How do I become a paragliding instructor?

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Are you passionate about paragliding and thinking about making it your profession so that you can pass on your passion either as an instructor teaching in a paragliding school during a course or so that you can help people discover this sport during a tandem flight? Then here's how to become a paragliding instructor:

Gone is the BPJEPS, replaced by the DEJEPS

Since 2018, the BP JEPS paragliding qualification has been definitively replaced by the DEJEPS Vol Libre (Diplôme d'Etat de la Jeunesse, de l'Éducation Populaire et du Sport) and the DESJEPS Vol Libre (Diplôme d'Etat supérieur de la Jeunesse, de l'Éducation Populaire et du Sport).

The DEJEPS Vol Libre is available in two options: A and B

  • Option A: dedicated to paragliding
  • Option B: dedicated to hang-gliding

The administrative requirements to qualify for the course:

Here is a list of all the documents you need to provide, together with the necessary information:

  • A valid identity document
  • A medical certificate stating that you are not contraindicated in practising and teaching paragliding
  • An extract from the police record (no criminal record required)
  • A certificate issued by a person holding a professional paragliding teaching qualification attesting to a minimum 5-day observation phase in the teaching profession.
  • Certificate from the National Technical Director attesting to the required results in competition or distance flying in the Coupe Fédérale de Distance (minimum 250 points).
  • Proof of level V paragliding pilot qualification according to FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale) nomenclature.

Once all these administrative documents have been supplied, you can move on to the next stage: the TEP!

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The TEP (Tests d'Exigences Préalables - Pre-requisite Tests) for entry to the training programme :
The PRTs take place in 3 phases.

1st phase: a flying demonstration with a glider rated EN-C or higher.
take-off facing the wing

  • back launch
  • full turn (360°) with exit on dissipated axis or stall ;
  • ½ turn (180°) with exit on dissipated axis or stall
  • pitch on axis
  • roll with exit on axis
  • more or less rapid turn inversions (up to wing-over)
  • steering to the rear
  • U (PTU), S (PTS), L (PTL) landings
  • balanced final
  • return to the ground (landing) in a defined area
  • move along the ground keeping the wing overhead
  • control of the wing on the ground at the edge of the window
  • piloted run based on a marked course

2nd phase: A running test corresponding to the Luc Léger test.

  • Men must pass level 8
  • Women must pass level 6

3rd phase: a 45-minute interview with the panel to assess the candidate's motivation and skills.

If the number of applicants is too high in relation to the number of places available at the school, which is usually the case, a 3rd selection stage is held to decide between the applicants.

formation moniteur parapente

The final selection test :

This additional selection test is based on the following 3 points:

  • A written test of paragliding knowledge
  • An interview with the jury focusing on the candidate's educational and professional background, their career plans, any experience they may have of supervising/leading groups and managing projects, and their motivation for joining the course.
  • A performance grade based on the competition or CFD results provided by the candidate.

At the end of this selection process, candidates will know whether or not they have been accepted and which training centre they will be able to join.

If you're lucky enough to be one of the lucky ones, you're in for two years of training, divided up as follows:

  • A first year of training from March to October
  • A break of around five months
  • A second year of training from April to November.

Certifying tests are held to validate the various stages of the DEJEPS free flight training course. If you fail one of these tests, you can take a make-up test.

How much does it cost to do a DEJEPS in free flying with ENSA?

The tuition fees for the DEJEPS in hang-gliding are around €13,000 for the entire course. You can find out about all the assistance available on the National Ski and Mountaineering School website.

How do I become a paragliding tandem pilot once I've completed my monitorat?

To become a paragliding tandem pilot as your main activity, once you've completed your DEJEPS in hang-gliding, you'll often need to get in touch with the local pilots' unions to find a place in one of the schools in operation, especially in the most popular spots and therefore the most attractive financially.

Specific qualifications to supervise SIVs:

In order to supervise paragliding in an adapted environment (SIV/EMA), DEJEPS paragliding instructors will have to pass a new professional qualification known as the "SIV/EMA complementary certificate".

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