L’Institut national du patrimoine is an institute of higher education under the auspices of the French Ministry of Culture and Communication. The mission of the Institute is to recruit candidates through competitive entrance examinations and provide initial training to heritage curators for State civil service, local government civil service authorities and City of Paris. Another mission of the institute is to select candidates again through a competitive entry examination and train conservators-restorers authorized to work on public collections. Training for these two closely related and complementary professions within the same establishment is rather unique in Europe. The Inp also proposes a wide range of continuing education programmes for both French and foreign heritage professionals. It is also a place for cultural diffusion through lectures and seminars and the opportunity to work along with other French and foreign heritage institutions and universities. Lastly, the Inp places its missions and actions within a network of international cooperation by sending its students on training programmes abroad, welcoming other foreign trainee students and exporting its training and expertise strategies.