What Is a Liste Complémentaire in a French Civil Service Concours?

A liste complementaire is a ranked list of candidates in a French civil service concours who were judged fit for the job by the jury but ranked below the number of vacancies offered. It functions as a waiting list: candidates on it can still be recruited if someone on the main list withdraws, fails to take up their post, or if extra vacancies open before the next session.

Where does the rule come from?

The mechanism is set out in decree, notably decret n°2003-532 of 18 June 2003 on how liste complementaire lists are established and used for concours giving access to State civil service corps, and it now sits in the general civil service code alongside the main admission list rules. Every concours jury can, depending on the process, draw up such a list ranked by merit alongside the liste principale.

How is it used in practice?

If a candidate on the liste principale cannot be appointed, for example because they withdraw, fail a required condition, or are already appointed elsewhere, the administration can call the next candidate on the liste complementaire, in rank order, to fill that vacancy. It can also be used to fill posts that become vacant between two concours sessions, which is why being on it, while not a guaranteed job, is meaningfully different from simply failing the concours.

How long does it stay valid?

A liste complementaire is valid for a maximum of two years from the date it is established. It ends earlier than that if a new session of the same concours opens before the two years are up: the list is automatically cancelled the day the new session’s tests begin. So a candidate on the list either gets called within that window or the opportunity closes when the next competition starts.

Is there a cap on how many can be recruited off it?

Yes. Under the general rule, the number of candidates appointed off a liste complementaire cannot exceed 200 percent of the number of posts originally offered at that concours, unless a specific decree sets a different limit. In practice this means the list is a real reserve, not an unlimited backup pool.

Does this apply to the CRPE and the IRA concours?

The liste complementaire mechanism is a general feature of State civil service concours and can apply to competitions such as the CRPE (see also what the CRPE is) and the IRA concours (see also what the IRA concours is), though whether a given session actually establishes one, and how it is used, is set out in that session’s specific notice rather than being automatic for every concours every year. Candidates ranked close to the cutoff should check the notice for their session rather than assume a list exists.

What should a candidate on the liste complementaire actually do?

Stay reachable and keep your contact details current with the administration, since being called can happen with limited notice if a vacancy opens. It is also reasonable to keep preparing as if you might need to resit, since being on the liste complementaire is not the same as being guaranteed a post, and the two-year cap or a new concours session can close the window before you are called. Understanding what changes once you are actually appointed is covered in fonctionnaire stagiaire vs titulaire, and how a rank on the main list turns into an actual posting for the CRPE specifically is explained in after the CRPE: academie assignment.

Frequently asked questions

Is being on the liste complementaire the same as passing the concours? It means the jury judged you fit for the post, but you are not guaranteed appointment; appointment depends on vacancies opening while the list remains valid.

How will I know if I am called off the liste complementaire? The administration contacts candidates directly, in rank order, when a vacancy needs filling; there is no fixed schedule since it depends on when a vacancy actually appears.

Does the liste complementaire carry over if I do not get called? No. It expires after two years at the latest, and earlier if a new session of the same concours begins, at which point it is automatically cancelled.

Can more than 200 percent of the original vacancies be filled from the list? Only if a specific decree for that corps or concours sets a higher limit; the general rule caps it at 200 percent of the posts originally offered.

Should I register for the next session while I am still on a liste complementaire? It is a reasonable precaution, since the list can lapse without you being called, and registering for the next session does not remove you from an existing liste complementaire.