Agrégation

The agrégation originated in 1766, but took its modern form under Napoleon as a competitive examination for teaching posts. In law and medicine it remained a qualification for faculty teaching. In arts and science it was required for a full chair in a lycée [see Education]; agrégés were the élite among secondary schoolteachers, and many later moved into higher education. After the creation of girls' lycées in 1880, there were for many years separate agrégations for women.

[Robert Anderson]