Qualification for Director (BAFD)

Verified 12 September 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Do you want to supervise minors in collective accommodation (holiday camp, leisure center...)? The Director's Qualification Certificate (BAFD) is open to young people aged 18 and over. Graduation is subject to theoretical and practical training. This training costs money, but you can apply for financial assistance. The AFDB must be renewed every 5 years.

The Director's Qualification Certificate (BAFD) is used to supervise children and adolescents during their leisure and holidays.

The work, which is non-professional, is carried out occasionally.

The AFDB training prepares you to perform the following functions:

  • Develop and implement with the facilitation team a pedagogical project in line with the educational project and taking into account in particular the reception of minors with health disorders or disabilities
  • Placing engagement in the social, cultural and educational context
  • Coordinate and provide training for the facilitation team
  • Lead staff and manage reception
  • Developing partnerships and communication

Age

To attend the AFDB training, you must have at least 18 years on 1er day of the general training session.

Diplomas

You must have one of the following degrees:

But if you have a degree other than Bafa, you must also justify 2 animation experiences with a minimum total duration of 28 days during the 2 years preceding registration, of which at least 1 in collective reception of minors.

You must register on the Internet by accessing the AFDB registration online service:

Bafa and BAFD registration

You must click on your region of residence.

FYI  

this online service gives you access to the list of training organizations (national and regional) to which you can apply.

Process

To obtain the BAFD diploma, you must follow 2 theoretical training sessions and 2 practical courses that are held in the following order:

  1. General training session to acquire the basic knowledge to exercise the duties of director and build your personal training project (9 or 10 days)
  2. Practical training as director or executive assistant to implement the outcomes of the general training session on all functions (14 days)
  3. Refresher session to complete your learning with adapted training sequences (6 days)
  4. Practical placement as a director to develop your skills (14 days)

The 2 practical courses must take place in France. You must supervise a team comprising at least 2 animators.

The refresher session may take place abroad.

The director of each of the theoretical sessions gives an opinion based on his assessment of your abilities, after consulting the teaching team.

In the event of a favorable opinion from the director of the general training session, you become a trainee director and you can complete the practical training.

In case of a negative opinion, you cannot continue the curriculum and must participate in a new general training session.

Duration

The total duration of the training may not exceed 4 years. Otherwise you lose the benefit of the steps already taken.

The training costs extra. The cost varies depending on the training organization.

Financial assistance from Drajes

A BAFD grant can be granted to facilitate access to your training, depending on your region.

The amount of aid varies according to the region, the applicant's situation (age, modest resources, etc.) and the cost of the training.

To be eligible, you must make a written request to the regional academic delegation for youth, engagement and sports (Drajes) of your place of residence.

Who shall I contact

Other aid

You can receive help from €100 for your Bafa, or your BAFD, if you have completed a civic service in 2022 or 2023.

You must also have completed a training session (general, improvement or deepening) at Bafa or BAFD.

This session must be completed between 1er January 2023 and 1er september 2024.

To qualify for the aid, you must apply with the Payment and Services Agency.

You must use the following online service:

Request assistance from Bafa or BAFD for civic service volunteers

You must provide the form attesting to your participation in the session Training course validated by your training organization

Bafa/BAFD Certificate for Civic Service Volunteers

You must also provide a bank identity statement (or, if not, another document permitting payment).

You must submit your application before 1er december 2024.

In case of request for proof, you have 2 months to reply, from the date of your request.

Warning  

The aid is limited to the first 10 000 (complete) files received.

The aid will be paid directly into your bank account.

You can also ask your local council or France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi) (if you are a job seeker) about the financial assistance available to you.

Some departmental or regional councils also grant aid.

Who shall I contact

At the end of the cycle, the 4 stages validated by the session directors are examined by the AFDB jury of the regional academic delegation for youth, engagement and sports (DRAJES).

It's this jury that gives you the diploma or not.

If you fail, you have 12 months to retry the unvalidated training sessions or work placement.

The BAFD is valid for 5 years from the date of issue of the diploma.

Before the end of the 5-year period of validity of the BAFD, you can request its renewal using the BAFD registration online service:

Bafa and BAFD registration

In order to obtain your degree renewal, you must prove, during the previous 5 years, one of the following conditions:

  • Have served as director (or assistant) of one or more collective shelters for minors for at least 28 days
  • Have been a trainer at the Bafa or BAFD for at least 6 days
  • Have completed and validated a new BAFD refresher session

You can be a director if you have certain qualifications or diplomas.

Among the accepted degrees and diplomas, you can have one of the following:

  • State diploma in animation functions
  • State Diploma of Early Childhood Educator
  • Professional Diploma of Teacher of Schools
  • Certificate of proficiency

You must also provide proof of one or more experiments involving the animation of minors, at least one of which is in the collective reception of minors.

Who can help me?

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