The nursing training underwent a regulatory overhaul in 2026 that modifies the competency framework and increases internship allowances. Understanding these changes even before submitting preferences on Parcoursup allows one to approach the IFSI path with a head start over candidates who still rely on the old guides.
2026 Nursing Framework Reform: What Changes in the Training Model
The new framework restructures the teaching units around competency blocks, whereas the old model segmented the training into thematic semesters that were poorly connected. We observe that this block logic brings nursing training closer to the LMD standard applied to other university programs.
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The increased internship allowances in 2026 represent a strong signal. A first-year student receives 36 euros per week of internship, 46 euros in the second year, and 60 euros in the third year, plus an additional 13 euros weekly for transportation. These amounts, set by decree, did not exist at this level in the previous framework.
This increase does not cover the actual cost of an internship (housing, meals, travel in rural areas), but it reflects institutional recognition of clinical time. Knowing how to become a nurse after high school now requires incorporating these financial parameters right from the preparation of the Parcoursup application.
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Parcoursup IFSI 2026: Specific Dates and Application Strategy
The 2026 calendar has already been published. Submission of preferences is from January 19 to March 12, finalization of the application until April 1, and the admission phase from June 2 to July 11. Every day counts, as an incomplete application by April 1 is automatically eliminated.
Actual Examination Criteria by Commissions
Since the elimination of selection tests in 2019, admission to IFSI is based exclusively on the review of the application. The commissions examine the academic background, the motivated training project, extracurricular activities, and the coherence of the professional project.
We recommend structuring the motivated project into three axes: a concrete field experience (volunteering, observation internship), a critical reading of the profession (time constraints, emotional burden), and a medium-term specialization goal. The commissions immediately spot generic letters copied from online templates.
- Check the groupings of IFSI associated with each preference, as a single preference can cover several institutes in the same region
- Adapt the motivated project to each grouping by mentioning local specifics (hospital partnerships, research areas of the affiliated university hospital)
- Attach any certificate of civic service, nursing assistant, or first aid, which carries more weight than a vague “interests” mention
The Trap of Non-Hierarchical Preferences
Parcoursup does not require ranking IFSI preferences in order of preference during entry. Hierarchization occurs at the time of the admission phase when the candidate accepts or declines the offers received. Many high school students confuse these two stages and panic in June.
Accepting an offer while keeping preferences pending remains possible thanks to the “yes – pending” mechanism. Refusing too quickly a nearby IFSI in hopes of securing a spot in a more distant institute can leave the candidate without placement at the end of the main phase.
Apprenticeship in IFSI: An Underutilized Funding Path
Several IFSI now offer apprenticeship positions starting in the second year of training. Agreements with organizations like ADAFORSS structure these pathways, particularly in Île-de-France where some institutes offer around ten dedicated spots each year.
Apprenticeship in nursing works on the same principle as in other fields: alternating between classes at the IFSI and paid work in a healthcare facility, with training costs covered by the employer’s OPCO. The apprentice student receives a salary indexed to the minimum wage in addition to the standard internship allowances for periods outside of apprenticeship.
This pathway remains little visible on Parcoursup. The IFSI that offer it sometimes indicate it only on their institutional website, not always in the Parcoursup sheet. We recommend contacting the educational secretariat of each targeted institute directly to verify the existence of an apprenticeship pathway and its specific application modalities.
State Nursing Diploma and Registration with the Order: Post-Training Formalities
The validation of the State Nursing Diploma (DEI) occurs at the end of the three years of training, after passing all teaching units and clinical internships. The DEI confers the bachelor’s degree and authorizes practice throughout French territory.
- Registration with the national order of nurses is mandatory before starting any position, including temporary or freelance work
- The ADELI number, assigned by the ARS, is gradually being replaced by the RPPS number, a unique identifier for healthcare professionals
- Authorization for advanced practice (IPA) requires an additional state diploma at the master’s level, accessible after a minimum of three years of practice
Without registration with the Order, nursing practice is illegal, even with a validated DEI. The process is done online through the Order’s portal and requires the submission of the diploma, an identity document, and a criminal record extract. Processing times vary by departmental councils, but one should expect several weeks between the application and the issuance of the ordinal number.
The journey from high school to the first job lasts at least three and a half years when accounting for administrative formalities. Anticipating registration with the Order as early as the last semester of training avoids a gap between obtaining the diploma and the actual start of professional activity.