I know that in France, as late as the early 20th century, although I'm not sure if this is true now, a university student (undergrad or grad?) would take a nationwide *concours* exam to receive the *aggrégation* "to be aggregated" in the French school system and be able to teach at *lycées* ("high schools"?), *académies* (universities), and *grandes écoles*.

Was one with an *aggrégation* essentially a TA?