Can public-school teachers tutor in France?

In France, a public-school teacher can give private lessons outside their job, but only within the civil-service rules on holding a second activity. Those rules say what is allowed, which authorization to ask for, and where the line is.

One rule, a few framed exceptions

A public agent "cannot exercise, on a professional basis, any private lucrative activity of any kind" (article L123-1 of the Code général de la fonction publique). A tenured teacher at the French Ministry of Education is a public agent, and owes their whole professional activity to their post.

Paid private lessons fall under that general ban. The law, though, lists accessory activities that can be authorized, and "teaching and training" is one of them. That is the opening for a teacher who wants to earn on the side.

Who this covers

• Tenured and contract teachers of the state school system.
• Teachers employed by another public body, such as a university or a local authority.
• A teacher on a part-time post follows lighter rules, set out below.

Ask your hierarchy for authorization

Teaching is an accessory activity that needs prior authorization. Before you start, you send a written request to your line management. It states at least:

• who you will work for: the employer or organization, or your self-employed status;
• the nature, length, frequency and pay of the activity.

The administration answers within one month of the request, or two months if it asks for more information. With no written answer inside that window, the request counts as refused.

The accessory activity runs only outside your service hours, and must not disturb the running, independence or neutrality of the service.

Micro-entreprise: the status to invoice under

To invoice private lessons as a self-employed tutor, most teachers pick the micro-entreprise. This is where a full-time agent meets stricter rules:

• Creating or taking over a business means moving to part-time. That part-time cannot be below a half post.
• The authorization lasts three years at most, renewable for one year.
• If a real doubt exists about compatibility with your duties, the administration consults the ethics referee, then the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life.

If you already work part-time, meaning 24.5 hours a week or less, the regime is lighter: a written declaration to your hierarchy before you start is enough.

Before you commit, work out what URSSAF will take from your turnover and compare the options. Our guide to registering as a self-employed tutor walks through the setup step by step.

Free tool: our URSSAF simulator estimates your micro-entreprise contributions from your turnover.

The line you never cross: your own pupils

A teacher cannot give paid private lessons to a pupil they teach in class. Charging someone you grade puts you in a conflict of interest, which the rules on holding a second activity forbid outright. Beyond the disciplinary risk, it muddies your standing with the family and the school.

A few markers to stay clear:

• Not your current pupils, nor any you mark or invigilate at an exam.
• Nothing during service hours, and nothing on school equipment.
• Keep written proof of your authorization.

Run your lessons without eating into your job

A teacher who tutors on the side juggles two calendars. The trap is spending every evening chasing payments and writing invoices. Keeping your students, sessions and payments in one place buys back the time you lack. Kadrella sends invoices and lesson reminders by WhatsApp or email, matches the transfers you receive against your invoices, and keeps your private lesson management up to date with no re-entry.

Start small, declare what you earn, and keep the two roles apart. The rules are clear once you have the authorization in hand.

Sources

• Can a public official combine employment with a private activity? (service-public.gouv.fr)
• Code général de la fonction publique, article L123-1 (Légifrance)
• Cumul rules, articles L123-1 to L123-10 (Légifrance)
• French Ministry of Education