Becoming a general practitioner is a path that combines rigor and courage. As we have already seen in our job description for a general practitioner, he or she is the first point of contact in the health sector, and plays an essential role in the smooth running of the medical system. Students wishing to pursue an academic course in this field will need to be patient. In France, it takes 9 years of study to become a general practitioner. Let's take a look at them in detail in this article.
Initial stages of medical training
Preparatory studies and admission to medical school
Before entering higher education, a future general practitioner must pass the baccalauréat, preferably in a scientific stream, in order to master the essential basics. They then have two options:
- The Parcours Accès Santé Spécifique (PASS)
- Introduced in 2020 to replace the former Première Années Commune aux Études de Santé (PACES), the PASS is a year of study combining a health major with a miscellaneous minor. This structure not only diversifies skills, but also offers the possibility of reorientation.
- Students are assessed on the basis of continuous assessment and final exams.
- Students who are admitted to the program enter the health sector.
- Those who do not pass can reorient themselves towards their minor. They can retake the exam the following year.
- The PASS reduces the pressure of the single PACES entrance exam and diversifies students' skills.
- The Health Access License (L.AS)
- Introduced in 2020 to diversify the range of health study courses on offer, the L.AS is a course combining any major (law, humanities, economics, etc.) with a specific health minor (biology, physiology, etc.).
- At the end of the first, second or third year, and if they have passed the minimum requirements, L.AS students can apply for health studies. They then sit specific exams. Depending on their performance, they may be rejected or admitted to the second year of medical school.
- The L.AS allows students to follow a diversified pathway, encouraging skills and reorientation.
General medical studies
After the PASS or L.AS (see above), studies to become a general practitioner are divided into two parts:
- The Diplôme de Formation Générale en Sciences Médicales (DFGSM) : a three-year course (the PASS and L.AS count as the first) comprising theoretical courses in medical sciences and clinical placements in hospitals.
- The Diplôme de Formation Approfondie en Sciences Médicales (DFASM): a direct continuation of the DFGSM, this is a three-year course of study incorporating specialist courses and advanced internships in various hospital departments.
Externship examinations
During the final year of the second cycle, students must pass a series of exams which, depending on their results and rankings, will enable them to choose their specialty as well as their city. Here's the list:
- Épreuves dématérialisées nationales (EDN): these take place in October and account for 60% of the final grade. To pass, students must obtain a mark of at least 14/20 in the theoretical knowledge required by all doctors, regardless of their specialty.
- Objective and Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE): these are held in May and account for 30% of the final grade. They test students' ability to develop clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills. The minimum grade is 10/20.
- Academic progress grade: this continuous assessment takes into account the student's commitment, curriculum, mobility and level of English, and accounts for 10% of the final grade.
Specialization in general medicine
Once they have completed their general medical studies , students specializing in general medicine begin a three-year internship. This course is divided into theoretical and practical training:
- Theoreticaltraining : interns follow theoretical courses covering the various aspects of general practice.
- Practicaltraining : interns in general medicine spend time in various departments, such as emergency, pediatrics or psychiatry, to familiarize themselves with the realities of the profession.
They must also write and defend a thesis in order to obtain their doctorate. On completion of this specialization, the intern obtains the Diplôme d'Etat de Docteur en Médecine. After 9 years' study to become a general practitioner , he or she can finally practise the profession!
Careers and opportunities in general medicine
Status of general practitioners
Young GPs registered with the Ordre des Médecins can now apply for GP jobs. They will also have to choose the status under which they will practice:
- Liberal: GPs work as independent professionals in their own practices or in collaboration with other healthcare professionals. They are autonomous in managing their own schedules, choosing their own equipment and setting their own fees. However, they must assume administrative and financial responsibility for their activity.
- Salaried : GPs may work as salaried employees of the hospital civil service, in health centers or practices. This gives them access to state-of-the-art medical equipment and job stability, but less autonomy than private practice.
GP practice locations
GPs can choose to practice in the following locations:
- Private practice
- Hospitals and university hospitals
- Private clinics
- Health centers
- Companies (occupational medicine)
- Non-profit sector
- Universities and medical schools
- Teleconsultation
In conclusion, studying general medicine is a long and demanding process. From initial selection via the PASS or L.AS, through to specialized training, this pathway ensures a comprehensive and versatile training, preparing general practitioners to meet the health needs of the population in a variety of professional contexts.
If you enjoyed this article and would like to find out more, don't hesitate to discover our GP salary sheet !
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General practitioner M/F - Mauguio 34
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A medical establishment in Mauguio, Hérault, is looking for its new general practitioner M/F for a permanent contract. Terms and conditions - CDI - Working hours to be defined The structure You will be joining a medical facility located in Mauguio, Hérault. The management is independent and runs several medical and ophthalmological centers within a small radius, which means that activity can be pooled and organization is highly flexible. Remuneration - Remuneration of 45% gross of sales Duties - Provide consultations and patient follow-up - Coordinate care with the paramedical team - Participate in the growth and pooling of activity between sites - Refer patients for specialized or surgical care - Ensure rigorous management of medical records and communications - Practice a complementary activity if DU The advantages - Parking available close to premises - Easy tramway access - Break and lunch rooms for practitioners - Pooling of activities between several nearby centers - Structured paramedical team to facilitate consultation flow - Possibility of performing surgery through a clinical partnership The little extra Mauguio enjoys a privileged location between Montpellier and the Mediterranean coast, offering rapid access to beaches, leisure areas and Montpellier-Méditerranée airport. The living environment combines urban advantages with the proximity of the seaside. Profile required Doctor qualified in France or the European Union, registered or eligible for registration with the Ordre des Médecins. Contact us on: 07 44 71 65 08 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Ad reference: 12631 Candidates from the European Union: Jober Group, leader in the integration of healthcare professionals in France, supports you free of charge right up to the start of your activity: - Introduction to our partner teachers - Follow-up for registration with the French Medical Association - Dedicated consultant to support you Find over 4,000 healthcare job offers on our Jober Group website and mobile application. Benefit from a network of 1,000 partners throughout France, a team of recruitment experts at your service, and a totally free service that 99% of our candidates are satisfied with.
General practitioner - Dunkerque 59
Employee
7500 - 12000 per month
Dunkerque
Job - General practitioner - Dunkerque 59 A project for an intercommunal health center in Dunkirk, in the Nord region of France, is looking for a new general practitioner for a salaried position. Terms and conditions - Salaried (public administrative establishment) - Full time or part time possible - Max. working day: 9h - Monday to Friday - 9h - 13h15 / 14h15 - 18h30 - Saturday 8:30am - 12:30pm The structure This is a project by the local authority of Dunkirk to create an intercommunal health center, scheduled to open in mid-November 2026. The site will offer a total surface area of 630 m², divided between the first floor and basement, with 6 doctors' surgeries, administrative areas and waiting rooms. The project emphasizes enhanced accessibility, renovation with a high-performance energy label and a multidisciplinary organization integrating doctors, nurses, midwives and a psychologist. Remuneration - To be defined at the time of interview, according to profile and experience Missions - Provide face-to-face general medical consultations - Participate in the fight against medical desertification and welcome patients without a general practitioner - Make home visits - Contribute to mental health follow-up and refer patients to appropriate structures - Coordinate care with the multidisciplinary team and external partners - Participate in prevention initiatives and local programs (diabetes, obesity, cancer resource center) - Participate in the implementation and operational ramp-up of the center Your benefits - Secure salaried status with hospital salary scale (hospital practitioner) - 5 weeks paid vacation - 21 days RTT (FTE) - Luncheon vouchers - Access to local civil service benefits (CSE, social works) - Vehicle available for home visits - Free bus network nearby and good TER/TGV connections Our equipment - 6 medical offices equipped with water point and examination table - Possibility of connecting offices - 40 m² rest room - Rail-mounted patient lift - Scales adapted up to 300 kg - Administrative and storage space in basement A little something extra Dunkerque offers a unique urban and maritime life: beaches, port heritage and the famous Dunkerque carnival attract residents and visitors every year, while Lille can be reached in around 30 minutes by TER and Paris in around 2 hours by TGV. Profile required General practitioner qualified in France or the European Union, registered or eligible for registration with the Ordre des Médecins. Contact us on: 07 44 71 65 08 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Advert reference : 12456 Candidates from the European Union: Jober Group, leader in the integration of healthcare professionals in France, supports you free of charge right up to the start of your activity: - Introduction to our partner teachers - Follow-up for registration with the French Medical Association - Dedicated consultant to support you Find over 4,000 healthcare job offers on our Jober Group website and mobile application. Benefit from a network of 1,000 partners throughout France, a team of recruitment experts at your service, and a totally free service that 99% of our candidates are satisfied with.
General practitioner - Bergerac 24
Employee
7500 - 12000 per month
Bergerac
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