Therefore, six clubs will suffer relegation to the fourth division, Championnat de France amateur in the 2012–13 season.
All clubs that secured National status for the season were subject to approval by the DNCG before becoming eligible to participate.
Metz played in the Championnat National for the first time in club history having never appeared below Ligue 2 since the inception of professionalism in 1932.
[7] On 18 May 2012, Uzès Pont du Gard became the first club from the Championnat de France amateur to earn promotion to the third division following a 1–0 win over Béziers.
[8] On the final day of the Championnat de France amateur season, CA Bastia, Bourg-Péronnas, and Carquefou all earned promotion to National after achieving positive results that made it impossible for the second-placed club in their respective groups to surpass them.
[14] On 5 July, the DNCG reversed its decision to relegate Cherbourg after the club gained the €200,000 required to remain in the division.