How do you choose a tarot course in French? Pick the format first (in-person class, online training, book, or a deck that comes with a course), then check the programme, how much of it is practice, and what the seller promises. A good course leaves you able to read the 78 cards and the spreads on your own.
What a good tarot course should teach
Whatever the length, look for five things: the 78 cards (22 major and 56 minor arcana in four suits) with a way to remember them; how to read a single card; spreads such as one card, three cards and the cross; interpretation, meaning how to link cards and end on a one-sentence summary; and practice, including how to phrase a question and keep notes. Tarot is a tool for reflection, not an oracle. Also check the tradition taught: the Marseille tradition has no scenes on the minor arcana, while the 1909 tradition has a scene on all 78 cards. A course built on one transfers only partly to the other. See our guide to memorising the 78 cards.
Formats compared
- In-person class or workshop: live answers and feedback on your readings, but fixed times and place, and often a higher cost.
- Paid online training: structure and your own pace, but quality varies a lot and individual feedback is rare.
- Book or printed guide: lasting and cheap, but nobody comments on your readings.
- A deck with the meanings printed on the cards and a course included: the meaning stays in front of you while you practise, but there is no teacher to correct you.
- A free online course: no commitment, ideal for testing. Ours is the free 10-lesson tarot course in French.
Many beginners combine them: free course to test, a deck to practise daily, and a workshop later if they miss human feedback. The free option has one real weakness, which is scattering: three sources give three different meanings for the same card, so pick one source for four weeks and stay with it.
Questions to ask before you pay
Ask for the programme in detail, the tradition taught (Marseille, 1909 or another), the share of practice, whether you get feedback on your own spreads, how the teacher presents their background, what the price includes, and the cancellation terms. We do not quote prices here because they change from one offer to the next. They vary mainly by format (group workshop, one-to-one lesson, weekend course, online training): ask for the total price, the number of hours, what is included and whether there is follow-up, then compare the cost per hour.
Red flags
Slow down when you see a promise to reveal your "gift" (you can learn tarot without one; see do you need a gift to read tarot), a "certification" presented as official (to our knowledge there is no state diploma for tarot readers), guaranteed predictions, income promised within weeks, countdown pressure, or a missing programme. One sign alone does not condemn an offer; several together are a reason to look elsewhere. A good course makes you more independent, not more dependent on the teacher.
A way to start before paying for training
We suggest four weeks of testing: a card of the day, then the four suits, then two three-card readings with a carefully phrased question (see how to ask a tarot question), then a one-sentence summary of each. Our French-language learning deck prints the meaning on every card, a printed French booklet comes in the box, and the full French course (4 books) is included, sent by personal link after purchase. It does not replace a teacher who comments on your readings, and its illustrations are the 1909 designs, not the Marseille tradition. For a day-by-day route, see learning tarot on your own.
French-language learning tarot deck, 1909 art
Meanings printed on every card in French, a French guidebook in the box and the full course in French after purchase. Ships to the EU, UK, Switzerland and Iceland.
See the French deckFrequently asked questions
How much does a tarot course cost in France?
There is no single price: it depends on the format (group workshop, one-to-one lesson, weekend course, online training), the length and what is included. Ask for the total price, the number of hours and whether there is follow-up, then compare the cost per hour rather than the price alone.
Is there an official tarot reader diploma in France?
To our knowledge there is no state diploma. Training organisations issue their own certificates, so judge a course by its content.
Where can I learn tarot for free?
With blogs, videos, library books and our free 10-lesson course. Follow only one source at a time so the meanings do not clash.
Do I need a course at all?
No. Many people learn alone with a deck and a structured plan. A course helps if you want feedback or a fixed frame.
