaints
Beauty'n'Form holds Qualiopi certification. This means my training programmes have been independently audited and validated against these standards. For you, this guarantees that your CPF can fund the training — and that you will receive structured, high-quality support from start to finish.
What Qualiopi means in practice: you gain access to CPF-funded training with clearly defined objectives, individual support, and a recognised qualification at the end. It is not merely an administrative formality — it is the difference between training that opens professional doors and training that goes unrecognised.
Which beauty training qualifications are CPF-eligible?
This is where a great deal of confusion exists. Not every beauty course is automatically fundable through your CPF. Two cumulative conditions must be met.
Condition 1: the provider holds Qualiopi certification
This has been the non-negotiable prerequisite since 2022, as explained above.
Condition 2: the qualification is registered in an official directory
France Compétences maintains two official registries:
The RNCP (Répertoire National des Certifications Professionnelles) lists state-recognised diplomas and professional titles. For aesthetics, this includes:
- CAP Aesthetics, Cosmetics and Perfumery
- BP Aesthetics, Cosmetics and Perfumery
- Bac Pro Aesthetics
- BTS Aesthetics and Cosmetics
- CQPs (branch-level professional qualification certificates)
The RS (Répertoire Spécifique) lists certifications for specific, specialist professional skills. This is where you find the qualifications closest to my area of expertise:
- Lash extension technician
- Nail technician (gel or acrylic)
- Brow lift and brow restructuring practitioner
RS certifications are particularly significant: they allow specialist training courses — like those offered by Beauty'n'Form in Toulouse — to become CPF-eligible without requiring a full state diploma. This makes them a genuinely accessible pathway for career changes and upskilling.
Quick eligibility check: go to moncompteformation.gouv.fr and type the name of the training or the provider in the search bar. If it appears in the results, it is eligible and can be funded with your CPF.
To explore my full catalogue of certified training programmes available in Toulouse, visit the training page.
How to use your CPF: a step-by-step walkthrough
Step 1: create your account and check your balance
Go to moncompteformation.gouv.fr and create your personal account via France Connect. If you have never consulted your CPF before, you may be pleasantly surprised by the balance accumulated since you started working.
Step 2: search for your training
Use the search bar to find the course you are interested in. You can filter by subject area (aesthetics, body care, beauty), location (Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, Occitanie), certification type (RNCP, RS), or delivery format (in-person, remote, blended).
Step 3: choose a session
Browse the available sessions, select the date and location that suit you, and click "Je m'inscris" (I'm enrolling).
Step 4: complete your application
Fill in the online form with your personal and professional details. The process is guided and straightforward.
Step 5: validation by the training provider
Beauty'n'Form receives your application and confirms your enrolment. You receive a confirmation email.
Step 6: attend your training — payment is automatic
Payment is made directly by the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations to the training provider. You pay nothing upfront and receive no invoice. Your CPF is debited once training is completed or underway.
When your CPF balance is not enough: complementary funding options
If your CPF balance does not fully cover the training cost, there are several mechanisms to top it up — known as abondement (top-up funding).
| Source | Who it is for | How to activate it |
|---|---|---|
| Employer top-up | Employees | Via company or branch agreement |
| OPCO funding | Employees | Request through your skills operator |
| France Travail | Job seekers | Training plan validated by your advisor |
| Région Occitanie | Job seekers, young adults | Regional training plan |
| Personal top-up | Everyone | Pay the difference by card on the platform |
The co-payment question
Following recent reforms to professional training finance in France, a personal financial contribution may apply for certain profiles when using the CPF. As the exact rules are subject to ongoing change, I recommend checking the current terms on moncompteformation.gouv.fr at the time of your registration. Job seekers are generally exempt from any co-payment requirement.
CPF and career transitions: the most favourable situations
You are looking for work
If you are a job seeker looking to move into the beauty industry, you are actually in one of the most advantageous positions for CPF funding:
- No employer approval is needed
- France Travail can top up your CPF if your balance is insufficient
- The Région Occitanie co-funds certain beauty and aesthetics training courses
- You have free access to a Career Evolution Advisor (CEP) who can help you structure your application
I strongly recommend contacting a CEP before submitting your CPF application. This advisor can identify all the funding sources you can combine, validate that your project aligns with the job market, and guide you through the administrative process.
You are employed and training in your own time
Good news: you do not need to tell your employer. Your CPF belongs to you and you can use it freely in your personal time without any prior authorisation. The only case requiring employer agreement is when training takes place during your contracted working hours.
Many of my students follow courses at weekends or during annual leave, entirely independently of their employer.
You are self-employed or a micro-entrepreneur
Since 1 January 2018, self-employed workers have had full access to the CPF on the same terms as private-sector employees: €500 credited per year, capped at €5,000. The process is identical — everything goes through moncompteformation.gouv.fr.
If you already work in aesthetics and want to specialise in lash extensions or brow lifting, this is a real opportunity to level up your skills, attract new clients, and increase your average service price. You can browse my services first to get a feel for the techniques you will master after training.
My courses are held in person at 101 avenue de Muret, 31300 Toulouse, in small groups to ensure personalised guidance throughout.
Frequently asked questions
I genuinely believe that lack of information about funding is one of the main barriers keeping people from making their move into the beauty industry. With the right certified training, your project is often far more within reach than you think. If you have any questions about your personal situation, reach out to me directly — I will walk you through your funding options with no obligation.