PPS: New Medical Certificate for Paris Marathon & French Races

Exciting news for race enthusiasts and casual runners alike! The Paris Marathon medical certificate requirement has changed, and it’s now easier than ever to participate. Thanks to a new system, you no longer need to hassle with getting a doctor’s note, which can come with an extra cost. Instead, the paper medical certificate has been replaced by the Parcours Prévention Santé (PPS) course, also known in English as the “Health Prevention Pathway (HPP)”—a quick, free, and simple way to get ready for your race.

This new PPS system opens up a world of possibilities. You might not be inclined to run the Paris Marathon; however, there are other fun, shorter races you could compete in when you vacation in France. I recently tried out the PPS course for my application to La Parisienne, a women-only race that takes place in Paris this October, and it made the process a breeze!

1. Paris Marathon Medical Certificate: Transition to PPS

For years the organizers of the Paris Marathon, Semi-marathon de Paris, and other French races have required the participant to submit a medical certificate—-a doctor’s note stating that the person is in good health and can compete in the race. To my knowledge, only France and Italy require this.

Unfortunately, there is often a cost to get this medical certificate. For the Pegasus Semi-Marathon that I did in Normandy in 2023, my doctor charged me $50 for that medical note. The good news is that more and more races are requiring a different type of medical certificate.

The PPS will be gradually phased in for all races. You’ll just have to provide the race with your PPS attestation (verification) instead of the usual medical certificate. Of the races I have completed or entered, these are the ones that now accept the Parcours Prévention Santé (PPS):

• Marathon de Paris*
• Semi-Marathon de Paris*
• Marathon de la Liberté*
• La Grande Classique Paris-Versailles**
• La Parisienne**

*These races will ONLY accept a PPS course completion.
**These races will accept either the traditional (paper) medical certificate or the PPS.

I love to take part in races in France. With this new PPS system replacing the medical certificate, perhaps it will make it easier for you to consider running in one of the races I’ve done? Check out my post where I discuss what it was like to run in races such as the Paris Marathon, Semi-marathon de Paris, 20km de Paris, and the Marathon du Medoc (wine at every water station!).
Here’s a link to the post: Marathons And Races I’ve Done In France

2. Understanding the New Parcours Prévention Santé (PPS)

(a) The New Health Prevention Pathway (HPP)

In an effort to make participation in sports more accessible, the French Athletic Association (FFA) instituted the Parcours Prévention Santé (PPS) course initially for FFA licensees. It is now open to ordinary runners like you and me, who want to participate in running competitions in France.

The course requires the participant to read some short articles and watch 4 videos. The articles are in English and French and the videos are in French with English subtitles. The topics are interesting and covered:

• Warning signs during exercise (ie. chest pains, palpitations, sudden loss of consciousness, shortness of breath)
• Cardiovascular risks and symptoms of heart disease
• When to see a doctor if you have certain situations
• Other risk factors (Ie. family history of heart disease, drinking, smoking, etc.)
• Precautions and recommendations (ie. training, drinking lots of fluids during the race, etc).

After completing the course, you are asked to certify that you understand the information and warnings presented throughout.
PPS Website:  https://pps.athle.fr/

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and this post is for informational purposes only. I am sharing what I learned from the PPS course, but I am not providing medical advice. Before considering participation in any race, please consult with your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional to determine if it is appropriate for you. For more details, please refer to my Terms and Conditions/Disclaimer.

(b) How The PPS Replaces The Traditional Medical Certificate

1. No Doctor Needed

With the traditional medical certificate:

• one has to visit the doctor to get the official doctor’s note.
• the document must be dated less than one year before the date of the race.
• The certificate must have wording about “contraindications” and “competitions” included in the form. (photograph of a blank form is shown above). For example:

“no contraindication to the practice of “running” or “sport” or “athletics” in competition” or “no contraindications for participating in running competitions”.

[“Ne met pas en évidence de contre-indication à la pratique de la course à pied en compétition.”]

2. The PPS is different.

• There is no need to visit your doctor.
• You just need to complete the PPS course.
• Being in good health is the requirement to compete in a race and it would be foolish and dangerous to lie at the end of the course. You’d be risking your life.

3. Validity Period Differs

The traditional medical certificate is valid for a year and I often used the same note for a few different races through the year. The validity period for the PPS is much shorter—the PPS is only valid for 3 months.

• When you sign into the PPS system, you indicate the date of your race.
• You cannot even complete the course if your race is beyond 3 months.
• This means that if you want to do another race later in the year, you will have to do the PPS course again.

4. Submitting Health Information To The Race Organizers

In the past, after getting the medical certificate I would download it to the race organization. This step is still required; however, instead of a paper medical certificate, the participant is sent an email with the PPS number and the ability to download the certificate. To finalize the registration for the race, you have to submit the PPS number or the certificate, depending on the race organization’s requirements.

3. My Experience With The PPS for La Parisienne

Although I had registered to enter the La Parisienne race on April 23, I was going to wait until September to visit my doctor to get my medical certificate. In mid-July, I saw on the race organization’s Facebook page that they were now accepting the PPS. I did the PPS course (within the 3 month time period before the race) and submitted my results the same day to the race organization. I heard back 3 weeks later.

July 23: Completed the PPS course and was immediately sent an email confirming:
-successful completion
-my PPS number and certificate

July 23: Submitted my PPS number to the La Parisienne race organization.
-the status of my “Justification médical” (medical documentation) was “in progress”.

August 14: La Parisienne confirmed that my PPS was “Validé” (validated).

3. Final Thoughts On Medical Certificates For French Races

I was thrilled to be able to use the new PPS course rather than submit a paper medical certificate that would cost me $50. The course was easy to follow and very clear. I was pleased that the documentation was sent to me immediately so I could provide the race organization right away with my PPS number.

I can see more race organizations—not just running races, but also bicycling races— using the PPS course either in conjunction with the traditional paper medical certificate or exclusively. It will be easier for everyone—-with less onus on our medical professionals who can use their precious time treating patients rather than filling out medical certificates for runners.

Have you used the PPS system? How did you find the process?

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