CFA Social, Médico-social et Sanitaire

What CFA Social, Médico-social et Sanitaire does

CFA Social, Médico-social et Sanitaire (CFA SMS) is a French non-profit apprenticeship training center (CFA hors les murs) founded in 2012 and headquartered in Blois, Centre-Val de Loire. Organized as an association loi 1901, the organization coordinates apprenticeship training across the sanitary, social, medico-social, and animation sectors, serving two customer sides: prospective apprentices (candidates aged 16-30, with no age limit for persons with disabilities) seeking vocational qualifications, and employers in healthcare and social-work establishments seeking qualified candidates. The CFA operates as a regulatory and administrative hub rather than a direct training provider, contracting pedagogical delivery to 14 partner training organisms (UFA) across 19 locations in the Centre-Val de Loire region.

CFA SMS delivers a portfolio of 17 training programs spanning Level 3 to Level 7 qualifications, including aide-soignant (DEAS), infirmier (DEI), ambulancier (DEA), auxiliaire de puériculture (DEAP), éducateur spécialisé (DEES), assistant de service social (DEASS), BPJEPS/CPJEPS/DEJEPS animation programs, and management certifications (CAFERUIS, CAFDES). The technology stack is composed of third-party SaaS integrations including Ymag.cloud for pre-registration, Studea for the digital apprenticeship booklet (carnet d'alternance numérique), Microsoft Forms for event registration, and Cloudflare for bot management. Underlying technology is operational rather than differentiated, with no disclosed AI/ML, proprietary platforms, or data assets.

The business model is funded primarily through OPCO (Opérateurs de Compétences) public training funds covering private employers for qualifications below Level 6, with employers contributing €750 for Level 6-7 qualifications. Apprentices pay no tuition and receive SMIC-linked remuneration from employers. Distribution relies on a regional field team of ~10 staff coordinating tripartite relationships among apprentices, employers, and partner training centers, supplemented by job dating events, orientation forums, open houses, webinars, and a self-service online pre-registration channel. The organization reports 96% apprentice satisfaction, 84% exam success rate, 86% professional integration within six months, and an 8.30% contract termination rate.

Name

CFA Social, Médico-social et Sanitaire

Legal name

CFA Social, Médico-social et Sanitaire

Website

https://cfasms.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CFA Social, Médico-social et Sanitaire is a French non-profit apprenticeship training center coordinating 17 healthcare, social-work, and animation programs across 19 locations in Centre-Val de Loire for apprentices and regional employers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Apprenticeship Training

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Education & Training Providers (EDABALAI)

Keywords

• Apprenticeship coordination
• Vocational training services
• Healthcare training programs
• Social work education
• Medico-social training

Headquarters

HQ city

Blois

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices20 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Apprenticeship Training Funding via OPCO: Training costs are covered by OPCO (Opérateur de Compétences) for private employers for qualifications below level 6 (BAC+3). For level 6-7 qualifications, employers contribute 750€ as mandatory participation.
2. Employer-Side Apprenticeship Support: Public and private employers benefit from reduced social contributions for apprentices, making this a subsidized employment model rather than direct revenue for the CFA.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CFA SMS is an apprenticeship coordination center (CFA hors les murs) that recruits apprentices, matches them with employers, and manages apprenticeship contracts for 17 vocational training programs in the sanitary, social, medico-social, and youth animation sectors. The organization coordinates pedagogical delivery through 14 partner training organisms across 19 locations in Centre-Val de Loire, handling regulatory and administrative oversight of apprenticeship contracts while partner centers deliver theoretical and practical training.

Product overview

CFA Social, Médico-social et Sanitaire is a vocational apprenticeship training center (CFA hors les murs) offering 17 professional training programs in the sanitary, social, and medico-social sectors across Centre-Val de Loire region. The organization operates as a coordination hub between apprentices, employers, and 14 partner training organizations (UFA - Unités de Formation en Apprentissage), providing regulatory and legislative oversight for apprenticeship contracts. Training programs span from Level 3 (CAP-equivalent) to Level 6/7 (Bac+3 to Bac+5), covering healthcare roles (aide-soignant, infirmier, ambulancier, auxiliary de puériculture), social work (éducateur spécialisé, assistant de service social, moniteur éducateur), animation (BPJEPS, CPJEPS, DEJEPS), and management certifications (CAFERUIS, CAFDES). The portfolio includes certification pathways for direct care workers, educators, social workers, and administrative directors, all delivered through alternating theory in partner centers and practical employer-based training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aide Soignant (DEAS) State diploma (Diplôme d'État d'Aide Soignant) preparing apprentices to provide patient care under nurse supervision, focusing on daily life activities and compensating for partial or total lack of autonomy.
• Ambulancier (DEA) State diploma (Diplôme d'État d'Ambulancier) training apprentices to transport patients in specially equipped sanitary vehicles, including emergency care and patient safety during transport.
• Auxiliaire de Puériculture (DEAP) State diploma (Diplôme d'État d'Auxiliaire de Puériculture) training apprentices to provide developmental activities, hygiene care, and comfort for children from birth to 7 years in nurseries and hospitals.
• Infirmier (DEI) 3-year state diploma (Diplôme d'État d'Infirmier) training apprentices to assess health conditions, design personalized care plans, deliver care, and evaluate patient outcomes in hospital or community settings.
• Animateur CPJEPS Professional certificate (Certificat professionnel de la jeunesse, de l'éducation populaire et du sport) — a 13-month program training youth activity leaders to animate daily life activities and ensure safety of minors in various youth facilities.
• Animateur BPJEPS Professional certificate (Brevet professionnel de la jeunesse, de l'éducation populaire et du sport) — a 15-month program training animators to design and implement animation projects in socio-educational and cultural settings.
• DEJEPS State diploma (Diplôme d'État de la jeunesse, de l'éducation populaire et du sport) — a 2-year program training project coordinators to design, implement, and evaluate social-educational action projects in sports or animation sectors.
• Accompagnant Éducatif et Social (DEAES) State diploma (Diplôme d'État d'Accompagnant Éducatif et Social) — a 12-15 month program training professionals to assist persons in essential daily activities, social life, and educational activities in social or medico-social establishments.
• Moniteur Éducateur (DEME) State diploma (Diplôme d'État de Moniteur Éducateur) training professionals to participate in educational actions and organize daily life for people with difficulties or disabilities, promoting their socialization and autonomy.
• Moniteur d'Atelier en Milieu de Travail Protégé (TMA) Professional title (Titre de Moniteur d'atelier en milieu de travail protégé) — a 1-year program training professionals to accompany and support disabled workers in ESAT facilities, managing workshop production and developing individual competencies.
• Éducateur Spécialisé (DEES) State diploma (Diplôme d'État d'Éducateur Spécialisé) — a 3-year program training professionals to accompany vulnerable persons or those with disabilities, facilitating their autonomy, socialization, and fulfillment through educational relationships and socio-educational projects.
• Éducateur de Jeunes Enfants (DEEJE) State diploma (Diplôme d'État d'Éducateur de Jeunes Enfants) training professionals to support children's development from birth to 7 years, promoting well-being, socialization, and inclusion in early childhood structures.
• Assistant de Service Social (DEASS) State diploma (Diplôme d'État d'Assistant de Service Social) training professionals to accompany individuals or families to improve living conditions and promote social inclusion through global support and institutional coordination.
• Éducateur Technique Spécialisé (DEETS) State diploma (Diplôme d'État d'Éducateur Technique Spécialisé) training professionals to support persons with difficulties or disabilities in socio-professional integration through technical competencies and professional world knowledge.
• CAFERUIS Certificate (Certificat d'aptitude aux fonctions d'encadrement et de responsable d'unité d'intervention sociale) — a 16-24 month program training management professionals to pilot teams, implement service projects, and ensure quality in social and medico-social establishments.
• CAFDES Certificate (Certificat d'aptitude aux fonctions de directeur d'établissement ou de service d'intervention sociale) — a 27-month program training directors to organize quality individualized care, facilitate expression of needs, and promote access to rights in social establishments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% apprentice satisfaction rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FNAPSS (Fédération nationale pour l'Apprentissage aux Professions Sanitaires et Sociales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFA SMS is an active member of FNAPSS, the national federation for apprenticeship in health and social professions. This membership provides networking, best practice sharing, and representation at national level for the sector.
• ERTS Olivet (Ecole Régionale de Travail Social)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of 3 founding members and key training partner, providing social work training programs (Educateur Spécialisé, Assistant de Service Social, Accompagnant Educatif et Social, Moniteur d'Atelier) at Olivet and Bourges locations.
• ITS Tours (Institut du Travail Social)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of 3 founding members and key training partner, providing social work and animation training at Tours location.
• MFR Tours (Maison Familiale et Rurale)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of 3 founding members, part of the rural family training network providing practical training placements.
• IFSI-IFAS Blois (Institut de Formation en Soins Infirmiers)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining partner providing nursing and aide-soignant training at Blois, Montoire, and Romorantin locations.
• IFPM Orléans (Institut de Formation Paramédicale)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining partner providing aide-soignant, ambulancier, auxiliaire de puériculture, and infirmier training at Orléans.
• IFSanté ChartrescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining partner providing infirmier and aide-soignant training at Chartres, including organization of joint job dating events.
• IFPP Dreux (Institut de Formation Paramédicale)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining partner providing infirmier and aide-soignant training at Dreux.
• CEMEA CentreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining partner providing animation training (DEJEPS) in the Centre-Val de Loire region.
• Ligue de l'Enseignement 28minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining partner providing CPJEPS and BPJEPS animation training at Lucé.
• IFAS Bourges (CH Jacques Cœur)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining partner providing aide-soignant and ambulancier training at Bourges.
• IFAS AmboiseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining partner providing aide-soignant and infirmier training at Amboise.
• IFSI ChâteaudunminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining partner providing infirmier and aide-soignant training at Châteaudun.
• IFAS Montargis (IFPS-CH Montargis)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining partner providing aide-soignant training at Montargis.
• IFAS Saint-Amand-MontrondminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining partner providing aide-soignant training at Saint-Amand-Montrond.
• IFAS VierzonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining partner providing aide-soignant and infirmier training at Vierzon.
• IFAS ChâteaurouxminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining partner providing aide-soignant training at Châteauroux.
• IFAS IssoudunminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining partner providing aide-soignant training at Issoudun.
• IFAS Le BlancminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining partner providing aide-soignant training at Le Blanc in Indre.
• Région Centre-Val de LoirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional council that provided the initial impulse to create the CFA and continues to support apprenticeship development in the region through transport subsidies and regional orientation initiatives.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AFPA (Agence nationale pour la formation professionnelle des adultes): France's incumbent adult vocational training operator, delivering programs across healthcare, social work, and many other sectors. Overlaps with CFA SMS on healthcare/social apprenticeship pathways but is a much broader portfolio player rather than a healthcare/social specialist.
• CCI Formation / Campus CCI: Chambers of Commerce training arm running apprenticeship CFAs across French regions. Comparable coordination/employer-matching function and Qualiopi certification, but broader portfolio than CFA SMS's healthcare/social specialization.
• GRETA (réseau national): National network of public adult-education groups (attached to lycées and académies) offering continuing education and apprenticeship pathways, including healthcare and social titles. Comparable in regulatory positioning and Qualiopi/OPCO dependency, but typically a public-sector rather than association structure.

Others

• Compagnons du Devoir: Historic French apprenticeship organization providing work-based learning through a network of partner centers. Comparable only loosely — shares the apprenticeship-coordination DNA and partner-network model, but focuses on traditional trades rather than healthcare/social professions.

Emerging players

• Formaposte (Groupe La Poste): Corporate apprenticeship CFA tied to La Poste, illustrating the corporate-sponsored CFA hors-les-murs model that CFA SMS also uses. Comparable structural template but different industry focus (postal/logistics rather than healthcare/social).
• ISCOD (alternance / online apprenticeship): Digital-first apprenticeship training platform aggregating programs across multiple French regions. Comparable in the apprentice-matching and employer-coordination functions, though it sells a broader catalog including business/digital titles beyond CFA SMS's healthcare/social core.

Direct peers

• CFA ADAMSS (Île-de-France): Regional apprenticeship CFA dedicated to social and medico-social professions, modeled similarly to coordinate UFAs across a French region. Highly comparable mission and structure but operates in a different geography (Île-de-France vs Centre-Val de Loire).
• AFTRAL (ex-ECF / AFT): Major French apprenticeship training organization (CFA) with deep employer-network reach and Qualiopi-certified programs. Comparable in the "hors-les-murs" coordination model and OPCO funding reliance, though more weighted toward transport/logistics than healthcare/social.
• CFA Croix-Rouge Compétence: National French Red Cross apprenticeship training center covering healthcare, social, and medico-social professions through a similar CFA-coordinator model. Highly comparable in target professions, regulatory positioning (Qualiopi, OPCO-funded), and mission-driven non-profit structure, but operates at national rather than regional scale.

Regional players

• Campus des EHPAD / EHPAD Formation (regional CFA networks): Regional French apprenticeship providers focused specifically on nursing/aide-soignant training for eldercare employers. Comparable in target profession (aide-soignant) and OPCO-funded apprenticeship model, with strong overlap on the aide-soignant (DEAS) program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cfasms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cfa-sms

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 CFA Social, Médico-social et Sanitaire