Pix: France’s Public Platform for Digital Skills Assessment and Certification
PARIS, 19 January 2026 – In an increasingly digital world, France has positioned a unique public service at the heart of its strategy to combat the digital divide and upskill its population. Pix, a state-initiated, non-profit online platform, allows anyone to evaluate, develop, and officially certify their digital competencies. From mandatory assessments in schools to professional development for employees, Pix has become a cornerstone of digital literacy in France and is expanding its influence across Europe and beyond.
What is Pix?
Pix is a public interest grouping (Groupement d’intérêt public – GIP) launched in 2016 by the French government. Its core mission is to “accompany the digital transformation of our society and our economy by helping millions of users to cultivate their digital skills throughout their life.” Accessible via pix.fr, the platform offers a free, gamified service where users can test their skills through interactive challenges that simulate real-life digital tasks. Beyond self-assessment, Pix provides a state-recognised certification, which has been the official national standard since 2019, replacing previous systems like the Brevet informatique et internet (B2i) and the Certificat informatique et internet (C2i).
The Pix Framework: 5 Domains, 16 Competencies
Pix’s assessment structure is aligned with the European Digital Competence Framework (DigComp). It evaluates users across 16 distinct digital competencies, organised into 5 key domains:
- Information and data: Searching, evaluating, and managing digital information.
- Communication and collaboration: Interacting, sharing, and engaging through digital technologies.
- Content creation: Developing and editing digital content.
- Protection and security: Protecting devices, personal data, privacy, health, and the environment.
- Digital environment: Understanding and configuring digital systems and devices.
Using an innovative adaptive algorithm, the platform personalises the difficulty of questions based on the user’s previous answers, aiming for a “benevolent” and accurate evaluation. The final results are expressed across 7 levels (from beginner to expert) for each competency.
Key Facts & Figures
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Annual Active Users | 7.3 million |
| Pix Challenges Completed | 2.6 billion |
| Certifications Issued (since 2017) | 7.8 million |
| French Secondary Schools Using Pix | 100% (approx. 11,000 schools) |
| Higher Education Institutions Using Pix | 97 universities |
Pix in the French Education System
Pix is deeply integrated into the national curriculum. Its use is mandatory for all students in Year 10 (3e) and Year 13 (Terminale), who must pass the official certification. Furthermore, since 2024, an attestation of digital awareness is compulsory for all Year 7 (6e) students, focusing on cyberbullying prevention and online safety.
The certification itself underwent a significant reform for the 2024-2025 academic year. The new format consists of a 1 hour 45 minute supervised exam where all candidates answer 32 adaptive questions covering all 16 competencies. The exam is taken in a secure browser with a specific extension (Pix Companion) to ensure integrity. For lycée students, results are now automatically transmitted to the Parcoursup higher education application platform.
The expected benchmark is a global level 3 for Year 10 students and level 4 for Year 13 students. Teachers use the companion platform Pix Orga to create custom learning campaigns, monitor student progress, and analyse results at individual and class levels.
Beyond the Classroom: Pix’s Expanding Reach
While education is its foundation, Pix serves a wider audience. The international platform pix.org offers services in English and French and is used in over 40 countries. A key partnership with UNESCO supports the Youth Employment in the Mediterranean (YEM) project.
For the professional world, Pix Pro offers organisations tools to map and develop the digital skills of their employees. For educators themselves, Pix+Edu provides a pathway for teachers to assess and certify their professional digital competencies. The platform is also expanding downwards with Pix Junior, an experimental platform for primary school pupils (CM1-CM2), and will roll out mandatory learning pathways on artificial intelligence for students in Year 9 (4e), Year 11 (2de), and first-year CAP programmes from January 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pix free to use?
Yes, creating a personal account on pix.fr to access tests, tutorials, and skill development pathways is completely free. The official certification exam, which is optional for the general public but mandatory for students in certain years, may involve a fee if taken outside of an educational institution.
Who is Pix for?
Pix is designed for everyone: secondary school and university students, job seekers, employees, professionals, and any citizen wishing to evaluate or improve their digital skills. It is a lifelong learning tool.
Is the Pix certification recognised?
Yes. The Pix certification is officially recognised by the French state, the national education system, and the professional world. It is aligned with the European DigComp framework, aiding mobility. It is also eligible for funding through the Compte personnel de formation (CPF).
How do I get certified?
After training on the platform, you must pass a proctored certification exam. For students, this is organised by their school. Other individuals can take the exam at one of over 700 accredited certification centres across France.