Education & Childcare

To work as a paid sea surf instructor in France, you need a BPJEPS activités nautiques with the surf mention (or the newer BPJEPS surf et disciplines associées). Before starting, you must declare your activity with the SDJES (Service Départemental à la Jeunesse, à l'Engagement et aux Sports) of your main area of practice and obtain a carte professionnelle.The declaration is made online and must be renewed every five years. The carte professionnelle covers instruction in surfing, shortboard, longboard, bodyboard, bodysurf, kneeboard and skimboard. Teaching without a valid declaration is punishable by up to one year in prison and a 15,000 euro fine. You are responsible for the safety of participants and for equipment maintenance.

Issued by: Departmental Service for Youth, Commitment and Sports

To work as a paid sailing instructor in France, you need a BPJEPS voile or an equivalent recognized diploma. Before starting, you must declare your activity with the SDJES (Service Départemental à la Jeunesse, à l'Engagement et aux Sports) and obtain a carte professionnelle, renewed every five years.Your carte professionnelle allows you to teach multihull, dinghy and cruising activities up to 12 nautical miles from shelter, as well as windsurfing. Beyond 12 miles, you can supervise cruising within a flotilla under the responsibility of a qualified flotilla leader. You work with all types of participants and at any practice location. Teaching without a valid declaration is a criminal offense.

Issued by: Departmental Service for Youth, Commitment and Sports

To teach free flight (hang gliding, paragliding, kite flying or kitesurfing) professionally in France, you need a DEJEPS or BPJEPS in the relevant discipline. Before starting, you must declare your activity with the SDJES (Service Départemental à la Jeunesse, à l'Engagement et aux Sports) and obtain a carte professionnelle.The carte professionnelle is renewed every five years and the declaration is made online. You can teach initiation and progression courses in your specialty, including tandem instructional flights. You are responsible for the safety of participants and third parties during all sessions. Teaching free flight without a valid declaration is a criminal offense punishable by up to one year in prison and a 15,000 euro fine.

Issued by: Departmental Service for Youth, Commitment and Sports

Teaching dance professionally in France is regulated for three disciplines: classical dance, contemporary dance, and jazz dance. You must hold the Diplôme d'État (DE) de professeur de danse in at least one of these disciplines to teach independently. The DE is obtained after training at an approved center and passing both technical and pedagogical examinations.A dispensation procedure exists for experienced professionals who can demonstrate significant teaching or performance credentials. The Direction générale de la création artistique at the Ministry of Culture oversees the profession. Dance teachers working in licensed establishments must also comply with public safety regulations for the premises.

Issued by: Directorate General for Artistic Creation