France has a real need for doctors, but it strictly evaluates non-EU medical qualifications. Medicine is regulated, and your eligibility depends heavily on where you trained.

In short: if you trained in the EU or EEA, your degree is recognised,d and you register with the departmental council of the Order of Physicians (Conseil départemental de l’Ordre des Médecins); if you trained outside the EU, you must usually pass the Épreuves de Vérification des Connaissances (EVC), a competitive national exam run by the National Management Centre (CNG) and complete supervised practice before you can be authorised and registered.

EU and EEA-Trained Doctors

Doctors trained in the EU or EEA benefit from automatic recognition under Directive 2005/36/EC. You register on the roll of the departmental council of the Order of Physicians (Conseil départemental de l’Ordre des Médecins), prove French at around B2, and can take up a post once registered.

Non-EU-Trained Doctors

Doctors from outside the EU follow the authorisation-to-practise procedure. First, you must pass the Épreuves de Vérification des Connaissances (EVC), a highly competitive national exam run by the National Management Centre (CNG); only around 15 to 20 per cent of candidates succeed, and attempts are capped. You then complete a two-year supervised hospital programme (the Parcours de Consolidation desCompétencess), after which a national commission reviews your full file and decides on authorisation. French at around B2 is required throughout.

The Work Route

Once you can practise, the usual immigration route is a VLS-TS work visa, with the employer securing work authorisation. Many non-EU doctors spend time in associate or supervised posts while completing the procedure.

Salary, Specialisation, and Demand

Doctors’ pay in France follows national or collective agreements and varies by grade, region, and experience, and specialists earn more than junior doctors. You specialise through structured postgraduate training after full registration. Demand for doctors is strong across much of Europe, so confirm the salary, hours, and contract in writing before accepting a post.

Avoiding Scams

Use official regulators and ethical recruiters only. Legitimate employers and agencies never charge a doctor upfront placement fees; if anyone asks you to pay to be placed, treat it as a likely scam and verify the employer and the departmental council of the Order of Physicians (Conseil départemental de l’Ordre des Médecins) through official channels.

Official Sources

Confirm the current rules with the departmental council of the Order of Physicians (Conseil départemental de l’Ordre des Médecins) and the French immigration authority, as procedures, exams, language levels, and fees may change.