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Alpine mountain guide

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1°. Defining the activity

The mountain guide is a professional who conducts and educates and educates all types of mountaineering and related activities in safety and autonomy. He may work as an accompanist, teacher and trainer for educational purposes during a leisure practice or sports performance, but he may also act as a technical advisor/consultant in mountain activities or perform mountain rescue functions.

The mountain guide performs the following activities:

  • driving and accompanying people on excursions or ascents from mountain to rock, snow, ice and mixed terrain;
  • driving and accompanying people on ski touring, ski mountaineering and off-piste skiing trips;
  • teaching mountaineering, climbing and ski touring, ski mountaineering and off-piste skiing;
  • training in competitive practices in the aforementioned disciplines;
  • supervision and professional teaching of the practice of vertical and aquatic canyons requiring the use of agrès for holders of diplomas listed in Article 3 of the May 10, 1993 decree on the State Mountaineering Patent.

The job of mountain guide can be practiced full-time or as a seasonal occupation.

Good to know: the recycling obligation

Permission to practise as a mountain guide is limited to a period of six years, renewable. At the end of this period, the renewal of the licence to practice is granted to holders of the diploma of mountain guide who has completed a refresher course organized by the National School of Mountain Sports (see below: "Recycling Course").

To go further Article 3 and Appendix II of the decree of 10 May 1993 relating to the State Mountaineering Patent, decree of 16 June 2014 relating to the specific training of the State Diploma of Mountaineering-Guide mountain.

2°. Professional qualifications

a. National requirements

National legislation

High mountain guide activity is subject to the application of Article L. 212-1 of the Code of Sport, which requires specific certifications.

As a sports teacher, the mountain guide must hold a diploma, a professional title or a certificate of qualification:

Foreign diplomas may be admitted in equivalence to French diplomas by the Minister responsible for sports, after the opinion of the Commission for the Recognition of Qualifications placed with the Minister.

To practice as a mountain guide, the person concerned must have the state diploma of mountaineering - a mountain guide, which gives him the quality of a sports educator.

Good to know: the specific environment

Mountaineering and associated activities are considered to be activities in a "specific environment" (ES), regardless of the area of evolution. As a result, their practice requires compliance with specific safety measures referred to in Section L. 212-2 of the Code of Sport.

To go further Articles L. 212-1, R. 212-84 and D. 212-67 of the Code of Sport.

Training

The State Diploma of Mountaineering - High Mountain Guide is classified as Level II (Bac-3/4). It is prepared after a training course under student or student status, through an apprenticeship contract, after a continuing education course, in a professionalization contract, by individual application or by validation of experience (VAE). For more information, you can see official website Article 26 of the decree of 16 June 2014 on the specific training of the State Diploma of Mountaineering - a mountain guide.

The training leading to the State Diploma of Mountaineering - Mountain Guide is provided by the National School of Mountain Sports (ENSM), on the site of National Ski and Mountaineering School (ENSA) in Chamonix.

The job of a mountain guide requires serious physical, technical and moral abilities. The graduation of the State Diploma of Mountaineering - a mountain guide sanctions training respecting the principle of alternating periods of training in training centers and job situations under pedagogical tutoring, which is carried out breaks down as follows:

  • common teachings leading indiscriminately to diplomas of aspiring guide and mountain guide, sanctioning general theoretical knowledge. This first training is for a minimum of three years;
  • then training specific to the mountain guide, focused on preparing for the job of guide.

The holder of the State Mountaineering Diploma - Mountain Guide must update his professional skills every six years through a retraining course that takes place no later than December 31 of the sixth year after graduation or recycling. Recycling determines the practice of the profession (see below: "Recycling course").

Conditions for access to training leading to the State Mountaineering Diploma - Mountain Guide: Probation

To be admitted to the training leading to the State Diploma of Mountaineering - Mountain Guide, the candidate must pass a probationary exam lasting ten days consisting of elimination tests.

Probation requirements

The person concerned must:

  • Be a major on January 1 of the year of the exam;
  • send a file two months before the start of the exam to the Director General of the National School of Mountain Sports, site of the National Ski and Mountaineering School, containing:- An application for registration based on a standardized print with a photograph,
    • a two-sided copy of the candidate's national identity card or passport,
    • a photocopy of the census certificate and the individual certificate of participation in the defence preparation appeal, if the candidate is under twenty-five years of age,
    • a certificate of participation in the "Level 1 Civic First Aid" (PSC1) education unit or its equivalent,
    • a medical certificate of non-contradictory to the practice and teaching of mountaineering, dating back less than three months to the date of the opening of the events,
    • two envelopes stamped according to the rates detailed in Schedule I of the order of 16 June 2014 mentioned above,
    • a list (based on the model defined by the National School of Mountain Sports) of the races and climbs carried out. Some races are required in order to register. The list of these is determined and communicated by the National School of Mountain Sports, site of the National Ski and Mountaineering School, after advice from the permanent mountaineering section of the Training and Employment Committee of the Higher Council of mountain sports.
Content and conduct of probationary review

The probationary exam includes a series of elimination events organized and evaluated in two successive parts.

  • The first part consists of six events:- a pre-interview on the description of the races on the list attached to the probationary exam registration file. This interview lasts a maximum of 30 minutes and assesses the candidate's ability to communicate accurate information about these races,
    • an orientation test with only a map, a magnetized needle compass and an altimeter as instruments,
    • a climbing event in climbing slippers,
    • a snow and ice test,
    • an evolution test in various terrain including a rock evolution in mountain shoes,
    • a snow-skiing, all-terrain ski event;
  • the second part involves changes in a high-mountain environment, over a period of 5 days. They aim to assess the candidate's ability to mobilize his or her technical skills independently.

Under certain conditions, exemptions can be obtained for certain events. For more details, it is advisable to refer to articles 6 and following of the order of 16 June 2014 mentioned above.

To go further : Description of the certification "State Mountaineering Diploma - High Mountain Guide" from the National Directory of Professional Certifications (RNCP), decree of 16 June 2014 relating to the specific training of the State Diploma of Mountaineering - High Mountain Guide.

Recycling course

The recycling session, with a minimum duration of 24 hours, aims to update the professional skills of mountain guides, particularly in the areas of safety management, means obligation and regulation, from preliminary analysis of professional practices and their evolution: risk analysis, accidentology, changes in the legal or societal framework, updating knowledge and know-how.

At the end of each session, the recycling certificates are issued by the Director General of the National School of Mountain Sports, site of the National Ski and Mountaineering School.

To go further : decree of 11 March 2015 relating to the content and organisation of the recycling of holders of mountain guide diplomas.

Costs associated with qualification

The training leading to the state diploma of mountaineering - mountain guide is paid: about 11,000 euros (from the probationary exam to the graduation of the state diploma). This cost is indicated as an indication. For more details, it is advisable to get closer to the National School of Mountain Sports .

b. EU nationals: for temporary and occasional exercise (Freedom to provide services)

European Union (EU) nationalsEuropean Economic Area (EEA) legally established in one of these states may carry out the same activity in France on a temporary and occasional basis on the condition that it has sent a prior declaration of activity to the prefect of the department of the delivery.

If the activity or training leading there is not regulated in the Member State of origin or the state of the place of establishment, the national must also justify having carried out this activity for at least the equivalent of two full-time years in the in the last ten years prior to the benefit.

European nationals wishing to practise in France on a temporary or occasional basis must have the necessary language skills to carry out the activity in France, in particular in order to guarantee the safe exercise of the physical and sporting activities and its ability to alert emergency services.

To go further Articles L. 212-7, R. 212-92 to R. 212-94 of the Code of Sport.

Good to know: the substantial difference

For the supervision of mountaineering by a mountain guide, the substantial difference, likely to exist between the professional qualification of the registrant and the professional qualification required on the national territory, is appreciated in reference to the formation of the mountain guide diploma of the State Mountaineering Certificate as it incorporates:

  • Theoretical and practical safety knowledge
  • technical security skills.

In the context of the free provision of services, when the prefect considers, after the advice of the permanent section of mountaineering of the Committee on Training and Employment of the Higher Council of Mountain Sports forwarded to the National Trades Centre of skiing and mountaineering, whether there is a substantial difference, it may decide to subject the declarant to an aptitude test or an adaptation course.

To go further Articles A. 212-222 and A. 212-224 of the Code of Sport.

c. EU nationals: for a permanent exercise (Freedom of establishment)

A national of an EU or EEA state may settle in France to practice permanently if he fulfils one of four conditions:

If the State of origin regulates access or the exercise of the activity:

  • hold a certificate of competency or training certificate issued by the competent authority of an EU or EEA state and which certifies a level of qualification at least equivalent to the level immediately lower than that required in France;
  • be the holder of a title acquired in a third state and admitted in equivalence to an EU or EEA state and justify having carried out this activity for at least two years full-time in that state.

If the Member State of origin does not regulate access or the exercise of the activity:

  • justify having been active in an EU or EEA state, full-time for at least two years in the last ten years, or, in the case of part-time exercise, justifying an activity of equivalent duration and holding a certificate qualification issued by the competent authority of one of these states, which attests to a readiness for the exercise of the activity, as well as a level of qualification at least equivalent to the level immediately lower than that required in France;
  • be holder of a qualification certificate at least equivalent to the level immediately lower than that required in France, issued by the competent authority of an EU or EEA state and sanctioning regulated training aimed at specifically the exercise of all or part of the activities mentioned in Article L. 212-1 of the Code of Sport, consisting of a cycle of study supplemented, if necessary, by vocational training, internship or professional practice.

If the national meets one of the four conditions mentioned above, the qualification requirement required to practise is deemed satisfied.

However, if the professional qualification of the national differs substantially from the qualification required in France which would not guarantee the safety of practitioners and third parties, he may be required to submit to a aptitude test or performing an adjustment course (see below "Good to know: compensation measures").

The national must have the knowledge of the French language necessary to carry out his activity in France, in particular in order to guarantee the safe exercise of physical and sports activities and his ability to alert the emergency services.

To go further Articles L. 212-7 and R. 212-88 to R. 212-90 of the Code of Sport.

Good to know: the substantial difference

For the supervision of mountaineering by a mountain guide, the substantial difference, likely to exist between the professional qualification of the registrant and the professional qualification required on the national territory, is appreciated in reference to the formation of the mountain guide diploma of the State Mountaineering Certificate as it incorporates:

  • Theoretical and practical safety knowledge
  • technical security skills.

In the context of the freedom of establishment, when the prefect considers, after the advice of the permanent section of mountaineering of the Committee on Training and Employment of the Higher Council of Mountain Sports, forwarded to the National Trades Centre of the management of skiing and mountaineering, that there is a substantial difference, he referred the matter to the Qualification Recognition Commission, attaching the opinion of the permanent section to the file.

After ruling on the existence of a substantial difference, the Qualifications Recognition Commission proposes, if necessary, to the prefect to submit the declarant to an aptitude test or an adjustment course.

On the other hand, if the prefect believes that there is no substantial difference or where a substantial difference has been identified and the registrant has met the aptitude test, the prefect issues a certificate of freeness to the declarant. establishment and a professional sports educator card.

To go further Articles A. 212-222, A. 212-223 and A. 212-228, R. 212-88 to R. 212-91 of the Code of Sport.

3°. Conditions of honorability

It is forbidden to practice as a mountain guide in France for persons who have been convicted of any crime or for one of the following offences:

  • torture and acts of barbarism;
  • Sexual assaults;
  • drug trafficking;
  • Endangering others;
  • pimping and the resulting offences;
  • endangering minors;
  • illicit use of substance or plant classified as narcotics or provocation to the illicit use of narcotics;
  • violations of Articles L. 235-25 to L. 235-28 of the Code of Sport;
  • as a punishment complementary to a tax offence: a temporary ban on practising, directly or by person interposed, on behalf of himself or others, any industrial, commercial or liberal profession ( Section 1750 of the General Tax Code).

In addition, no one may teach, facilitate or supervise a physical or sporting activity with minors, if he has been the subject of an administrative measure prohibiting him from participating, in any capacity, in the management and supervision of institutions and bodies subject to legislation or regulations relating to the protection of minors in a holiday and leisure centre, as well as youth groups, or if it has been the subject of an administrative measure to suspend these same functions.

To go further Article L. 212-9 of the Code of Sport.

4°. Reporting requirement (for the purpose of obtaining the professional sports educator card)

Anyone wishing to practice any of the professions governed by Article L. 212-1 of the Code of Sport must declare his activity to the prefect of the department of the place where he intends to practice as principal. This declaration triggers the obtaining of a business card.

The declaration must be renewed every five years.

Competent authority

The declaration should be addressed to the Departmental Directorate of Social Cohesion (DDCS) or Departmental Directorate for Social Cohesion and Population Protection (DDCSPP) of the practice department or the main exercise, or directly in line on the  official website .

Time

Within one month of filing the declaration file, the prefecture sends an acknowledgement to the registrant. The business card, valid for five years, is then addressed to the registrant.

Supporting documents

The supporting documents to be provided are:

  • Cerfa 12699*02 ;
  • A copy of a valid ID
  • A photo ID
  • A statement on the honour attesting to the accuracy of the information in the form;
  • A copy of each of the diplomas, titles, certificates invoked;
  • A copy of the authorization to practice, or, if necessary, the equivalency of the diploma;
  • a medical certificate of non-contradictory to the practice and supervision of the physical or sporting activities concerned, less than one year old.

If you have a return renewal, you should contact:

  • Form Cerfa 12699*02 ;
  • A photo ID
  • A copy of the valid review certificate for qualifications subject to the recycling requirement;
  • a medical certificate of non-contradictory to the practice and supervision of the physical or sporting activities concerned, less than one year old.

In addition, in all cases, the prefecture will itself request the release of an extract of less than three months from the registrant's criminal record to verify that there is no disability or prohibition of practice.

Cost

Free.

To go further Articles L. 212-11, R. 212-85 and A. 212-176 to A. 212-178 of the Code of Sport.

5°. Qualifications recognition procedures and formalities

a. Make a prior declaration of activity for EU nationals engaged in temporary and occasional activity (LPS)

EU or EEA nationals legally established in one of these states who wish to practise in France on a temporary or occasional basis must make a prior declaration of activity before the first provision of services.

If the claimant wishes to make a new benefit in France, this prior declaration must be renewed.

In order to avoid serious damage to the safety of the beneficiaries, the prefect may, during the first benefit, carry out a preliminary check of the claimant's professional qualifications.

Competent authority

The prior declaration of activity should be addressed to the regional directorate of youth, sports and social cohesion (DDCS) of Isère.

Time

In the month following receipt of the declaration file, the prefect notifies the provider:

  • or a request for further information (in this case, the prefect has two months to give his answer);
  • or a receipt for a service delivery statement if it does not conduct a qualifications check. In this case, service delivery may begin;
  • or that it is conducting the qualifications check. In this case, the prefect then issues the claimant a receipt allowing him to start his performance or, if the verification of the qualifications reveals substantial differences with the professional qualifications required in France, the prefect submits the claimant to an aptitude test (see infra "Good to know: compensation measures").

In all cases, in the absence of a response within the aforementioned deadlines, the claimant is deemed to be legally active in France.

Supporting documents

The activity pre-report file must include:

  • A copy of the declaration form provided in Schedule II-12-3 of the Code of Sport;
  • A photo ID
  • A copy of an ID
  • A copy of the certificate of competency or training title;
  • A copy of the documents attesting that the registrant is legally established in the Member State of the institution and that he does not incur any prohibition, even temporary, from practising (translated into French by a certified translator);
  • in the event that neither the activity nor the training leading to this activity is regulated in the Establishment Member State, a copy of any documents justifying that the registrant has carried out this activity in that State for at least the equivalent of two years full time over the past ten years (translated into French by a certified translator);
  • one of the three documents to choose from (if not, an interview will be held):- A copy of a certificate of qualification issued after training in French,
    • A copy of a French-level certificate issued by a specialized institution,
    • a copy of a document attesting to professional experience acquired in France.

Cost

Free.

Remedies

Any litigation must be exercised within two months of notification of the decision to the relevant administrative court.

To go further Articles R. 212-92 and following, A. 212-182-2 and subsequent articles and Appendix II-12-3 of the Code of Sport.

b. Make a pre-declaration of activity for EU nationals for a permanent exercise (LE)

Any EU or EEA national qualified to carry out all or part of the activities mentioned in Article L. 212-1 of the Code of Sport, and wishing to settle in France, must make a statement to the prefect of the department in which he intends exercise as a principal.

This declaration allows the registrant to obtain a professional card and thus to practice legally in France under the same conditions as French nationals.

The declaration must be renewed every five years.

In the event of a substantial difference from the qualification required in France, the prefect may refer the qualifications recognition committee to the Minister for Sport for advice. They may also decide to subject the national to an aptitude test or an accommodation course (see below: "Good to know: compensation measures").

Competent authority

The declaration should be addressed to the Departmental Directorate in charge of Social Cohesion (DDCS) or to the Departmental Directorate in charge of Social Cohesion and Population Protection (DDCSPP).

Time

The prefect's decision to issue the business card comes within three months of the submission of the full file by the registrant. This period may be extended by one month on a reasoned decision. If the prefect decides not to issue the professional card or to subject the declarant to a compensation measure (fitness test or internship), his decision must be motivated.

Supporting documents for the first declaration of activity

The activity report file should include:

  • A copy of the declaration form provided in Schedule II-12-2-a of the Code of Sport;
  • A photo ID
  • A copy of a valid ID
  • a medical certificate of non-contradictory to the practice and supervision of physical or sporting activities, less than one year old (translated by a certified translator);
  • A copy of the certificate of competency or training title, accompanied by documents describing the training course (program, hourly volume, nature and duration of internships carried out), translated into French by a certified translator;
  • If so, a copy of any evidence justifying work experience (translated into French by a certified translator);
  • If the training document has been obtained in a third state, copies of the documents attesting that the title has been admitted as an equivalency in an EU or EEA state that regulates the activity;
  • one of the three documents to choose from (if not, an interview will be held):- A copy of a certificate of qualification issued after training in French,
    • A copy of a French-level certificate issued by a specialized institution,
    • A copy of a document attesting to professional experience acquired in France;
  • documents attesting that the registrant was not the subject of any of the convictions or measures referred to in Articles L. 212-9 and L. 212-13 of the Code of Sport (translated into French by a certified translator) in the Member State of origin.

Evidence for a renewal of activity declaration

The activity renewal file must include:

  • A copy of the return renewal form, modeled on Schedule II-12-2-b of the Code of Sport;
  • A photo ID
  • a medical certificate of non-contradictory to the practice and supervision of physical or sporting activities, less than one year old.

Cost

Free.

Remedies

Any litigation must be exercised within two months of notification of the decision to the relevant administrative court.

To go further Articles R. 212-88 to R. 212-91, A. 212-182 and Schedules II-12-2-a and II-12-b of the Code of Sport.

Good to know: compensation measures (for an activity in a specific environment)

If there is a substantial difference between the qualification of the applicant and that required in France to carry out the same activity, the prefect refers the commission for recognition of qualifications placed with the Minister responsible for sports. This commission, before issuing its opinion, refers the specialist consultation bodies for advice. After ruling on the existence of a substantial difference, the commission proposes, if necessary, to the prefect to subject the declarant to a test of aptitude. Upon reading the commission's opinion, the prefect may require the registrant to submit to an aptitude test.

In its opinion, the commission can:

  • believe that there is indeed a substantial difference between the qualification of the registrant and that required in France. In this case, the commission proposes to subject the registrant to an aptitude test, the nature of which it defines (the nature of the tests, the terms of their organisation and evaluation, the period of organization, the content and duration of the internship. , types of structures that can accommodate the trainee, etc.) ;
  • that there is no substantial difference between the qualification of the registrant and that required in France.

Upon receipt of the commission's opinion, the prefect notifies the registrant of his reasoned decision (he is not obliged to follow the commission's advice):

  • if the registrant requires compensation, he or she must submit to an aptitude test. The prefect then issues a business card to the registrant who has complied with the compensation measures. On the other hand, if the course or the aptitude test is not satisfactory, the prefect notifies his reasoned decision to refuse to issue the professional card to the person concerned;
  • if he does not require compensation, the prefect issues a business card to the person concerned.

To go further Articles R212-84, R212-90-1 and D212-84-1 of the Code of Sport.

c. Remedies

French assistance centre

The ENIC-NARIC Centre is the French centre for information on academic and professional recognition of diplomas.

Solvit

SOLVIT is a service provided by the National Administration of each Member State of the European Union or party to the EEA agreement. Its aim is to find a solution to a dispute between an EU national and the administration of another of these states. SOLVIT intervenes in particular in the recognition of professional qualifications.

Conditions

The person concerned can only use SOLVIT if he establishes:

  • that the public administration of one EU state has not respected its rights under EU law as a citizen or business of another EU state;
  • that it has not already initiated legal action (administrative action is not considered as such).
Procedure

The national must complete a  online complaint form .

Once his file has been submitted, SOLVIT contacts him within a week to request, if necessary, additional information and to verify that the problem is within his competence.

Supporting documents

To enter SOLVIT, the national must communicate:

  • Full contact details
  • Detailed description of his problem
  • all the evidence in the file (for example, correspondence and decisions received from the relevant administrative authority).
Time

SOLVIT is committed to finding a solution within ten weeks of the day the case was taken over by the SOLVIT centre in the country in which the problem occurred.

Cost

Free.

Outcome of the procedure

At the end of the 10-week period, SOLVIT presents a solution:

  • If this solution resolves the dispute over the application of European law, the solution is accepted and the case is closed;
  • if there is no solution, the case is closed as unresolved and referred to the European Commission.
More information

SOLVIT in France: General Secretariat for European Affairs, 68 rue de Bellechasse, 75700 Paris ( official website ).