CFA ARFA
CFA ARFA is a non-profit apprenticeship training center in Île-de-France, coordinating 20+ partner training organizations across 50+ sites to deliver state-recognized vocational qualifications in sport, animation, social work, tourism, administrative, and digital sectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What CFA ARFA does
CFA ARFA is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) founded in 1993 and headquartered at 29 rue David d'Angers, Paris. It operates as a Centre de Formation d'Apprentis (CFA) under the trade name "CFA des métiers du Sport et de l'Animation," coordinating apprenticeship and continuing-education training across Île-de-France. Its core function is not direct course delivery but network coordination: ARFA links employers, apprentices, and a network of 20+ partner training organizations (including CEMEA Île-de-France, IFAC, Léo Lagrange Formation, UCPA, UFCV, INFA, CPCV, Com-Tech, and France Esports for esports certification) that operate across 50+ training sites in cities such as Paris, Villetaneuse, Saint-Ouen, Villiers-le-Bel, Fontenay-sous-Bois, Pantin, Aubervilliers, and Montreuil. Through this network it delivers state-recognized qualifications — BPJEPS, DEJEPS, DESJEPS, CPJEPS AAVQ, CC DACM, DE ME, DE ES, TFP AEs, and TP CADGA — spanning sport, animation, social work, tourism, administrative, and digital sectors, up to Level 6 (Bac+3 equivalent). Internal headcount is approximately 15 employees, indicating that ARFA's role is fundamentally a coordination and certification layer rather than a delivery operator.
The business model is built on three public-funding streams rather than direct learner fees. Apprentices aged 16–29 receive training fully covered by OPCO (Opérateurs de Compétences) through apprenticeship contracts; job seekers are funded via the PRFE Région Île-de-France dispositif for continuing education; and ARFA collects cotisations from its member training organizations. Membership in FNADIR and FNCFASAT and coordination with Régions de France form the industry-relations layer. Marketing is multi-channel: a website (arfa-idf.asso.fr), the ARFA Connect visibility platform, Facebook/Instagram/TikTok/YouTube handles, and a dedicated Chargée de relations enterprises who develops employer partnerships for apprentice recruitment. The organization faces a material regulatory exposure: the May 28, 2026 decree cuts national CFA funding envelopes from €268M (2025) to €33M (2026), an approximately 88% reduction, which ARFA's federations are actively contesting.
CFA ARFA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CFA ARFA
- Legal name
- ARFA
- Website
- https://arfa-idf.asso.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CFA ARFA is a non-profit apprenticeship training center in Île-de-France, coordinating 20+ partner training organizations across 50+ sites to deliver state-recognized vocational qualifications in sport, animation, social work, tourism, administrative, and digital sectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CFA ARFA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vocational Apprenticeship Training
- NAICS
- Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Training Delivery Providers (In-Person, Virtual, Train-the-Trainer) (BPACANAM)
Keywords
Where CFA ARFA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices9 records
Markets served
CFA ARFA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Apprenticeship financing (Financement apprentissage): Training costs are covered through apprenticeship contracts financed by OPCO (Operator of Skills) for apprentices aged 16-29 years. The training is entirely free for apprentices.
- Continuing education (Formation continue): Some programs are funded through PRFE (Dispositif PRFE Région Île-de-France) for job seekers, with regional government financing.
- Membership fees (Cotisations membres): ARFA is an association that collects membership fees from its member organizations (organismes de formation).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Apprenticeship programs - fully funded |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
CFA ARFA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CFA ARFA coordinates and delivers apprenticeship and continuing education training in six professional sectors (sport, animation, social work, tourism, administrative, digital) across Île-de-France. It operates as a CFA (Centre de Formation d'Apprentis), networking 20+ partner training organisations at 50+ sites to deliver state-recognised French certifications (BPJEPS, DEJEPS, DESJEPS, CPJEPS AAVQ, CC DACM, DE ME, DE ES, TFP AEs, TP CADGA). Training is fully funded for apprentices aged 16–29 via OPCO financing and free for learners, with regional financing via PRFE for job seekers.
Product overview
CFA ARFA is a vocational apprenticeship training center (CFA) based in Île-de-France offering a portfolio of professional qualifications and state diplomas in sports, animation, social work, tourism, administrative, and digital sectors. The portfolio includes BPJEPS (Brevet Professionnel) qualifications in various specialties (MAPS for physical health activities, ASEC for socio-educational animation), DEJEPS and DESJEPS advanced diplomas, entry-level CPJEPS certificates (AAVQ for daily activity animation), complementary certificates (CC DACM for minor collective facility direction), professional titles (TFP AEs for esports animation, TP CADGA for administrative reception), and social work diplomas (DE ME for educational monitoring, DE ES for specialized educators). The organization coordinates with a network of training partner organisms across Île-de-France and facilitates apprenticeship contracts between learners and employers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ARFA Connect: Online platform for training organizations to register and manage training sessions.
Companies that use CFA ARFA
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CFA ARFA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CFA ARFA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- CEMEA Île-de-FrancecorePartner training organization specializing in social work education (DE ES formation). Provides educational excellence and is part of the ARFA network of 20+ training organizations.
- IFAC FormationcorePartner training organization in the ARFA network, delivering CPJEPS AAVQ and other programs under the PRFE Région Île-de-France dispositif.
- Léo Lagrange FormationcorePartner training organization in the ARFA network, delivering CC DACM and CPJEPS AAVQ programs under PRFE Région Île-de-France.
- UCPA FormationcorePartner training organization in the ARFA network, specializing in sports and leisure sector training.
- UFCVcorePartner training organization in the ARFA network, part of the network of training organizations.
- FNADIRflagshipFédération Nationale des Directeurs de Centres de Formation d'Apprentis. ARFA is a member and actively participates in defending CFA interests. FNADIR calls for government reconsideration of funding cuts affecting CFA operations.
- FNCFASATflagshipFédération Nationale des CFA Sports, Animation et Tourisme. ARFA is a member and works with FNCFASAT to defend apprenticeship training quality and accessibility.
- Régions de FranceflagshipRegional authorities organization representing French regions. ARFA, through FNADIR, works with Régions de France to address apprenticeship funding concerns and represent regional CFA interests.
- France EsportscoreCo-certifier of the TFP Animateur esport (esports animator) certification along with Fédération Française des CFA SAT. Provides industry recognition for esports training programs.
- Nuevo Sport LoisirscorePartner training organization delivering TFP Animateur esport program at their Neuilly-Plaisance location. ARFA coordinates through this partner for esports training.
- FormerSavoircorePartner training organization delivering TP Chargé d'accueil et de gestion administrative (CADGA) program through apprenticeship.
- IFA (Institut de Formation de l'Animation)corePartner training organization delivering CC DACM program under PRFE Région Île-de-France dispositif.
- Com-TechcorePartner training organization in the ARFA network, one of the displayed training organization logos.
- CPCV Île-de-FrancecorePartner training organization in the ARFA network, one of the displayed training organization logos.
- INFAcorePartner training organization in the ARFA network, one of the displayed training organization logos.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CFA ARFA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- CCI France Formation: CCI France, through its chambers of commerce network, operates a large vocational and apprenticeship training arm (including CMA and CCI CFAs) spanning administrative, commercial, digital, and craft trades. Like ARFA, CCI Formation relies on similar OPCO/Région funding channels and serves the small-business and SME employer base seeking apprentices in administrative and management-adjacent roles.
- AFPA: AFPA (Agence nationale pour la formation professionnelle des adultes) is France's historic national adult vocational training agency, delivering programs across a wide range of sectors under publicly-funded and apprenticeship pathways. ARFA and AFPA overlap in vocational certification delivery and reliance on French state/regional funding mechanisms, though AFPA operates at significantly broader national scale across more occupational domains.
- GRETA: GRETA is the French national public network of adult continuing-education groups operated under the Ministry of Education, delivering vocational training across French regions. GRETA provides the closest publicly-funded comparator to ARFA's apprenticeship coordination role, particularly for the continuing education and adult reskilling pathways that complement ARFA's apprenticeship programs.
- CNAM: CNAM (Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers) is a major French higher-education and professional development institution delivering vocational and continuing education, especially bac+3 / level 6 qualifications aligned to working professionals — the same highest level that ARFA's DESJEPS programs reach. Both institutions serve learners seeking nationally recognized professional credentials, though CNAM operates at vastly greater national scope.
Direct peers
- AFTRAL: AFTRAL is one of France's largest CFA (Centre de Formation d'Apprentis) networks, coordinating partner organizations to deliver apprenticeship training in transport, logistics, and related sectors. Like CFA ARFA, AFTRAL operates as a coordination body aggregating accredited training providers under one administrative umbrella, funded through OPCO and apprenticeship contracts. The business model, regulatory framework, and coordination function are closely aligned.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CFA ARFA social profiles
Digital presenceCFA ARFA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CFA ARFA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CFA ARFA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CFA ARFA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CFA ARFA
What does CFA ARFA do?
CFA ARFA coordinates and delivers apprenticeship and continuing education training in six professional sectors (sport, animation, social work, tourism, administrative, digital) across Île-de-France. It operates as a CFA (Centre de Formation d'Apprentis), networking 20+ partner training organisations at 50+ sites to deliver state-recognised French certifications (BPJEPS, DEJEPS, DESJEPS, CPJEPS AAVQ, CC DACM, DE ME, DE ES, TFP AEs, TP CADGA). Training is fully funded for apprentices aged 16–29 via OPCO financing and free for learners, with regional financing via PRFE for job seekers.
Is CFA ARFA a public or private company?
CFA ARFA is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CFA ARFA founded?
CFA ARFA was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CFA ARFA based?
CFA ARFA is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does CFA ARFA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Apprenticeship financing (Financement apprentissage) is the primary driver. The others are continuing education (Formation continue) and membership fees (Cotisations membres).
Who are CFA ARFA's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are CCI France Formation, AFPA, GRETA and CNAM. AFTRAL is listed as a direct peer.
Does CFA ARFA have an API?
No public API is recorded for CFA ARFA.
What industry is CFA ARFA in?
CFA ARFA's product category is Vocational Apprenticeship Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACANAM, Training Delivery Providers (In-Person, Virtual, Train-the-Trainer). Its NAICS code is 611513 and its SIC code is 8200.