AFEC

What AFEC does

AFEC (Groupe AFEC) is a French professional training organization founded in 1975, headquartered in Paris at 6 rue de la Pierre Levée, 75011. It operates 26+ training centers across France spanning Île-de-France, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Hauts-de-France, Centre-Val de Loire, and other regions. The company delivers vocational training programs leading to recognized certifications (CAP, Titres Professionnels, BTS, Diplôme d'État) across sectors including healthcare/social services, administrative and HR support, hospitality and catering, commerce/sales, digital skills, and security. Training is delivered via three formats: classroom instruction at physical centers, 100% distance learning via video conference and digital platforms, and alternance (work-study) programs combining center training with employer-based work experience.

The portfolio also includes complementary services: Bilan de Compétences (skills assessments priced €1,200-€2,400 across 12-24 hour tiers), VAE (Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience) accompaniment (€2,100-€2,640 across 15-24 hour tiers), and financing advisory helping individuals access public funding mechanisms. Subsidiary brands include Point F (a division of AFEC) and Ecole Jeanne Blum (acquired, focused on childcare professional training). The organization holds Qualiopi certification since December 2020, which is mandatory for accessing French public training funds.

AFEC's revenue is generated primarily through publicly funded training streams, including CPF (Compte Personnel de Formation), France Travail subsidies, regional council funding, OPCO-managed apprenticeship and professionalization contracts (OPCO EP, AKTO), and countercyclical mechanisms such as FNE-Formation. The organization trains more than 10,000 trainees annually and has trained over 550,000 people since founding. GTM is sales-led through direct relationships with job seekers, employer HR, France Travail caseworkers, OPCO advisors, and regional council program managers. No proprietary technology platform, AI capabilities, or IP-protected technology is disclosed; the underlying technology is standard video conferencing and document-sharing infrastructure for distance delivery.

Name

AFEC

Legal name

Groupe AFEC

Website

https://afec.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

AFEC (Groupe AFEC) is a French professional training organization founded in 1975 that delivers certified vocational training (CAP, BTS, Titres Professionnels) across healthcare, administrative, hospitality, digital, and security sectors through 26+ centers and distance learning, serving job seekers, career-transitioning employees, and employers via public funding mechanisms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Training Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Finance, Accounting & Risk (CFA/CPA/FRM) Certifications (EDAAANAD)

Keywords

• Professional training services
• Vocational certification programs
• Apprenticeship training
• Skills assessment services
• Continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Professional Training Services: AFEC generates revenue through providing professional training services to individuals and companies. Revenue is primarily sourced from public funding mechanisms including CPF (Compte Personnel de Formation), France Travail (formerly Pôle Emploi) subsidies, regional council funding, and employer-sponsored training through OPCOs.
2. Employer-Funded Training: Companies fund employee training through OPCOs (Opérateurs de Compétences) and direct employer contributions, covering apprenticeship and professionalization contracts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AFEC is a French professional training organization founded in 1975 that operates more than 26 training centers across France. It delivers vocational training programs, skills assessments (Bilan de Compétences), validation of acquired experience (VAE), and apprenticeship (alternance) programs across sectors including healthcare, hospitality, digital, administrative, and security. Funding pathways include CPF, France Travail (Pôle Emploi), OPCOs, and FNE Formations.

Product overview

AFEC (Groupe AFEC) is a professional training organization established in 1975, offering a comprehensive portfolio of vocational training services across France through multiple delivery formats. The organization operates as a unified training platform providing professional certification preparation (CAP, Titres Professionnels, BTS, Diplôme d'État), skills assessment (Bilan de Compétences), experience validation (VAE), and apprenticeship programs. Training is delivered through classroom instruction, 100% distance learning via digital platforms, and work-study arrangements. The portfolio covers sectors including Commerce/Vente, Hôtellerie/Restauration, Sanitary/Social Services, Digital/Numeric, Administrative Support, and Security. AFEC provides financing advisory services and maintains 26 training centers across France, with certification under Qualiopi quality standard.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Point F: A division/brand of the AFEC group, mentioned as 'Groupe Afec – Point f' in media appearances.

Products and services

• Formations Professionnelles (Vocational Training Programs) Classroom and blended vocational training programs covering healthcare, hospitality, digital, administrative, and security sectors, designed for individual learners and corporate clients seeking recognized qualifications.
• Bilan de Compétences (Skills Assessment) Structured skills assessment service helping individuals evaluate their competencies, define career goals, and identify relevant training pathways.
• Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience (VAE) Service supporting individuals in converting prior professional experience into officially recognized qualifications under the French VAE framework.
• Formation en Alternance (Apprenticeship Programs) Apprenticeship-based training combining on-the-job learning with classroom instruction, structured under French alternance contracts and funded through OPCOs.
• Distance Learning (E-learning) Online delivery of training content enabling learners to complete portions of their vocational program remotely via an e-learning platform.
• FNE Formations Training program funded via the FNE-Formation public funding mechanism aimed at supporting employees during economic downturns.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ trainees trained annually
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• France VAEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partnership for delivering VAE (Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience) accompaniment services through the government platform, helping individuals convert work experience into official certifications.
• France Travail (formerly Pôle Emploi)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary referral channel for job seekers to access AFEC training programs. France Travail provides funding and directs unemployed individuals to AFEC for professional retraining.
• OPCO EP (Opérateur de Compétences des Entreprises de Proximité)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFunding partner for employee training, managing apprenticeship and professionalization contract financing for companies in the hospitality and service sectors.
• Transitions ProcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFunding partner for career transitions, providing financial support for employees undergoing professional reconversion with salary maintenance during training.
• Regions (Île-de-France, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, etc.)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional council partnerships providing funding for job seeker training in strategic sectors including healthcare, hospitality, and commerce.
• France CompétencescoreOthersNational authority overseeing professional certification standards (RNCP), ensuring AFEC programs meet official qualification requirements.
• DataDockminorOthersQuality standards platform for training organizations, demonstrating AFEC's commitment to data quality and reporting standards.
• AKTOmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOPCO for commerce and service sectors, funding training and apprenticeship programs for employees in retail and commercial businesses.
• IPERIAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for childcare professional training and certification programs (assistant maternel/garde d'enfants).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Enaco: French online and blended professional training organization offering BTS, Bachelor, and Titre Professionnel programs funded by CPF — comparable to AFEC's distance-learning certification portfolio.
• AFPA: Agence nationale pour la formation professionnelle des adultes is France's largest public vocational training provider, offering CAP, Titre Professionnel, and certification preparation across regions — directly comparable to AFEC's core offering of professional certification preparation for job seekers and employees.
• Orsys: French professional training specialist focused on IT, digital, and management certification programs — comparable to AFEC's digital and administrative training lines and its employer-funded B2B model.
• Demos: Major French professional training organization delivering certification programs, management development, and digital skills training — directly comparable to AFEC in scope, certification focus, and B2B/B2C mix.
• M2i Formation: French professional training provider with broad coverage of IT, digital, and management certifications — comparable to AFEC in multi-sector professional certification and OPCO-funded delivery.
• AFTRAL: France's leading specialist training provider for transport, logistics, and safety certifications — comparable to AFEC as a multi-site French vocational training organization with OPCO-funded and alternance programs.
• Cegos: France-headquartered international corporate training leader offering professional development, management, and certification programs across multiple sectors — closely mirrors AFEC's multi-sector professional training portfolio and B2B funding model.

Emerging players

• OpenClassrooms: France-based online education platform specializing in diploma-bearing (Bachelor's, Master's) and professional certification programs — competes with AFEC's distance-learning offerings and is CPF-eligible.
• Studi: Pure-play French online vocational training platform offering CAP, BTS, and Titre Professionnel programs funded by CPF — competes with AFEC for the same digital distance-learning learners with an asset-light model.

Broad incumbents

• CCI Formation: Chambers of Commerce training network offering vocational programs, alternance, and Titre Professionnel preparation across France — comparable to AFEC in apprenticeship delivery and regional physical-center footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/afecformation
• Facebookfacebook.com/Afecgroupe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afec
• Instagraminstagram.com/groupe_afec

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AFEC