Can France's CPF Fund Forest Therapy Training? What to Know in 2026
Updated: 3 days ago
Are you interested in forest therapy and would like to potentially train to make it your profession? And are you legitimately wondering if you can use the credit available in your CPF (Personal Training Account)?
Let's see in this article what this is all about and if it's something that can be considered!
Summary :
What is a CPF account?
The Personal Training Account (CPF) is a system set up by the French State to allow every working person to develop their skills throughout their professional life. It is aimed at all employees, job seekers, public servants , but also, in recent years, at self-employed workers, micro-entrepreneurs and members of the liberal professions .
The CPF (Personal Training Account) is linked to the individual, not their job. This means that the accrued amount remains available, even if you change companies, employment status, or experience a period of unemployment! For private sector employees and the self-employed, entitlements are recorded in euros ; for public sector employees, CPF entitlements are generally recorded in hours.
Each year, the account is automatically credited, according to professional status:
Private sector employees : €500 per year (capped at €5,000), or €800 per year for low-skilled people (capped at €8,000).
Part-time employees : rights calculated pro rata to working time.
Public employees : rights generally counted in hours according to the rules specific to the civil service.
Self-employed workers and micro-entrepreneurs : their contributions are based on the vocational training contribution (CFP), paid annually to URSSAF or the Social Security for the Self-Employed. The maximum contribution is €500 per year, the same as for salaried employees.
These contributions entitle you, just as for employees, to a training credit on your CPF account, which can be viewed at moncompteformation.gouv.fr
If you have never done so, it is a good idea to check your CPF account to verify that your credit is paid every year (One year, I was forgotten... I had to complain and it was quickly rectified!).
And what about forest therapy?
An emerging practice that is out of step with the administrative framework
As a reminder, forest therapy (or "forest bathing") is a practice consisting of walking in the forest , taking the time to breathe the air rich in phytoncides , while allowing oneself to be deeply immersed in this environment.
In Japan in 1982, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries was the first to propose integrating forest therapy into its recommendations for healthy living . Today, there are dozens of certified forest therapies in the country, recognized by the local Forest Therapy Society . This society also certifies forest therapists themselves, under the supervision of the Nippon Medical School in Tokyo.
In France, forest therapy is an emerging and ahead-of-its-time practice that, unfortunately, is out of step with the administrative framework . And as is often the case with emerging practices, several years, even decades, are needed to establish a sustainable structure .
It is therefore not surprising that in our country, the forest therapy training currently offered by Telomere Project is not eligible for CPF funding. In 2026, eligible certified training programs must prepare participants for an active certification listed in the National Directory of Professional Certifications (RNCP), an RNCP skills block, or the Specific Directory (RS). The training provider must also be accredited by the certifying body. Since 2026, the use of CPF funds for an RS-listed certification is capped at €1,500, except in specific cases such as CléA.
Thus, the following question arises: is a structured approach to forest therapy worthwhile?
Regarding the safety and well-being of clients, the answer is obviously yes. However, if the framework becomes too rigid and prevents rigorous support for individuals , it will become an unbearable constraint instead of a clear advantage for both clients and staff.
It is still possible to prepare for forest therapy training.
Pending the possible establishment of a legislative and professional framework relating to forest therapy, those wishing to train can still verify the seriousness of forest therapists by exploring several points.
The trainer's professional experience can reflect their seriousness, as can their qualifications , for example in fields such as health and well-being, botany or within environmental protection associations.
Testimonials from former trainees can also reveal a lot about the speaker and, potentially, the quality of their training.
Furthermore, prospective forest therapists can also assess the quality of the trainer by verifying the presence of a structured program , training materials, an assessment of acquired skills (final exam) but also, post-training follow-up.
The trainer who can provide a certificate of attendance (and the number of hours completed) as well as a certificate at the end of the course will inevitably be more credible.
Finally, the inability to use the CPF obviously does not prevent training ;)
Indeed, some forest therapy practitioners (like myself) offer payment plans (in installments).
For example, to reserve your place in the training, a deposit of €200 is sufficient.
The balance can then be paid in as many installments as you wish , at your own pace, up to one week before the start of the training .
Because learning forest therapy is also about learning to listen to your own rhythm, I want to ensure that the financial aspect remains flexible, simple, and tailored to your budget. Feel free to contact me so we can discuss it together :)
You can alsouse a gift card to finance all or part of your registration: a great idea to suggest to your loved ones for a birthday, Christmas, or simply to celebrate a life transition!
And to go further before you embark on this journey, I invite you to consult the Mini-Survival Guide before training in forest therapy : it will allow you to understand what forest therapy training truly entails, to verify that you are ready for this wonderful adventure, and to discover my tips for experiencing this journey with complete serenity 🌲
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