The different hospital statuses for doctors in France

I. The Various Considerable Statuses

A. The Hospital Practitioner (HP)

Since the merger of full-time and part-time hospital practitioner statuses in February 2022, hospital practitioners have weekly service obligations set at ten half-days for full-time, and between five and nine half-days for part-time. Access to this status is through a national competition, with recruitments organized twice a year.

Compensation: The annual gross salary for hospital practitioners ranges between €54,786 and €110,755, depending on the level.

B. The Contractual Practitioner

The new status of contract practitioner replaces the former statuses of contract practitioner, attached practitioner, and hospital clinician. This status includes four instances of recourse allowing the recruitment of a doctor by contract upon the proposal of the head of department, with the opinion of the department head and the president of the establishment's medical commission.

Cases of recourse and remuneration: The annual gross earnings for contract practitioners range from €40,775 to €119,130, depending on the cases of recourse and responsibilities.

C. The Hospital Assistant

This post-internship status is intended for junior doctors who are graduates and registered with the medical board. Assistants are recruited for an initial period of one or two years, renewable without exceeding six years.

Remuneration: The annual gross salary for hospital assistants ranges between €28,780 and €40,776, depending on experience and specialty.

D. The Associate Practitioner

This status replaces the former statuses of associate attached practitioner and associate assistant practitioner for practitioners with diplomas from outside the European Union. Recruitment is done by the Director General of the CNG or the ARS.

Compensation: The annual gross salary for associate practitioners ranges between €36,083 and €40,775.

E. The Contract for Independent Practice in a Healthcare Facility

Doctors practicing privately can be allowed to participate in public service missions of health institutions, compensated per act, with a fee equal to a percentage of the fees (consultations, radiology procedures, etc.).

Conclusion

The French hospital system offers a variety of statuses allowing doctors, whether French or foreign, to find their place based on their career path and professional aspirations. Whether as a Hospital Practitioner, Contractual Practitioner, Hospital Assistant, Associate Practitioner, or in private practice, each status offers unique opportunities for professional development and integration into the French hospital environment.