France has no automatic equivalence for foreign diplomas, so a US degree is never converted into a French one. French schools decide for study, employers for most jobs, and an optional certificate of comparability (attestation de comparabilité) only describes your degree’s level.
For the official rules on studying in France in one page (tuition, the visa, work rights), see the Diplonaut France guide.
Is a US degree recognized in France?
French law sets no legal equivalence between foreign and French diplomas. The French ministry of higher education says that only a certificate of comparability with the French system can be obtained.
So “recognition” in France is not a single stamp. It depends on what you want to do with your degree: study, take an ordinary job, or work in a regulated profession.
American degree recognition in France: who decides
| Your goal | Who assesses your US degree | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Continue your studies | The French school or university | Decided in your admission file. A certificate is optional unless the school asks. |
| An exchange semester | Your US college and the French school | Recognition is normally set in the exchange agreement. |
| A job in a non-regulated field | The employer | The employer evaluates your qualifications and professional level, and may ask for the certificate. |
| A regulated profession (lawyer, architect, doctor, for example) | A procedure specific to that profession | ENIC-NARIC France explains the steps. The certificate does not apply. |
For study, the French government’s public-service site is direct: recognition of a foreign diploma can only be granted by the host institution, when you apply. Each program reads your degree, transcript and level.
With a US bachelor’s, that usually means applying to a master’s program. Our article on the US bachelor’s and the French licence explains how the levels line up, and our guide to master’s degrees in France for Americans covers the application routes.
What the attestation de comparabilité is
ENIC-NARIC France is the French member of the European ENIC-NARIC network (European Network of Information Centres and National Academic Recognition Information Centres). It is run by France Éducation international, under the French government.
Its certificate describes the level of your foreign degree and compares it with French levels of training. Service-public.fr calls it an opinion. It has no legal value, it is not compulsory, and the final decision stays with the school.
Not every document qualifies:
- Only a diploma recognized by the country that issued it can be assessed.
- Certificates that only show language skills are not covered.
- Diplomas that lead to a regulated profession follow a separate procedure.
How to request it: cost and timing
- The request is made online, through France Éducation international. The procedure is only available in French.
- You pre-register first. A file number arrives by email within 24 hours, with a link to complete your file.
- Step one is an admissibility review (€20). If your file is admissible, step two is the assessment (€100). That makes €120, paid online.
- Asylum seekers and refugees are exempt from the fee.
- The center must answer within four months of payment, at most. The certificate is sent by email.
These figures come from service-public.fr, last verified in April 2025. Check the amount on the platform before you pay, and watch our latest rule changes page. If a school asks for your transcript in French, read our article on translating a transcript.
When is it worth getting?
- When a French school, an employer or an administration asks you for it.
- When you apply for jobs in France and want a French document describing your degree’s level, since an employer can request it.
- Not by reflex for admission: most programs judge your file themselves, and four months is a long wait in an application calendar.
Still weighing France against other destinations? The Diplonaut comparator sets France beside other countries, and our page on a degree abroad versus a US college looks at the trade-offs.
Frequently asked questions
Is an American degree recognized in France?
There is no automatic equivalence. For study, the French school decides at admission. For most jobs, the employer assesses your degree and level.
Do I need an attestation de comparabilité to apply to a French master’s?
Not by default. The certificate is optional, so get one only if the program asks for it. Each program sets its own list of documents.
How much does the certificate cost and how long does it take?
As published by service-public.fr, €120 in total: €20 for the admissibility review and €100 for the assessment. The center must answer within four months of payment.
Can I work in a regulated profession in France with a US degree?
Each regulated profession has its own procedure. ENIC-NARIC France explains the steps. The certificate of comparability does not cover these professions.
Official sources
- Service-public.fr: Faire reconnaître un diplôme obtenu à l’étranger (F463) and English version
- Service-public.fr: Request a certificate of comparability (online service)
- French ministry of higher education: La reconnaissance des diplômes
- ENIC-NARIC network: France
Checked November 11, 2026. Diplonaut is not affiliated with any school or evaluation body.