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CACES R486: mobile elevating work platform mock test
The test below follows the R486 assessment sheet: 14 points of general knowledge, 26 of technology, 54 of operation and 6 of maintenance.
Independent site, not linked to the French Health Insurance (Assurance Maladie), the INRS, testing bodies or training centres.
Your score · R486 · MEWPs (aerial lifts)
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| Pass: 70 out of 100 and half the points in every theme |
| Time left: 60:00 |
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Questions written by Radif Partners from the French Health Insurance recommendations. This is not the official test, which is sat at a certified testing body and is in French. Your answers stay in this browser.
Recommendation R486 of the French Health Insurance covers mobile elevating work platforms, MEWPs, known in French as PEMP or nacelles. The version in force is R.486B, published in July 2026, with no change to the assessment method in place since 1 January 2020. It has three categories: A for vertical lifts such as scissor lifts, B for multi-directional lifts, articulated or telescopic booms, and C for non-production driving. The R486 CACES is valid for 5 years. Its theory test gives the operation theme the heaviest weight of all, 54 points out of 100, because the platform lifts people: falls, crushing against a structure, tipping over, power lines. As of 23 October 2026, the median initial course costs €958 in category A and €948 in category B in the Mon Compte Formation catalogue.
Which aerial lift CACES category?
R486 CACES
Category B
| Valid for | 5 years |
| Non-production (moving, transporter) | category C |
Questions, explanations and calculations by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method
The R486 categories
| Category | Platforms | Median initial price | Median length |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Vertical lift: scissors, vertical masts | €958 | 21 hours |
| B | Multi-directional lift: articulated, telescopic, truck-mounted | €948 | 21 hours |
| C | Non-production driving: moving, loading, testing | €864 | 21 hours |
The theory test marking scheme
| Theme | Points | Minimum | Syllabus points |
|---|---|---|---|
| General knowledge | 14 | 7 | 4 |
| MEWP technology and stability | 26 | 13 | 12 |
| Operating MEWPs | 54 | 27 | 21 |
| Maintenance | 6 | 3 | 3 |
At 54 points, operation dominates: you could reach 70 points with that theme and general knowledge alone, but the half-marks rule also requires 13 points in technology and 3 out of the 6 maintenance points. That very short theme is where two mistakes too many fail you.
How long is the R486 test?
Full test
2 TU
| Theory | 1 TU (1 h ± 10 min) |
| Practical | 1.00 TU |
| Median course (CPF) | 21 h, €958 |
At most 7 test units per candidate per day.
The risks the test checks
Operation questions cover what causes serious platform accidents: the operator trapped between the basket and a beam, tipping on ground that gives way or slopes, approaching a power line, wind above the maker’s limit, rescuing someone stuck at height. The aerial lift CACES page offers a set built around these situations, and the end-of-shift page one on checks before and after use.