+33 5 31 60 92 46
State-approved center since 2016 and Qualiopi certified since 2020
Online French Alcohol License Training - Permis d’Exploitation
Mandatory to legally serve alcohol in France
€600 – initial training
€600 – inital training
- Duration : 20 hours - 2.5 days
- Format : Live online classroom (Zoom) in English
- Certificate valid for : 10 years in France
- Next session : April 21-23, 2026 (day 1&2 : 9am- 6pm ; day 3 9am- 1pm
- Funding : France Travail, AGEFICE, FAFCEA, OPCOs
9.7/10
Verified reviews
Trusted by international entrepreneurs opening a business in France
To know everything about the Permis d'explotation course
Who is this course for ?
Target Audience :
This course is intended for anyone planning to open or take over a business in France that sells or serves alcohol, including:
Bars and pubs
Restaurants and cafés
Guesthouses (table d’hôtes)
Licensed catering establishments
Businesses operating under a Licence 3 or Licence 4
This training is mandatory before applying for your alcohol license in France.
Prerequisites : none
Conditions :
You must:
Have a good command of English
Have access to a computer (PC or Mac) with webcam and microphone
Have a stable internet connection
Keep your camera activated during the session
The course is delivered via Zoom. A download link will be provided before the session.
Learning objectives
By the end of the course, you will:
Understand the French alcohol licensing system (Licence 3, Licence 4, restaurant license)
Know your legal responsibilities as a business owner (civil and criminal liability)
Comply with public health and safety regulations
Prevent alcohol-related risks and infractions
Understand administrative procedures before opening
Detailed program
The program covers:
Laws and regulations :
- Sources of French Law
- Administrative police
Conditions for opening a bar or restaurant :
- Beverage classification and licensing
- Legal and administrative compliance
Obligations for managing a bar or restaurant :
- Regulations related to the establishment
- Public health protection
- Maintenance of public order
Various Obligations :
- Fire safety
- Discrimination
- Audiovisual royalties
- Opening hours
- Health and social obligations (types of contracts, recruitment, mandatory displays, occupational hazard prevention...)
- Specific municipal and prefectural orders (noise, opening restrictions...)
Duration and format
Duration: 20 hours (5 half-days)
Format: Live online videoconference (Zoom)
Interactive sessions with real case studies
Maximum 15 participants per session
Evaluation and certification
At the end of the course:
You must attend all 5 half-day sessions
Your identity will be verified
You must achieve at least 80% correct answers in the final quiz
If your score is below 80%, you may retake the quiz.
If needed, a trainer will personally contact you to ensure you understand the key concepts.
Upon successful completion, your official certificate is issued and sent by secure email.
Why choose our training center?
- Two expert trainers: a legal specialist and a restaurant industry professional
- Over 5,000 professionals trained since 2016
Interactive sessions with real-life case studies
100% success rate
96.4% satisfaction rate
Our state accreditation, granted by the French Ministry of the Interior and regularly renewed, guarantees the official recognition of this training.
Technical and educational assistance
A technical and educational assistant is available at any time :
-technical assistance : you can contact our team at 05.31.60.92.46 or by email at service.client@licence-4.com,
-educational assistance by email to pedagogie@licence-4.com
Acessibility information
If you are a person with a disability, please contact our accessibility officer, Stéphane Gély, at (+33)6.66.72.26.60.
We will assess your needs and arrange appropriate adaptations to ensure optimal learning conditions.
For more information about accessibility, please visit our dedicated page (in french).
Version 8 du 17/02/2026
Are you planning to open a bar, restaurant, café or guesthouse in France and serve alcohol?
This training is legally required before applying for your alcohol license (Licence 3, Licence 4 or restaurant license).
The course is delivered live online via videoconference (Zoom).
You can join from anywhere in the world.
Your official certificate is issued immediately after completion and sent by secure email.
It is valid for 10 years throughout France, including mainland France and overseas territories.
100%
of participants
say the course helped them understand French alcohol regulations
(average quality score from 08/2025 to 10/2025)
4,9/5
Average rating from our participants
(average quality score from 08/2025 to 10/2025)
100%
succes rate
certificate obtained
(average quality score from 08/2025 to 10/2025)
Permis d'exploitation course rates
Initial training
Mandatory to legally operate a bar or restaurant in France
€
600
Individual registration
-
20 hours (2.5 days)
-
Live online (Zoom)
-
Get your certificate at the end
-
Valid 10 years
-
Slides acess during 12 months
Popular
Initial training for 2+
Opening with a partner? Get our 2+ participants rate
€
500
per person
-
Same official 20 hours program
-
Same state approved certificate
-
Mandatory for SARL / SNC co-managers
-
Recommended for SAS/ associations
-
Save €100 per person when registering together
Ready to secure your alcohol license in France?
- 1. Choice of course
- 2. Personal information
- 3. Payment
- 4. Confirmation
Secure online payment
Pay by credit card
Pay in 3 or 4 installments free of charge via PayPal
3 ways to register for the Permis d'exploitation course
Questions / Answers (FAQ)
How does the Permis d’Exploitation course work in France?
The Permis d’Exploitation course is delivered live online via Zoom.
French regulations require the presence of two certified trainers throughout the entire session:
one legal expert specialized in alcohol regulations
one hospitality industry professional
The course is fully interactive, and participants can ask questions at any time.
What is the duration of the Permis d’Exploitation training?
The standard training lasts 20 hours, delivered over 2.5 days.
Daily schedule:
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the first two days
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the third day
A one-day renewal course (7 hours) is available for:
professionals who completed the training more than 10 years ago
business owners who can demonstrate at least 10 years of experience managing a bar, café, or restaurant
Is the online Permis d’Exploitation course legal?
Yes. Since the decree of September 21, 2020, the French government officially authorizes the Permis d’Exploitation training to be delivered via live video conference.
The law requires:
two trainers present throughout the entire session
continuous interaction with participants
full attendance verification
Our organization strictly complies with all legal requirements.
Is the certificate valid throughout France?
Yes. The certificate is valid for 10 years in:
Metropolitan France
Overseas departments and territories (DOM-TOM)
When do I receive my certificate?
Your official certificate is issued at the end of the training and sent securely by email.
Can I fund my Permis d’Exploitation training?
This training is not eligible for funding through the CPF (Compte Personnel de Formation).
However, depending on your professional situation, partial funding may be available through:
France Travail (for job seekers in France)
some OPCOs (for employees or business owners under specific conditions)
We recommend contacting your advisor to check your eligibility.
Can I reschedule or cancel my course?
You may reschedule your training once, within a maximum period of 5 weeks from your initial registration date.
The request must be made at least 7 days before the course starts.
Cancellations are accepted only in cases of force majeure. In such cases, written notification is required, and a full refund will be issued.
How can I verify that your training organization is officially approved?
Our organization has been officially accredited since January 2016 by the French Ministry of the Interior.
Our accreditation was renewed on January 4, 2021, by the Haute-Garonne Prefecture.
You can verify our official approval here.
We are also Qualiopi certified, which guarantees the quality of our professional training processes.
Is the Permis d’Exploitation mandatory to open a restaurant in France?
Yes. Anyone wishing to sell alcoholic beverages in France (restaurants, bars, cafés, hotels, etc.) must complete this mandatory training before applying for their alcohol license.
Do I need this course if I only serve wine or beer?
Yes. Any establishment serving alcoholic beverages in France must obtain the Permis d’Exploitation, regardless of the type of alcohol sold.
Can foreigners take the Permis d’Exploitation course?
Yes. The course is open to French and international entrepreneurs planning to open a business in France.
Licence-4.com is an Aventum website
22 avenue du Louron
31770 Colomiers
Phone : +33 (0)5 31 60 92 46
Contact us
Monday to Friday : 8h30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
About Us
Our Expertise
Regulatory course
Short online courses
Other courses for restaurateurs
Online information and advice
Credentials
Approval Permis d’exploitation
Organization approved by the Prefecture of Haute Garonne
(renewal of 04/01/2022 of the ministerial approval of 18/01/2026 NOR:INTD1736567A)
Quality Certification
What is Qualiopi ?
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