Mountaineer - Guide of high mountain: conditions of access and exercise in France

Verified 19 June 2024 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Directorate General of companies, Ministry of Sports

  • Regulated entertainment and leisure profession
  • Business activity
  • EPA Code : 93.19Z / European Code :?
  • Social contributions : Urssaf
  • Retirement : Cipav: titleContent
  • Health insurance : CPAM: titleContent

Definition

To become a mountain guide, it is necessary to have great physical, technical and moral abilities.

The guide must have a high level of competence in several high mountain disciplines, notably in mountaineering or off-piste skiing.

They must have the technical skills and experience necessary for the following high and medium mountain activities:

  • Excursion or climbing frame from mountain to rock, snow, ice and mixed terrain, and from touring ski touring and off-piste skiing. Work on locating, studying routes and weather conditions must be done upstream.
  • Sports education mountaineering, mountain and off-piste skiing, climbing, canyoning, via ferrata, acrobatic routes, hiking or snowshoeing...

The high mountain guide must also be able to to ensure safety of its clients and to share its knowledge of the mountains, fauna and flora.

The mountain guide works in a sometimes hostile environment (risk of falling stones, crevasses, glaciers...). That is why he must know how to prove himself of prudence and technicality to adapt to all situations, including meteorological hazards. It must also be able to assess the person level it provides a framework for adapting the activity.

The mountain guide is led to supervise people alone or in groups, that is why he must adhere to the code of professional ethics. He must have a good relationship and be able to make the right decision based on the difficulties he encounters. It must also be able to adapt to developments in tourism whether it is with regard to its clientele (speaking several languages, knowing the customs of certain countries...) or the sports offered.

Access

The profession of mountain guide is regulated. For example, training/qualification and prior notification requirements must be met.

If these conditions are not filled, the practice of the profession of mountain mountaineer-guide for remuneration is illegal. This is a criminal offense punishable by 1 year imprisonment and €15,000 of fine.

The rules vary according to the nationality of the person who wishes to practice the profession of mountain climber-guide in France: French, European or third country.

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French

To practice the profession of mountain mountaineer-guide, the professional must have one of the following diplomas:

  • French State Diploma (DE) mountain mountaineering guide
  • European Diploma under certain conditions
  • Foreigners diploma (outside the European Union) recognized as equivalent to the French State Diploma by the Minister responsible for Sport after obtaining the opinion of the Commission for the Recognition of Qualifications.
French Diploma

The professional who holds a French state diploma of mountain mountaineer-guide meets the training conditions to practice the trade.

European Diploma or foreigner

A Frenchman who has a European degree or a foreigners degree must apply for recognition of his qualifications in France from theNational Certification and Equivalence Commission.

This request must be made using the Arquedi online service:

Application for recognition of a foreigners qualification or diploma for the temporary exercise of the profession of sports educator

European national

National of a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) State.

National of a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) State.

To practice the profession of mountain mountaineer-guide, the professional must have one of the following diplomas:

  • French State Diploma (DE) mountain mountaineering guide
  • European Diploma under certain conditions
  • Foreigners diploma (outside the European Union) recognized as equivalent to the French State Diploma by the Minister responsible for Sport after obtaining the opinion of the Commission for the Recognition of Qualifications.

The conditions are different if the European national wishes to work in France permanently (establishment) or temporarily (freedom to provide services).

Establishment in France (permanent exercise)

To practice the profession of mountain mountaineering guide in a permanent in France, the mountain climber-guide must have the necessary qualifications. If he holds a French diploma in mountaineering-mountain guide, he does not have to apply for recognition of his qualifications.

If he does not hold a French State diploma, he can practice the profession of mountain mountaineer-guide in France if he is in one of the situations following:

  • He or she shall hold a certificate of competence or evidence of formal qualifications required by a State of the European Union (EU) or of the European Economic Area (EEA) in which the profession is regulated.
  • He/she has worked full-time for at least 1 year or part-time for an equivalent period in an EU or EEA State which does not regulate the profession during the 10 years preceding the exercise of the activity in France. He must also hold a certificate of competence or evidence of formal qualifications issued by one of those States.
  • He or she shall hold evidence of formal qualifications issued by the competent authority of an EU or EEA State in which the profession is not regulated. This training title must specifically focus on the activity of mountain mountaineer-guide. It must be a study cycle supplemented by vocational training, a professional traineeship or a professional practice.
  • He or she holds evidence of formal qualifications acquired in a third country and admitted to equivalence in an EU or EEA State in which the profession is regulated. He must also have been active in that State for two years.
  • He or she holds a diploma or evidence of formal qualifications acquired in a third country which is not admitted for equivalence in an EU or EEA State

FYI  

To find out whether the activity of mountain guide is regulated in an EU or EEA State, you can consult the european commission's website.

The national must have sufficient knowledge of the French language to practice in France.

For to request recognition of his professional qualifications, the national may use one of the following procedures:

  • Use the Arquedi online service:

Application for recognition of a foreigners qualification or diploma for the temporary exercise of the profession of sports educator

Where the national wishes to provide supervision, animation, teaching and training for mountaineering, the National Service of Skiing and Mountaineering Management Trades (SNMESA) must ensure that it meets the conditions to do so.

The SNMESA is considering whether there is a substantial difference between the professional qualification of the European national and the professional qualification required in France. In case of doubt, he may refer the matter to the Committee on the Recognition of Qualifications for its opinion. The Commission is interested in theoretical and practical knowledge of safety and technical safety skills. After evaluation, it may propose to subject the European national to all or part of a aptitude test.

FYI  

When the national holds a French diploma of State of High Mountain Guide Mountaineering, there is no request for recognition.

Freedom to provide services (temporary exercise)

The European national who wishes to practice in France temporarily mountain climbing guide activity must be in one of the following situations:

  • He is legally established as a mountain guide mountaineer in a European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) State which regulates this profession or training.
  • He is legally established as a mountain guide mountaineer in an EU or EEA State which does not regulate the profession. He has been active in one or more of those States full-time for at least 1 year or part-time for an equivalent period of time in the last 10 years.
  • His request for European Professional Card (EPC) for mountain guide has been approved.

In order to apply for recognition of his professional qualifications, the national may use one of the following procedures:

  • Use the Arquedi online service:

Application for recognition of a foreigners qualification or diploma for the temporary exercise of the profession of sports educator

Where the national wishes to provide supervision, animation, teaching and training for mountaineering, the National Service of Skiing and Mountaineering Management Trades (SNMESA) must ensure that it meets the conditions to do so.

The SNMESA is considering whether there is a substantial difference between the professional qualification of the national and the professional qualification required in France. In case of doubt, he may refer the matter to the Committee on the Recognition of Qualifications for its opinion. The Commission is interested in theoretical and practical knowledge of safety and technical safety skills. After evaluation, it may propose to subject the European national to all or part of a aptitude test.

FYI  

To find out whether the activity of mountain guide is regulated in an EU or EEA State, you can consult the european commission's website.

Third-country national

To practice the profession of mountain mountaineer-guide, the professional must have one of the following diplomas:

  • French State Diploma (DE) mountain mountaineering guide
  • European Diploma under certain conditions
  • Foreigners diploma (outside the European Union) recognized as equivalent to the French State Diploma by the Minister responsible for Sport after obtaining the opinion of the Commission for the Recognition of Qualifications.
French Diploma

A person coming from a third country to the European Union who holds a French State diploma as a mountain climber-guide fulfills the conditions for training in the trade.

European Diploma or foreigner

A person from a third country to the European Union who has a European diploma or a foreigners diploma must apply for recognition of his qualifications in France from theNational Certification and Equivalence Commission.

This request must be made using the Arquedi online service:

Application for recognition of a foreigners qualification or diploma for the temporary exercise of the profession of sports educator

The steps to make the prior declaration are not the same depending on the State of graduation: diploma obtained in France or diploma obtained in another State.

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Diploma obtained in France

1. Prior declaration

Anyone wishing to practice the profession of mountain mountaineer-guide must carry out a prior declaration to the departmental youth, engagement and sports service (SDJES)of the department in which he wishes to work.

The prior declaration may be made either online or by post:

1) Online, the mountain guide mountaineer must use the sports educators remote declaration portal

Sport Educator Reporting Portal (online)

2) By mail, the form must be submitted cerfa no. 12699 at SDJES.

Attachments to your return include:

  • Copy of a valid ID
  • Photo ID
  • Declaration on the honor attesting the accuracy of the information given in the declaration
  • Copy of each diploma, title or certificate
  • Copy of the license to practice or diploma equivalence
  • Medical certificate of no contraindication to the practice and supervision of the activities of the mountain guide mountaineer. It must be less than a year old.

Following the declaration, the SDJES issues the mountain climber-guide a professional sports educator card.

In case of refusal, the mountain climber-guide can initiate a contentious appeal before the administrative tribunal of the department in which he has made his prior declaration. This appeal must be made within 2 months of receipt of the refusal.

Who shall I contact

FYI  

The SDJES should be informed of any change concerning the information provided in the prior declaration.

2. Renewal

This declaration must be renewed every 5 years.

The renewal must be sent to the SDJES of the department in which the mountain climber-guide operates. It shall contain the following elements:

  • Cerfa Form No. 12699
  • Photo ID
  • Copy of the valid revision certificate (refresher course)
  • Medical certificate of no contraindication to the practice and supervision of the activities of the mountain guide mountaineer. It must be less than a year old.

Diploma obtained in another State

The prior declaration varies according to the nationality of the holder of the diploma: European national or third-country national.

European national

National of a Member State of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA)

National of a Member State of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA)

The prior declaration to be able to exercise the profession of mountain mountaineer-guide depends on how the European national wants to practice in France. He may establish himself in France permanently (establishment) or provide services temporarily or occasionally (freedom to provide services).

Establishment in France (permanent exercise)
1. Prior declaration

To practice the profession of mountain mountaineer-guide in France, you must perform a prior declaration to the National Service of Skiing and Mountaineering Management Trades (SNMESA).

The prior declaration may be made either online or by post:

1) Online, the mountain guide mountaineer must use the sports educators remote declaration portal

Sport Educator Reporting Portal (online)

2) By mail, the form must be submitted cerfa no. 12699 to the National Service of Skiing and Mountaineering Management Trades (ENMESA).

The prior declaration shall contain the following elements:

  • Copy of a valid ID
  • Photo ID
  • Declaration on the honor attesting the accuracy of the information given in the declaration
  • Copy of each diploma, title or certificate
  • Copy of the license to practice or diploma equivalence
  • Medical certificate of no contraindication to the practice and supervision of the activities of the mountain guide mountaineer. It must be less than a year old.

The SNMESA will process the file within one month of the prior declaration of the national. He may ask the latter to send further information if he considers that the file is incomplete. The national then has 1 month to reply. In the absence of a reply within that period, the file shall be considered inadmissible.

He may also refuse the file if he considers that there is a risk to the safety of persons whom the national may supervise in the exercise of the profession of mountain climber-guide.

However, if the file is accepted by SNMESA, it delivers to the mountain climber-guide a professional sports educator card.

The professional card mentions the operating conditions the profession of mountain climber-guide. A person holding a professional card may practice the profession in the territory under the same conditions that the holder of the French diploma of mountaineer-guide of high mountain.

The national shall inform the SNMESA of any change concerning his prior declaration.

FYI  

If the National Service of Skiing and Mountaineering Management Trades has a serious and concrete doubt about the level of knowledge of the French language of the European national, he may request that he submit to a check. This request may be made after verification of the qualifications of the national prior to the issue of the professional sports educator card.

2. Renewal

FYI  

This declaration must be renewed every 5 years.

The renewal must be sent to the National Service for Skiing and Mountaineering Management Trades (SNMESA). It shall contain the following elements:

  • Cerfa Form No. 12699
  • Photo ID
  • Copy of the valid revision certificate (refresher course)
  • Medical certificate of no contraindication to the practice and supervision of the activities of the mountain guide mountaineer. It must be less than a year old

Freedom to provide services (temporary exercise)

Prior declaration under the freedom to provide services is only compulsory if the European national has not received a European professional card.

Advance Declaration
1. Prior declaration

To perform services as a mountain mountaineer-guide in France, you must perform a prior declaration to the National Service of Skiing and Mountaineering Management Trades (SNMESA).

The prior declaration may be made either online or by post:

1) Online, the mountain guide mountaineer must use the sports educators remote declaration portal

Sport Educator Reporting Portal (online)

2) By mail, must be sent on Cerfa Form No. 12699 to the National Service for Skiing and Mountaineering Management Trades (SNMESA)

The following documents must be attached to the prior declaration:

  • Copy of a valid ID
  • Photo ID
  • Declaration on the honor attesting the accuracy of the information given in the declaration
  • Copy of each diploma, title or certificate
  • Copy of the license to practice or diploma equivalence
  • Medical certificate of no contraindication to the practice and supervision of the activities of the mountain guide mountaineer. It must be less than a year old

Within one month of the filing of the report file, the NFASS shall provide one of the following responses depending on the file:

  • The file is incomplete: it requests additional information to be sent to it within the indicated deadline
  • The file is complete and the SNMESA does not check the qualifications of the national: it sends a receipt of declaration of provision of services which allows the national to exercise the provision of services under the same conditions as the guide mountaineer of high mountain graduated in France
  • The file is complete and the SNMESA wants to verify the qualifications of the national: it can issue him the receipt of the declaration of provision of services or submit him to an aptitude test

The SNMESA should be informed of any change concerning the information provided in the prior declaration.

If the National Service of Skiing and Mountaineering Management Trades has a serious and concrete doubt about the level of knowledge of the French language of the national, he may request that the national submit to a check. This request may be made after the verification of the qualifications of the national and prior to the issue of the receipt for the provision of services.

Warning  

The services must be provided within 2 months following receipt of the complete declaration dossier. This period may be extended to 3 months in the event of particular difficulties.

Renewal

This declaration must be renewed annually.

The renewal must be sent to the National Service for Skiing and Mountaineering Management Trades. It shall contain the following elements:

  • Cerfa Form No. 12699
  • Photo ID
  • Medical certificate of no contraindication to the practice and supervision of the activities of the mountain guide mountaineer. It must be less than a year old
European Professional Card

A national of an EU or EEA Member State who has received a European professional card to temporarily exercise the activity of mountain guide in France is not required to make a prior declaration.

The issue of the card and the prior declaration may be complementary.

Third-country national
1. Prior declaration

To practice the profession of mountain mountaineer-guide in France, you must perform a prior declaration to the National Service of Skiing and Mountaineering Management Trades (SNMESA).

The prior declaration may be made either online or by post:

1) Online, the mountain guide mountaineer must use the sports educators remote declaration portal

Sport Educator Reporting Portal (online)

2) By mail, the form must be submitted cerfa no. 12699 to the National Service of Skiing and Mountaineering Management Trades (ENMESA).

The prior declaration shall contain the following elements:

  • Copy of a valid ID
  • Photo ID
  • Declaration on the honor attesting the accuracy of the information given in the declaration
  • Copy of each diploma, title or certificate
  • Copy of the license to practice or diploma equivalence
  • Medical certificate of no contraindication to the practice and supervision of the activities of the mountain guide mountaineer. It must be less than a year old.

The SNMESA will process the file within one month of the prior declaration of the national. He may ask the latter to send further information if he considers that the file is incomplete. The national then has 1 month to reply. In the absence of a reply within that period, the file shall be considered inadmissible.

He may also refuse the file if he considers that there is a risk to the safety of persons whom the national may supervise in the exercise of the profession of mountain climber-guide.

However, if the file is accepted by SNMESA, it delivers to the mountain climber-guide a professional sports educator card.

The professional card mentions the operating conditions the profession of mountain climber-guide. A person holding a professional card may practice the profession in the territory under the same conditions that the holder of the French diploma of mountaineer-guide of high mountain.

The national shall inform the SNMESA of any change concerning his prior declaration.

FYI  

If the National Service of Skiing and Mountaineering Management Trades has a serious and concrete doubt about the level of knowledge of the French language of the European national, he may request that he submit to a check. This request may be made after verification of the qualifications of the national prior to the issue of the professional sports educator card.

2. Renewal

This declaration must be renewed every 5 years.

The renewal must be sent to the National Service for Skiing and Mountaineering Management Trades (SNMESA). It shall contain the following elements:

  • Cerfa Form No. 12699
  • Photo ID
  • Copy of the valid revision certificate (refresher course)
  • Medical certificate of no contraindication to the practice and supervision of the activities of the mountain guide mountaineer. It must be less than a year old

Exercise

The mountain climber-guide must comply with certain obligations and take certain steps to carry out his activity.

The mountain climber-guide may exercise his activity in one of the following legal forms:

  • Individual business VID (EI) : He/she exercises in his/her own name and is subject to income tax (IR). He may benefit from the micro-company scheme if he complies with the turnover threshold conditions (micro-tax system). However, it cannot not to benefit from the micro-social scheme.
  • Business : He can set up his business and choose to practice alone or with associates. Creating an exercise business optimizes the tax burden by providing different options for allocating revenue among partners. Options can reduce income tax (IR) or business tax (SI) and payroll taxes.

If he wishes to practice business, the ski instructor can choose one of the following business shapes:

  • SARL: titleContent (with associates) or EURL: titleContent (only)
  • LOCK: titleContent (with associates) or SASU: titleContent (only)
  • SA: titleContent
  • GIE: titleContent

FYI  

The ski instructor can also work as an employee (at the UCPA for example).

Registration must be done online on the company Formalities Window website:

Company Formalities Window

It has to be done not more than 1 month before the start of the activity or 15 days later the start of the activity at the latest.

This declaration is used to inform all the bodies concerned by the launch of the activity (INSEE, social bodies, Urssaf, public finance center, etc.).

Insee shall assign a Siret number. This is a unique national identification number that identifies the establishment. It is composed of Siren (first 9 digits) which identifies the company and the Nic (last 5 digits) which is modified in particular when the address of the establishment is changed.

When registering the company, Insee also grants it a EPA code. For the activity of mountain climber-guide, the APE code is 9319Z.

A person who has been convicted of one of the following crimes or offenses may not be a mountain climber-guide:

It should not also be subject to a ban on engaging in commercial, industrial or liberal activities.

It may not teach, lead or supervise a sporting activity with minors if it has been subject to one of the following administrative measures:

  • Prohibition of participation in the management and supervision of institutions and bodies responsible for the reception of minors in holiday and leisure centers and youth groups
  • Suspension of the management and management activities of institutions and bodies responsible for the reception of minors in holiday and leisure centers and youth groups

The ski instructor established in France must submit to a refresher training every 6 years from the date on which he graduated. A trader established in another country and performing a freedom to provide services in France is not subject to this obligation.

The purpose of this internship is to update his professional skills.

He must register on the site of the Ski and Mountaineering School before 31 December of 6e year which follows the one during which he graduated or completed his last retraining course.

Subscribe to the recycling course - mountain guide

The course is not free (approximately 620 euros).

To learn more about the retraining course, you can visit the matching page on the site of the national ski and mountaineering school.

Warning  

The mountain guide mountaineer who did not complete his training in time can no longer practice the profession.

To continue his activity, the mountain guide must think about renewing your prior declaration. The procedures are different if the mountain guide mountaineer has a French State diploma or if he does not have one and is a European national.

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Holder of a French State Diploma

The request for renewal must be made to the Departmental Service for Youth, Engagement and Sports (SDJES) of the department in which the mountain climber-guide carries out his activity.

Renewal must be made every 5 years.

If he does not renew his prior declaration, the mountain guide mountaineer can no longer carry out his activity.

Holder of a diploma or other diploma

The renewal must be requested from the National Service for Skiing and Mountaineering Management Trades (SNMESA).

It must be carried out within one of the following periods, depending on the type of practice of the profession:

  • Permanent exercise (establishment) : every 5 years
  • Temporary or occasional exercise (freedom to provide services) : every year

If he does not renew his prior declaration, the mountain guide mountaineer can no longer carry out his activity.

The charter of ethics and ethics is binding on all mountain guide mountaineers practicing in France. This is drafted and updated by the French Federation of Mountains and Climbing (FFME) upon delegation of authority from the Ministry responsible for sport.

The mountain climber-guide is committed to respect, defend and convey the values of the charter  :

  • Behave in an exemplary manner towards others
  • Behave appropriately with moderate speech, reactions, and emotions
  • Comply with rules on supervision, safety, competition and training
  • Refusing violence and cheating
  • To inform athletes and practitioners about the excesses of doping and its effects on health
  • Prevent and combat incivility, violence, discrimination, behavior contrary to the values of sport, hazing or harassment
  • Do not use position to have excessive emotional contact with athletes and practitioners
  • Submit to the good repute check
  • Continuous training
Code of Ethics for High Mountain Guides

French Federation of Mountains and Climbing (FFME)

Pour en savoir plus

FYI  

The charter establishes values to be respected for each of the players involved in mountain and climbing activities. Thus, it also sets out the rules to be respected for licensees, managers, competitors, high-level sportsmen, competition officials, federal institutions, event and competition organizers and external partners.