Ski instructor: conditions of access and exercise in France
Verified 25 September 2024 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Directorate General of companies, Ministry of Sports
- Occupation of sports education and regulated leisure activities
- Liberal activity
- EPA code: 85.51Z / European Code :?
- Social contributions : Urssaf
- Retirement : Cipav: titleContent
- Health insurance : CPAM: titleContent
Definition
To become a ski instructor, it is necessary to have a perfect mastery of the discipline but also the desire to transmit his knowledge and the passion of the mountain.
The ski instructor must have a high level of competence in several high mountain disciplines, notably in mountaineering or off-piste skiing. He can only work for a few months, not a year. Indeed, it is a seasonal activity. It shall be subject to climatic hazards (notably snow).
Its activity may be carried on as only independent or as salaried worker. Independent ski instructors generally work in a ski school (e.g. ESF) whereas salaried ski instructors generally work for holiday villages, leisure centers or organizations (such as the UCPA or the French ski federation).
The ski instructor may supervise for remuneration various activities related to the ski according to the type of diploma he has obtained:
- Ski instructor alpine skiing graduate : he supervises and teaches ski touring, off-piste skiing and similar activities (snowboarding, freeride, etc.)
- Ski instructor graduate in cross-country skiing It provides support for Nordic hiking, cross-country skiing, biathlon, ski jumping and the Nordic combined for example.
Regardless of the type of diploma obtained, it can also supervise snowshoe excursions.
After evaluating the level and the need of his pupils, he can offer adapted formulas: individual or group courses, by the day or half-day, internships, etc. He must also be able to guarantee the safety of those he supervises. He must teach his students the rules to follow on the tracks and inform them of the dangers of the mountain.
It can exert on the safe runway and off-runway domain. However, it cannot operate in unmarked glacial areas and on land where it is necessary to practice mountaineering. In the event of an avalanche, he was trained to be able to intervene and rescue victims.
Outside ski lessons, the ski instructor must to perform ancillary tasks. Examples of tasks include:
- Tracing and picketing slaloms
- Tracing and picketing of northern runways
- Race management
- Participation in competitions and events (torchlight descent for example).
He must be keep fit and keep abreast of developments in disciplines and equipment. He must also have a good sense of relationships and be able to establish contact with his students. The control of several foreign languages is a real asset for the practice of the profession.
Access
To practice his profession in France, the ski instructor must have the required qualifications. He must also make a prior declaration to the State.
If these conditions are not filled, the pursuit of the profession of ski instructor for remuneration is illegal. This is a criminal offense punishable by 1 year imprisonment and €15,000 of fine.
The rules on training and qualification are not the same where the ski instructor is of French nationality and a national of a Member State of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) or a third-country national.
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French
To be able to practice the profession of ski instructor, you must have one of the following diplomas:
- French State Diploma (DE) ski - national alpine ski instructor and related activities
- French State Diploma (DE) ski - national nordic ski instructor and its related activities
- French State Diploma (DE) mountain climber-guide
- European Diplomaunder certain conditions
- Foreigners Diploma admitted as equivalent to one of the 2 French State diplomas of ski instructor or the French State diploma of mountain mountaineer-guide
French Diploma
The professional who holds a French State diploma as a mountain mountaineer-guide or ski instructor fulfills the training conditions to practice the profession.
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:
European national
To be able to practice the profession of ski instructor, you must have one of the following diplomas:
- French State Diploma (DE) ski - national alpine ski instructor and related activities
- French State Diploma (DE) ski - national nordic ski instructor and its related activities
- French State Diploma (DE) mountain climber-guide
- European diploma or qualificationunder certain conditions
- Foreigners Diploma admitted as equivalent to one of the 2 French State diplomas of ski instructor or the French State diploma of mountain mountaineer-guide
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)
The European national may exercise the profession of ski instructor in a permanent provided he has the necessary qualifications.
He can practice the profession of ski instructor 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 title must relate specifically to the activity of a ski instructor. 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.
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 the Arquedi online service:
Where the national wishes to provide supervision, animation, teaching and training for the skiing, 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
To find out if ski instructor activity is regulated in an EU or EEA state, you can consult the european commission's website.
Freedom to provide services (temporary exercise)
The European national who wishes to practice in France temporarily ski instructor activity must be in one of the following situations:
- He is legally established as a ski instructor in a State of the European Union or in a State of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) which regulates this profession or training
- He is legally established as a ski instructor 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.
In order to request the recognition of their professional qualifications, the national can use the Arquedi online service:
When the national wishes to provide the supervision, animation, teaching and training of the ski, the National Service of Skiing and Mountaineering Management Trades (SNMESA) must ensure that he fulfills 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 if ski instructor activity is regulated in an EU or EEA state, you can consult the european commission's website.
Third-country national
To be able to practice the profession of ski instructor, he must have one of the following diplomas:
- French State Diploma (DE) ski - national alpine ski instructor and related activities
- French State Diploma (DE) ski - national nordic ski instructor and its related activities
- French State Diploma (DE) mountain climber-guide
- European Diplomaunder certain conditions
- Foreigners Diploma admitted as equivalent to one of the 2 French State diplomas of ski instructor or the French State diploma of mountain mountaineer-guide
French Diploma
A third-country national of the European Union who holds a French State diploma as a mountain climber or ski instructor fulfills the conditions for training to practice the trade.
European Diploma or foreigner
A third-country national of 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:
The steps to make the prior declaration are not the same depending on the country of graduation: diploma obtained in France or diploma obtained in another State.
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Diploma obtained in France
1. Prior declaration
Any person wishing to practice the profession of ski instructor must carry out a prior declaration to the departmental service for youth, engagement and sport (SDJES)of the department in which he wishes to work.
The prior declaration may be made either online or by post:
1) Online, the ski instructor 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.
Who shall I contact
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 non-contraindication to the practice and supervision of ski instructor activities. It must be less than a year old.
Following the declaration, the SDJES issues the ski instructor with a professional sports educator card.
In case of refusal, the ski instructor may 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 ski instructor operates. It shall contain the following elements:
- Cerfa Form No. 12699
- Photo ID
- Copy of the valid revision certificate (refresher course)
- Medical certificate of non-contraindication to the practice and supervision of the activities of the ski instructor. 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
The prior declaration to be able to exercise the profession of ski instructor depends on how the European national wishes 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 ski instructor 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 ski instructor 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).
Who shall I contact
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 non-contraindication to the practice and supervision of ski instructor activities. 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 ski instructor.
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 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 the issue of the professional card.
The national may institute proceedings 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
It can also use the Solvit online service, which is intended to help European citizens who encounter administrative difficulties in an EU or EEA Member State.
On the other hand, if the file is accepted by the SNMESA, it delivers to the ski instructor a professional sports educator card.
The professional card mentions the operating conditions of the profession. A person holding a professional card may practice the profession in the territory under the same conditions that the holder of a French State diploma.
The national must inform the SNMESA of any change concerning his prior declaration.
2. Renewal
This declaration must be renewed every 5 years.
The renewal must be sent to the National Service of 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 non-contraindication to the practice and supervision of ski instructor activities. It must be less than a year old
Freedom to provide services (temporary exercise)
1. Prior declaration
A European national wishing to provide services as a ski instructor in France must make a prior declaration to the National Service for Skiing and Mountaineering Management Trades (SNMESA).
Who shall I contact
The prior declaration shall contain the following elements:
- Cerfa Form No. 12699
- 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 non-contraindication to the practice and supervision of ski instructor activities. It must be less than a year old.
The SNMESA should be informed of any changes to the information provided in the prior notification.
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 shall request additional information to be sent within the specified time limit.
- The file is complete and the SNMESA does not check the qualifications of the European national: he sends a receipt for the declaration of provision of services which allows the national to exercise the provision of services under the same conditions as the ski instructor who has graduated in France.
- The file is complete and the SNESMA wants to check the qualifications of the national: he may issue the receipt for the declaration of provision of services or submit it to an aptitude test.
If the SNMESA 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 the receipt of the declaration of provision of services.
If the SNMESA refuses, the national may bring an action 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
It can also use the Solvit online service, which is intended to help European citizens who encounter administrative difficulties in an EU or EEA Member State.
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 SNMESA. It shall contain the following elements:
- Cerfa Form No. 12699
- Photo ID
- Copy of the valid revision certificate (refresher course)
- Medical certificate of non-contraindication to the practice and supervision of ski instructor activities. It must be less than a year old
Third-country national
1. Prior declaration
To practice the profession of ski instructor 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 ski instructor 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).
Who shall I contact
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 non-contraindication to the practice and supervision of ski instructor activities. 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 ski instructor
The national may institute proceedings 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
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 ski instructor. A person holding a professional card may practice the profession in the territory under the same conditions that the holder of the French State Diploma.
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 non-contraindication to the practice and supervision of ski instructor activities. It must be less than a year old
Exercise
The ski instructor must comply with certain obligations and take certain steps to practice his profession as a liberal.
The ski instructor 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 and 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 in business, the ski instructor may choose to practice in a business of liberal exercise (SEL): SELARL , SELAS.
FYI
The ski instructor may also exercise as salaried worker in holiday villages, leisure centers or organizations.
Registration must be done online on the company Formalities Window website:
It has to be done within 8 days the start of the activity.
This declaration is used to inform all the bodies concerned by the launch of the activity (INSEE, social organizations, 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.
At the time of registration of the company, the Insee also attributes to the ski instructor his EPA code. For ski instructor activity, the APE code is 85,51Z.
A person who has been convicted of one of the following crimes or offenses may not be a ski instructor:
- Willful harm to the lives of others: murder, poisoning...
- Injury to physical or mental integrity :: torture, barbarism, violence, threats.
- Endangering others
- Interference with the freedoms of others: enslavement, exploitation, kidnapping and confinement, misuse of means of transport.
- Offending the dignity of others: discrimination, human trafficking, procuring...
- Offenses against minors and the family : abandonment of the minor, abandonment of the family...
- Extortion and blackmail
- Undermining the fundamental interests of the nation: treason, espionage, information to a foreign power
- Bleaching
- Illicit use of substances or plants classified as narcotic drugs or incitement to the illicit use of narcotic drugs
- Arms and ammunition trafficking and drug trafficking
It should not be subject to a prohibition from practicing a commercial, industrial or liberal activity.
She cannot teach, lead or mentor a sporting activity with minors if it has been subject to any 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
An established ski instructor with a French State diploma must undergo a refresher training every 6 years from the date on which he graduated.
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.
Register for the retraining course: ski instructor
The course is not free (about 250 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
A ski instructor who has not completed his training on time can no longer practice the profession.
To continue his activity, the ski instructor must think about renewing your prior declaration. The terms and conditions are different if the ski instructor has a French State diploma or if he has a State diploma from another country.
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Holder of a French State Diploma
The renewal application must be submitted to the SDJES of the department in which the ski instructor operates.
Who shall I contact
Renewal must be made every 5 years.
If he does not renew his prior declaration, the ski instructor may no longer carry out his activity.
Holder of another diploma
The renewal must be requested from the National Service for Skiing and Mountaineering Management Trades (SNMESA).
Who shall I contact
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 ski instructor may no longer carry out his activity.
The charter of ethics and ethics is binding on all ski instructors practicing in France. This is drafted and updated by the French Ski Federation(FFS) upon delegation of authority from the Ministry responsible for sports.
The ski instructor undertakes to respect, defend and convey the values of the charter :
- Being sporty
- Be open and accessible to all, regardless of form of practice or discipline
- Promoting equal opportunities
- Fostering cohesion and connection between all players in skiing and snowboarding
- Refusing any form of discrimination
- Promoting a sporting practice of natural spaces
- Comply with the rules related to skiing and snowboarding
- Prohibit all forms of violence and cheating
- Be self-control in all circumstances
FYI
The charter establishes values to be respected for each of the players in the activities related to skiing. Thus, it gives the rules to respect for the practitioners but also the institutions (clubs, committees...) and the partners of the sport (entourage, spectators, media...).
Substantial difference
Pre-Declaration (Model)
Obligation to Qualify (French)
Obligation of good repute (French)
Professional Sports Educator Card
Qualification and prior authorization of EU or EEA nationals (permanent exercise)
Qualification and prior authorization of EU or EEA nationals (temporary or occasional exercise)
Ethics and ethics
Online service
Online service
French Ski Federation