Healthcare transport in France relies on two distinct professional statuses that many candidates confuse: the taxi driver conventioned by the CPAM and the driver of a light medical vehicle (VSL). Each falls under its own regulatory framework, with diplomas, approvals, and obligations that only partially overlap. Understanding these differences is crucial for choosing the right training pathway.
Conventioned taxi and VSL driver: two statuses, two legal frameworks
A conventioned taxi is a regular taxi that has signed an agreement with the CPAM to provide healthcare transport in addition to its passenger transport activity. The VSL, on the other hand, is a vehicle exclusively dedicated to healthcare transport, capable of accommodating up to three patients in a seated position.
This distinction has direct consequences on the candidate’s journey. The taxi driver must obtain a professional taxi card issued by the prefecture, then formalize their activity with the Health Insurance. The VSL driver must hold a recognized health diploma and work within an approved healthcare transport company (ETS) authorized by the ARS.
Both professions involve daily contact with patients, but the level of medical requirement differs. The VSL driver operates in a more medicalized environment, with hygiene protocols and emergency procedures governed by health regulations. The conventioned taxi driver remains primarily a transport professional, with a continuing education obligation that is less focused on care.
The question of training and diplomas required to become a VSL taxi driver therefore requires deciding between these two paths even before enrolling in anything.
Professional taxi card: T3P exam and prefectural conditions
To work as a taxi driver, the first step is obtaining the professional taxi card. This is issued by the prefecture of the department where the driver operates, after passing the T3P exam (taxi and VTC).
Registration and pricing for the T3P exam
Registration is done exclusively online via the national EXAMEN T3P platform. The candidate chooses the type of exam (taxi or VTC) and the targeted department. In Normandy, the registration fees for 2026 amount to 241 euros for the complete exam (eligibility and admission), 165 euros for a taxi to VTC mobility or vice versa, and 116 euros for the admission test only.
The exam includes an eligibility test (transport regulations, road safety, management) and an admission test (practical situation assessment, knowledge of the geographical area). Pricing may vary from one chamber of trades to another, but the structure remains identical across the territory.
Legal conditions for the professional card
Beyond the exam, the prefecture requires several cumulative conditions:
- Be in possession of a category B driving license for at least three years (or two years in the case of accompanied driving)
- Provide a medical certificate attesting to physical fitness for professional driving, issued by a doctor approved by the prefecture
- Present an extract from the criminal record compatible with the exercise of the profession (bulletin no. 2)
- Have passed the T3P exam in the department where the candidate wishes to operate
Competing articles often mention the “taxi card” without detailing these conditions. The medical visit, in particular, is not a mere formality: it covers visual acuity, hearing, cognitive abilities, and the absence of pathologies incompatible with prolonged driving.
Health diplomas to drive a VSL
The driver of a VSL does not need a professional taxi card. However, they must hold one of the diplomas or health qualifications recognized by the Public Health Code. The crew of a VSL must include at least one qualified person.
The accepted diplomas are as follows:
- The state diploma of ambulance driver (DEA), which is the most comprehensive qualification in healthcare transport
- The training certificate for ambulance assistant, a shorter training that allows access to driving a VSL
- Any title or certificate recognized as equivalent by decree from the Ministry of Health
The training for ambulance assistants lasts about 70 hours. It covers emergency gestures and care, hygiene and risk prevention, patient handling rules, and relational aspects of healthcare transport. The cost of this training varies by organization, and several funding options exist (CPF, Pôle emploi, employer funding).
Training for ambulance assistants: content and limits
The program includes a level 2 emergency gestures and care module (AFGSU 2), mandatory for any healthcare professional in contact with patients. This module teaches the management of cardiac arrest, the use of a defibrillator, the handling of hemorrhages, and respiratory distress.
The AFGSU 2 has a limited validity period and requires regular renewal. A VSL driver whose certificate expires cannot legally operate until it is renewed. This point is rarely highlighted in commercial training pathways.
Combining taxi and VSL: what the regulations actually allow
Some candidates consider combining the two activities to maximize their volume of healthcare trips. A conventioned taxi and a VSL do not fall under the same approval. The conventioned taxi operates under a CPAM agreement with its taxi license. The VSL operates under ARS approval within a healthcare transport company.
A taxi driver can transport patients under medical prescription via the CPAM convention, without holding a health diploma. However, to drive a VSL, they must obtain at least the ambulance assistant certificate, regardless of their taxi status.
Field feedback varies on the actual ease of this combination. Administrative constraints (dual approval, dual insurance, distinct continuing education obligations) make the setup complex for an independent operator. Healthcare transport companies employing VSL drivers generally require a full-time or nearly full-time commitment to healthcare activities.
The path to healthcare transport involves a structuring choice between the professional taxi card and the ambulance assistant diploma. The taxi route offers more versatility, while the VSL route provides a stronger focus on care. No regulatory shortcut allows bypassing either requirement, and recent reforms of the T3P system confirm a trend towards strengthening access conditions.