GIPAL Formation

What GIPAL Formation does

GIPAL Formation is a Groupement d'Intérêt Public (GIP), a French public interest grouping operating under the Ministry of National Education (Ministère de l'Éducation Nationale) and supervised by the Rectorat de Lyon's DRAFPIC. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Villeurbanne (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), it serves as the mandated operator for three core service lines within the Lyon Academy territory (Ain and Rhône departments): DAVA handles Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience (VAE) procedures for over 30 years of accumulated practice, DABM provides competency assessments (bilan de compétences) and career mobility services for over 20 years, and CAFOC specializes in trainer development and training engineering for over 40 years. It also functions as the management, cooperation, and regional coordination body for the GRETA CFA network across the territory, operating shared procurement, EU FSE+ funding management, and academic-level communication. Key offerings include the FPA (Formateur Professionnel d'Adultes) professional trainer certification, the RS 6864 'Conseiller et accompagner un projet d'AFEST' certification (co-certified with France Compétences, launched 2025), the AFEST (Action de Formation en Situation de Travail) methodology, hybrid vi@VAE accompaniment platform, Altern@tives distance competency assessment platform, collective VAE for enterprises, and an innovative 'VAE inversée' pilot with Enedis.

The organization operates approximately 36-40+ staff across headquarters in Villeurbanne and additional sites in Oullins and Villefranche-sur-Saône, with proximity delivery through the GRETA CFA network. Its revenue model blends three streams: public funding from the Ministry of Education (DGESCO), the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Council, and EU FSE+ (Fonds Social Européen); training service fees from individuals via CPF (Compte Personnel de Formation) monetization (e.g., €960 for a 12h bilan de compétences), employer co-funding, and individual payment; and customized enterprise contracts for trainer training, AFEST implementation, and collective VAE. GIPAL holds Qualiopi certification and the Eduform 2 label, required for access to public funding, and is CNIL-registered across all three service divisions (DABM N° 1142978, CAFOC N° 1142969, DAVA N° 1143085). It serves two primary segments: individuals seeking career guidance, VAE, competency assessments, and professional trainer certification; and enterprises implementing AFEST modalities, recruiting qualified trainers, or supporting employee career development. Customer concentration is moderate, with Enedis as the most visible flagship enterprise partner for the VAE inversée initiative, balanced by a distributed base of CPF-funded individuals and diversified enterprise engagement.

Name

GIPAL Formation

Legal name

GIPAL Formation

Website

https://gipal.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GIPAL Formation is a French public interest grouping under the Ministry of Education that delivers VAE, competency assessments, and trainer training services to individuals and enterprises across the Lyon Academy territory (Ain and Rhône).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Training and Career Assessment Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Training Delivery Providers (In-Person, Virtual, Train-the-Trainer) (BPACANAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Train-the-Trainer & Instructor Enablement Services (BPAEANAL)

Keywords

• Vocational training services
• Competency assessment programs
• Experience validation services
• Adult trainer certification
• Career transition support

Headquarters

HQ city

Villeurbanne

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Funding (Ministry of Education, Regional Council, EU FSE+): GIPAL Formation is a Groupement d'Intérêt Public (GIP) supported by the Ministry of Education (DGESCO), the Rectorat de Lyon (DRAFPIC), and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Council. EU funding through FSE+ (Fonds Social Européen) cell supports project portfolios in continuing and initial training.
2. Training Service Fees (CPF, employer co-funding, individual payment): Revenue generated from training fees charged to individuals (via CPF monétizable credits), employers (Plan de Développement des Compétences), and public funders. Pricing is tiered by service type (12h, 18h, 24h bilan de compétences; 35h AFEST certification course).
3. Enterprise Training Contracts: Customized trainer training and AFEST projects billed to enterprises, including regulatory training, managerial training, and skills development programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GIPAL Formation is a French public interest grouping (Groupement d'Intérêt Public) under the Ministry of National Education that delivers three core service lines: VAE (Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience) for diploma recognition through its DAVA division, competency assessments (bilans de compétences) and career mobility support through DABM, and adult trainer training/certification through CAFOC including the FPA title and the AFEST advisor certification (RS 6864). It serves both individuals seeking career development and enterprises needing qualified trainers and AFEST methodology implementation, with hybrid and distance delivery via proprietary platforms vi@VAE and Altern@tives.

Product overview

GIPAL Formation is a unified service platform combining four core divisions (CAFOC, DABM, DAVA, and GRETA network) to provide comprehensive vocational training and professional development services across the Lyon Academy. The CAFOC division focuses on trainer development and AFEST methodology; DABM provides career counseling and skills assessments; DAVA handles validation of prior experience (VAE) procedures; and the GRETA network offers widespread geographic coverage. Key offerings include the FPA (Professional Adult Trainer) certification, AFEST training methodology, vi@VAE digital platform, remote Altern@tives service, collective VAE for enterprises, and the innovative 'VAE inversée' pilot project with Enedis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DAVA: Dispositif Académique de Validation des Acquis - Service handling VAE (Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience) for the Lyon Academy
• DABM
• CAFOC

Products and services

• DAVA — Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience (VAE) Mandate-based VAE service for the Lyon Academy: informs and advises candidates, processes applications, and organizes validation juries for professional diplomas. Serves individuals seeking diploma recognition and enterprises running collective VAE projects for employee cohorts.
• DABM — Bilan de compétences (competency assessment) Skills assessment, career counseling, and mobility service for individuals and enterprises, offering professional transition support in 12h, 18h, and 24h formats, available in-person and remotely. CPF-funded for individual candidates.
• CAFOC — Adult Trainer Training (FPA certification) Professionalizes trainers, occasional trainers, tutors, and training advisors through the Formateur Professionnel d'Adultes (FPA) title program. Serves individuals pursuing a trainer career and enterprises developing internal training capacity.
• AFEST Advisor Certification ('Conseiller et accompagner un projet d'AFEST', RS 6864) Certified training program (35 hours) for advising and supporting organizations implementing AFEST (Action de Formation en Situation de Travail), delivered in-person (€1,810) or distance learning (€400), with a €410 certification exam. Designed for training professionals, HR/L&D staff, and consultants supporting AFEST deployment.
• Altern@tives — Distance Bilan de compétences Remote skills assessment and career counseling service enabling distance accompaniment for clients unable to attend in-person sessions, using validated scientific questionnaires and digital tools. Targets individuals seeking flexible competency assessment delivery.
• VAE collective (Enterprise VAE) Group-based VAE service for enterprises and public/associative structures, supporting cohorts of employees through validation of acquired experience projects — from diploma selection to jury preparation. Targets HR/training managers running employee skills development programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% satisfaction rate among FPA (Formateur Professionnel d'Adultes) trainees (2025)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• EnedisflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Collaborative pilot of 'VAE inversée' (reverse VAE) — an innovative reversal of the standard VAE logic for Enedis employees, supported by the French State. GIPAL DAVA is the operational partner for this experimental initiative.
• GRETA CFA de l'Académie de LyoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIPAL Formation serves as a management, cooperation, and regional coordination tool for the GRETA CFA network of the Lyon Academy. It operates a shared procurement platform, manages EU FSE+ funding cell, and provides academic-level communication for GRETA CFA institutions across the territory.
• Rectorat de Lyon (DRAFPIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Délégation régionale académique à la formation professionnelle initiale et continue (DRAFPIC), represented by the Recteur/Rectrice, is the supervisory authority of GIPAL Formation, providing mandate and public funding for VAE, competency assessments, and trainer training across the Lyon Academy.
• Ministère de l'Éducation Nationale (DGESCO A2-4)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ministry of National Education, specifically the Bureau de la formation professionnelle continue (DGESCO A2-4), is the national-level responsible entity for the VAE and continuing training mission that GIPAL executes at the academy level.
• France CompétencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrance Compétences is the national regulating body for professional training and apprenticeships. GIPAL CAFOC is co-certifier of the 'Conseiller et accompagner un projet d'AFEST' certification registered under RS 6864 on the France Compétences directory.
• GIP FCIP D'Aquitaine, GIP Formation Tout au Long de la Vie de Bourgogne, GIP FTVIPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-certifiers of the 'Conseiller et accompagner un projet d'AFEST' certification (RS 6864), working in consortium with GIPAL Formation to develop and maintain the national AFEST certification standard.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• AFTRAL: One of France's largest private training groups, active across transport, logistics, and safety continuing education. Comparable as a France-wide training delivery operator competing for CPF-funded learners, though commercial rather than public-sector.
• AFPA (Agence pour la formation professionnelle des adultes): France's flagship public-sector adult training organization delivering vocational certifications and competency development across the country. Comparable to GIPAL as a state-affiliated training delivery body, though significantly larger and operating nationally rather than academy-bound.
• CNAM (Conservatoire national des arts et métiers): Major French public higher-education institution delivering continuing education, VAE (VAP), and professional certification programs nationally. Comparable in mission scope (recognition of experience, adult certification, training engineering) but operating at much larger scale and academic standing.

Others

• France Compétences: National regulator that maintains the RS certification directory (including RS 6864 co-certified by GIPAL). Not a competitor but a defining ecosystem participant — France Compétences' policy choices shape the entire VAE and AFEST market in which GIPAL operates.

Direct peers

• CIBC (Centre Interinstitutionnel de Bilan de Compétences): National network of bilan de compétences centers operating under a public-sector quality charter. Directly comparable to GIPAL DABM's competency-assessment mission and overlapping segment (career transition individuals, CPF-funded pathways).
• GIP FCIP d'Aquitaine: Public interest grouping serving the Académie de Bordeaux with a mission structure (FCIP/CAFOC/DAVA/DABM) that mirrors GIPAL's. Co-certifier of the AFEST RS 6864 certification with GIPAL, making it the closest functional peer operating in a parallel academy.
• GIP FTVIP (Formation Tout au Long de la Vie Île-de-France / académies franciliennes): Another GIP co-certifier of the AFEST RS 6864 certification. Operates the same CAFOC/DAVA-style mandate in its academy, with comparable public-sector governance and regional training engineering responsibilities.
• GIP FTLV de Bourgogne: Public interest grouping (Formation Tout au Long de la Vie) serving the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté academy with continuing education, VAE, and trainer-training mandates structurally identical to GIPAL's. Co-certifier of AFEST RS 6864 and direct consortium partner.

Regional players

• GRETA Île-de-France: GRETA network in the Île-de-France academies — the same type of GRETA network that GIPAL coordinates in Lyon. Comparable in service mix (continuing education, VAE, bilan, trainer training) but operating in a different region with no direct territory overlap.

Emerging players

• Compétences et Demain: Private continuing-education and bilan de compétences provider operating in the same CPF-funded individual market as GIPAL DABM. Comparable as a competing delivery channel, though commercial rather than academy-mandated.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/100082003466557
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gipal-formation

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about GIPAL Formation