Becoming a doctor in France requires a long period of academic and clinical training. According to Onisep, it generally takes 10 years of university study after the baccalauréat for general practitioners and 10 to 12 years for specialists. The French Directorate for Research, Studies, Evaluation, and Statistics (DREES) reported that 237,200 doctors were active in France on January 1, 2025, an increase of 1.6% from the previous year. A DREES comparative report based on 2022 data recorded 340 doctors per 100,000 inhabitants in France, below the average of 392 for the comparable EU-27 group.
Medical studies in France follow a highly structured and selective pathway. The admissions process has changed substantially in recent years, and another reform is scheduled to take effect in fall 2027. Understanding the current process before applying is important.
Below are eight detailed steps on how to become a doctor in France.
How to Become a Doctor in France
Step 1. Master the French Language
Students who are not already fluent in French should build a very strong command of the language before applying. Doctors must communicate clearly with patients, colleagues, and other medical professionals, and students must be able to follow demanding coursework and clinical training.
French-language requirements vary by institution and application procedure. Campus France advises applicants to check each institution’s minimum required level, which may be B2, C1, or C2. It also notes that a very strong C1 level is essential for medical studies. Check the current requirements of your target institution and the accepted proof of French language proficiency.
Step 2. Enter the First Cycle, the First Year of Medical Studies
Students do not enter a medical program directly after high school. For applicants entering before fall 2027, the usual routes are the PASS (parcours d’accès spécifique santé) or an L.AS (licence avec option accès santé). PASS is offered by universities with a health faculty and includes mostly health-related coursework with an option in another discipline. An L.AS is a degree pathway in another subject, such as biology, law, or mathematics, with an additional health option.
Applicants should check the procedure that applies to their profile. Many applicants use Parcoursup, while some international applicants follow an Études en France or Demande d’Admission Préalable (DAP) procedure. The available routes and the health programs to which they provide access can vary among medical schools in France.
The PASS and L.AS system is scheduled to be replaced in fall 2027 by a nationally harmonized first-year curriculum for students seeking access to medicine, midwifery, dentistry, pharmacy, and physical therapy.
Step 3. Enter Your First Cycle, Second Year of Medical Studies
Students admitted to medicine enter the second year and continue through the medical first cycle in their second and third years. The program covers subjects such as clinical signs and symptoms, physiology, anatomy, infectious agents, pathology, and pharmacology.
Practical training begins with a mandatory four-week, full-time nursing internship. Students then complete at least 12 weeks of hospital placements over the following two years. They must also complete a health-service placement during the first cycle.
After validating the first cycle, students receive the DFGSM (diplôme de formation générale en sciences médicales), which is recognized at the French licence level.
Step 4. Enter the Second Cycle, the First Year of Medical Studies
After earning the DFGSM, students enter the second cycle, also called the externat. Under the current system, this cycle covers the fourth, fifth, and sixth years of medical studies. It provides more advanced training focused on diseases, treatment, and prevention while introducing students to the foundations of each medical specialty.
Step 5. Enter the Second Cycle, Second, Third, and Fourth Year of Medical Studies
The current second cycle lasts three years. During the externat, students divide their time between coursework and hospital training. They have the status of hospital students and receive compensation that varies according to their stage of study. Some placements are mandatory, while others are elective. Students must also complete at least 25 on-call shifts during the three-year cycle.
Admission to the third cycle is based on a national assessment and matching process. It includes national digital written examinations, clinical-skills assessments known as ECOS (examens cliniques objectifs structurés), and consideration of the student’s educational pathway. Students are then assigned to a specialty and geographic subdivision through the national matching process.
After validating the second cycle, students receive the DFASM (diplôme de formation approfondie en sciences médicales), which is recognized at the French master’s level.
Step 6. Enter the Third Cycle of Medical Studies
The third cycle, or internat, lasts four to six years depending on the specialty. It is organized into three phases: a foundation phase lasting one or two years, an advanced phase lasting two or three years, and a consolidation phase lasting one or two years. During the consolidation phase, students obtain the status of junior doctor and work with supervised autonomy.
Interns complete full-time, six-month placements in hospital departments connected to their specialty while continuing to receive theoretical instruction. Their autonomy increases as they gain experience, but they remain under the responsibility of the practitioners who supervise their training. Interns perform prevention, diagnostic, and care functions by delegation and under the responsibility of the supervising practitioner.
After validating their placements, coursework, and thesis, interns receive the DE (diplôme d’État) de docteur en médecine together with the DES (diplôme d’études spécialisées) for their specialty.
Step 7. Get Your Medical License
To practice medicine legally in France, doctors must register with the Tableau de l’Ordre des médecins. The application is submitted to the departmental council of the Order of Physicians for the area where the doctor intends to practice.
The National Council of the Order of Physicians provides an online registration service for eligible students approaching the end of their medical studies in France. Students are encouraged to begin the process at the start of their final semester because validation can take several weeks.
As you look to begin your journey toward becoming a doctor, we hope this overview helps you understand the current pathway. Our Study in France guide provides more insightful articles about studying in France and elsewhere in Europe. Also, check out our Available Programs in Europe for study opportunities.
