CACES: definition, categories, costs and training
07 March 2025 · 4 min reading time
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Are you looking to work as a forklift operator, operate an aerial work platform or drive construction equipment? The CACES certificate you need depends on the machinery used in the role. Before choosing a training course in France, check the entry requirements, costs and funding options, particularly if you work through a temporary employment agency.
CACES training: definition and purpose
What is CACES?
CACES stands for Certificat d’aptitude à la conduite en sécurité, a French certificate assessing the ability to operate equipment safely. It verifies that an employee or temporary worker has the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to operate specific machinery, such as forklifts, aerial work platforms or construction equipment.
The term “CACES training” is widely used, but the certificate is awarded after passing assessments. Training helps candidates develop the necessary skills and prepare for those assessments.
Is CACES mandatory?
CACES itself is not a general legal requirement under the French Labour Code. However, appropriate training in the safe operation of equipment is mandatory. Certain types of machinery also require an employer-issued operating authorisation.
CACES is a recognised way of assessing an operator’s skills, which is why it frequently appears as a requirement in job advertisements.
How does it differ from an operating authorisation?
CACES certifies your knowledge and practical skills for a category of equipment. An operating authorisation allows you to use the relevant equipment under the conditions defined by the company.
Before issuing it, the company must consider your skills, the applicable medical requirements and your knowledge of the site and its safety instructions. A valid CACES certificate therefore does not automatically allow you to operate machinery as soon as you arrive at a new workplace.
For temporary workers, the operating authorisation is issued by the company where the assignment takes place, for the duration of that assignment, after checking that the necessary conditions are met.
CACES categories and validity periods
Your choice depends primarily on the equipment you will use. A certificate for a forklift does not qualify you to operate an aerial work platform.
| CACES family | Equipment covered | Validity period |
|---|---|---|
| R482A | Construction equipment | 10 years |
| R483 | Mobile cranes | 5 years |
| R484 | Overhead travelling cranes and gantry cranes | 5 years |
| R485 | Pedestrian-operated stacker trucks | 5 years |
| R486A | Mobile elevating work platforms, also known as aerial work platforms | 5 years |
| R487 | Tower cranes | 5 years |
| R489 | Ride-on industrial trucks | 5 years |
| R490 | Loader cranes | 5 years |
The references R482 and R486 still appear in job advertisements and training catalogues. The updated recommendations are called R482A and R486A. R482A has applied since 1 December 2025.
What do CACES 1, 3 and 5 mean?
In forklift operator job advertisements, “CACES 1, 3, 5” generally refers to several categories within R489.
| R489 category | Equipment covered |
|---|---|
| 1A | Ride-on pallet trucks and order pickers without an elevating operator position, with a lifting height of up to 1.20 metres |
| 1B | Ride-on stacker trucks with a lifting height above 1.20 metres |
| 3 | Counterbalance forklifts with a rated capacity of up to 6 tonnes |
| 5 | Reach trucks |
Before enrolling, ask whether the role requires category 1A, category 1B or both. The term “CACES 1” alone does not identify the exact requirement.
To understand the differences between ride-on trucks and pedestrian-operated stackers, read our comparison of CACES R489 and R485 in French.
What happens during CACES training?
Training combines theory with practical exercises on the equipment. Its content and duration should reflect your experience and the categories you are preparing for.
The theory component
You learn to identify risks associated with the machinery and its surroundings. For forklifts, this includes reading the load capacity plate to understand how much weight can be lifted under the specified conditions. You also study traffic rules, truck stability and the checks required before use.
The practical component
Exercises cover tasks performed on the job. Depending on the R489 categories concerned, you may learn to drive with or without a load, pick up a pallet, place it in a storage location or load a vehicle. The instructor helps you practise manoeuvres, equipment checks and safe shutdown procedures.
CACES assessments
A theory assessment tests your knowledge. A practical assessment then checks your ability to operate the equipment safely.
The certificate is awarded after passing the relevant assessments. Attending a training course alone does not guarantee certification.
What are the requirements for taking CACES?
How old do you need to be?
Courses open to the general public usually require candidates to be at least 18. However, specific arrangements exist for young people aged 15 to 17, particularly those in vocational education. They may be allowed to operate certain equipment under specific conditions, with appropriate training and a specific operating authorisation.
If you are under 18, ask your training establishment and employer to check your eligibility before booking a course.
Can you take CACES without a driving licence?
A category B driving licence is generally not required to take CACES, particularly for trucks used inside warehouses. Driving a vehicle on public roads is subject to separate rules: CACES does not replace any driving licence that may be required.
Can you take CACES without experience?
Yes, initial training courses are available for beginners. Tell the centre if you have never operated machinery so that it can recommend sufficient practical training time. Before enrolling, also check the level of French comprehension required to follow instructions and complete the assessments.
Is a medical examination required?
For equipment requiring an operating authorisation, a medical certificate confirming the absence of contraindications, issued by an occupational physician, has been required since 1 October 2025. Transitional arrangements allow certain earlier medical opinions to be accepted. Your occupational health service can check whether your existing document is suitable.
When enrolling, ask the centre which medical documents are required for the course. CACES certification does not replace the occupational health checks needed for the role.
How long does it take to obtain CACES?
For R489 trucks, training covering several categories may take five days, while some refresher courses last three days. Candidates who have already completed appropriate training may also register for assessments alone. The following examples illustrate the courses offered by training providers.
| Course | Example duration | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Initial R489 training, categories 1A, 3 and 5 | 5 days at Afpa, including assessments | Candidates who need training in these categories |
| R489 refresher course, three categories | 3 days at Formalogistics | Operators preparing to renew their certificates |
| R489 assessments only | 1 day at Promotrans, with proof of previous training required | Candidates who are already trained and ready for assessment |
These durations concern R489 trucks. For an aerial work platform, crane or construction machine, request the relevant programme. The time required also depends on your experience and the number of categories you are preparing for.
Where can you take CACES, and who issues it?
CACES is issued by a certified testing organisation, known in France as an OTC (organisme testeur certifié). The organisation may also provide preparatory training.
Before booking, check that the organisation is certified for the equipment family and categories you need. You can find certified testing organisations in the database available on the INRS website.
How much does CACES training cost?
The cost of CACES training depends on the categories selected, the number of assessments, your experience and the training centre. There is no single national price.
How much does CACES 1, 3 and 5 cost?
As an example, Promotrans lists the following prices for its R489 course covering categories 1, 3 and 5:
| R489 course covering categories 1, 3 and 5 | Indicative price per person |
|---|---|
| Initial training: beginner | €949 excluding VAT |
| Initial training: experienced operator | €899 excluding VAT |
| Refresher training: experienced operator | €699 excluding VAT |
Prices checked in September 2026 and subject to confirmation by quotation. Whether category 1A or 1B is included, along with the exact course content, must be confirmed when booking. These examples are not national averages.
When comparing two quotations, make sure they cover the same categories and type of course. Check the amount of practical training, the assessments included and the final amount payable. A price excluding VAT cannot be compared directly with a VAT-inclusive or VAT-exempt price.
Also ask about the cost of retaking assessments if you do not pass. Travel, meals and accommodation may add to the training cost.
How can you fund CACES training?
The personal training account
You can use your CPF, France’s personal training account, if the chosen course is eligible. Check the listing on Mon Compte Formation to confirm the certification covered, your available training balance and any remaining amount payable.
France Travail
If you are a jobseeker, your adviser can review funding options suited to your plans. These may include a place on an already funded course or individual training assistance (AIF).
Funding depends on your circumstances and how the training supports your return to work. Have your training plan approved before making a commitment.
Taking CACES through a temporary employment agency
If you are a Staffmatch temporary worker, submit your training request to your agency contact. Explain which roles interest you, which equipment you have already used and which CACES certificates you hold, including their expiry dates.
Your recruitment consultant can then discuss the categories relevant to potential assignments and the available funding options. Wait for funding confirmation before booking a course at your own expense.
How do you renew your CACES?
Check the expiry date of each certificate and contact your training provider or agency before that date to arrange renewal.
Refresher training, known in France as recyclage CACES, helps you prepare for the new assessments. Its duration depends on your experience and training needs. You must then pass the theory and practical assessments to obtain a new certificate.
What jobs can you do with CACES?
CACES can help you access roles such as forklift operator, warehouse forklift operator, order picker, construction equipment operator or crane operator, depending on the categories you hold and the skills required.
Which CACES should you choose for your target role?
The job title alone is not enough: two order pickers may use different equipment. Choose your categories based on the machinery you will operate.
| Role or activity | Equipment used | Relevant CACES |
|---|---|---|
| Ground-level order picking | Ride-on pallet truck with a lifting height of up to 1.20 metres | R489 category 1A |
| Loading and unloading pallets | Counterbalance forklift with a capacity of up to 6 tonnes | R489 category 3 |
| Storing goods in racking | Reach truck | R489 category 5 |
| Stockroom handling | Pedestrian-operated stacker with a lifting height above 1.20 metres | R485, with the category determined by lifting height |
| Working at height | Aerial work platform | R486A, with the category determined by the equipment |
| Earthmoving | Excavator or other construction equipment | R482A, with the category determined by the machine |
Ask the employer or your agency to confirm which equipment is used in the role before enrolling.
When applying for a job, include the CACES reference, the categories obtained and their expiry dates on your CV. Also describe your experience with the relevant machinery: certification and practical experience give recruiters complementary information.
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