Paris Marathon Medical Certificate
The Paris Marathon requires a Pass de Prévention Santé (PPS) attestation number, issued through France's Fédération Française d'Athlétisme. Runners entering from the UK are asked for a PPS number even where they already hold a competition licence from a federation affiliated to World Athletics. Wider context sits in our main sports medical certificate guide, and rules for other races are covered under marathon certificate rules country by country. The same requirement applies to the Semi-Marathon de Paris and most other FFA-affiliated French running events. MedicalCert issues Paris Marathon medical certificates through GMC-registered doctors, with same-day delivery to your inbox.
From £67 · Issued by MedicalCert · Full refund if a certificate cannot be issued
PPS or medical certificate: which do I need?
Since 2024 the FFA (Fédération Française d'Athlétisme) has run the PPS in place of the traditional medical certificate for non-licensed adults. It was the Parcours de Prévention Santé until January 2026 and is now the Pass de Prévention Santé. Here is how the two options compare:
| Option | What it involves | Cost | Accepted by Paris Marathon? |
|---|---|---|---|
| PPS attestation | Online health course: read articles, watch videos, complete a cardiovascular risk questionnaire. If no risk factors are flagged, a digital attestation is generated automatically. | €5 (valid 1 year) | Yes |
| Traditional medical certificate | Doctor-signed document stating "absence de contre-indication à la pratique du sport en compétition". | From £67 online. GP fees are set by each practice | Yes |
Important: If the PPS questionnaire flags risk factors (such as a family history of cardiac events, chest pain during exercise, or certain pre-existing conditions), you will still need to see a doctor before receiving your attestation. In that case, a traditional medical certificate may be faster.
What if the PPS flags a risk factor?
The PPS health questionnaire screens for cardiovascular and other risk factors. If any are identified, the system will not generate an attestation automatically. You will be directed to consult a doctor. At that point, you have two options:
- See a doctor locally (your GP or a private practice), obtain clearance, then return to the PPS platform to complete the process
- Apply for a traditional medical certificate through an online service such as MedicalCert, which the Paris Marathon accepts as an equivalent
Paris Marathon certificate wording requirements
If you choose the traditional medical certificate route, the Paris Marathon requires the certificate to state that you present "no contraindications to the practice of competitive sport" or the French equivalent. A generic "fit to participate" or "good health" letter will be rejected at registration.
When applying through MedicalCert, specify "Paris Marathon" as your event. The reviewing doctor will use the correct wording. If your event provides a specific certificate template, upload it with your application.
Timeline: when to apply
Certificate upload is required during the Paris Marathon registration process. The certificate must be dated within 12 months of race day. For the 2027 Paris Marathon:
- Registration typically opens: October to November of the preceding year (lottery system)
- Certificate deadline: at registration or during the document upload window before race day
- Recommended application date: at least 2 weeks before the upload deadline to allow for any follow-up with the reviewing doctor
Semi-Marathon de Paris and other French events
The Semi-Marathon de Paris (Paris Half Marathon) has the same requirements as the full marathon: either PPS attestation or a traditional medical certificate. Most FFA-affiliated French running events follow the same rules, including:
- Semi-Marathon de Paris
- Marathon de Marseille
- Marathon du Médoc
- Paris-Versailles
- Ekiden de Paris
Non-FFA events (some trail races, cycling sportives, and obstacle races) may not accept PPS and may require a traditional doctor-signed certificate. Check your specific event's registration page.
Paris Marathon HPC: what replaced it
The HPC, or Health Prevention Course, was the FFA's earlier name for its digital alternative to the medical certificate. It has been replaced by the PPS, the Pass de Prévention Santé. Older event guidance, forum posts and blog articles still refer to the HPC, and runners reasonably assume it is a separate requirement. It is not. If your event guidance mentions an HPC, the PPS is what you now complete.
The substance is broadly unchanged: a short online health education course followed by a cardiovascular risk questionnaire, producing a digital attestation if no risk factors are flagged. The visible differences are the branding, the platform, and the fact that the PPS now carries a fee and a stated validity period of one year.
Whichever name your event guidance uses, the route is the same. You complete the FFA's online course and enter the attestation number during registration. A doctor-signed certificate is not an alternative to that step for entrants from outside France. It becomes relevant where the PPS questionnaire flags a risk factor, because medical clearance is then needed before the attestation is issued.
What the Paris Marathon asks for at registration
Document requirements are checked during registration and again in the document upload window before race day. Runners entering from the UK should expect to provide the following.
- A valid PPS attestation number. Entrants from the UK are asked for one even where they already hold a competition licence from a World Athletics affiliated federation.
- A certificate dated inside the validity window. It must not be more than 12 months old on race day, not on the day you upload it. A certificate obtained early in the previous year can expire between upload and the event.
- Identification matching your entry. The name on the certificate should match the name on the race entry exactly, including middle names where you have used them.
The most common causes of rejection are wording that does not mention competitive sport, an expired date, and a mismatch between the name on the certificate and the name on the entry. All three are avoidable if the certificate is obtained with the event named on the application.
Allow a buffer. Organisers set upload deadlines weeks ahead of race day, and if the reviewing doctor needs further information, a same-day turnaround can become several days. Applying two to three weeks before the deadline leaves room for that.
Other French events that follow the same rules
The requirement is set by the FFA rather than by individual organisers, so the pattern repeats across French road running. Events affiliated to the federation generally accept the PPS attestation or a doctor-signed certificate interchangeably, while non-affiliated events, trail races and cycling sportives are more likely to insist on the traditional certificate.
If you are entering several French events in a season, one certificate worded for competitive sport will normally serve for all of them within its 12-month window, which is usually simpler than completing the online course separately for each entry. If your season also takes in a race in Italy, the requirements change substantially under Italy's DM 18/02/1982 standard.
More on sports medical certificates
Frequently asked questions
Is PPS free?
No. The PPS, now the Pass de Prévention Santé, costs €5 and the attestation is valid for one year. It was free before that date, when the FFA called it the Parcours de Prévention Santé.
Can a UK doctor issue a certificate for the Paris Marathon?
Not as a substitute for the PPS. Entrants from outside France are asked for a PPS number even where they hold a competition licence from a World Athletics affiliated federation. A UK doctor's assessment matters where the PPS health questionnaire flags a risk factor, because medical sign off is then needed before the attestation is issued. Check your event's own registration page, since requirements differ between organisers.
Do I need an ECG for the Paris Marathon?
No, not for standard entry. The Paris Marathon does not require an ECG for general participants. However, if you are aged 40 or over, some French organisers recommend one. The Marathon des Sables, by contrast, does require a mandatory ECG.
What is the difference between PPS and HPC?
They are the same scheme, not two requirements. HPC, or Health Prevention Course, is the English rendering used by some organisers for the FFA scheme, which others render Health Prevention Pathway or Pass. The content and process are similar: an online health education course followed by a risk screening questionnaire. The main change is the branding and platform. References to "HPC" in older event guidance refer to the same concept.
My Paris Marathon registration asks for a "certificat médical". Can I upload an English certificate?
Yes. The Paris Marathon organisers (ASO) accept certificates in English. The key requirement is the correct wording about competitive sport, not the language. If you are concerned, MedicalCert can include the French-language statement alongside the English text.
Get your Paris Marathon certificate
Complete the online consultation form and a GMC-registered doctor will review your submission individually. Certificates are delivered to your inbox as a signed PDF. Full refund if a certificate cannot be issued on clinical grounds.
Get started