Are France’s ESF ski instructors state workers?

ESF ski instructorsare not state workers and are, in fact, self-employed.

However, they all have an official state diploma.

The majority of ski instructors in France work at ESF schools as travailleurs indépendants.

Others work entirely on their own without being affiliated to a school and some are employees of organisations such as UCPA, a non-profit outdoor sports holiday body.

It takes around four years to obtain the state diploma (Diplôme d’Etat de ski - moniteur national de ski alpin) and the candidates take theory and practical exams.

Many have previously competed at some level beforehand to develop the required level of skill for the practical tests.

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