Registered activity number (NDA)
Legal obligation (article L.6351-1 of the French Labour Code) for anyone providing vocational training services for a fee.
Issued by: DREETS — regional inspection service for vocational training
Every training provider, including independent trainers, from the very first training agreement or contract.
What this scheme covers
- C.1Official registration of the training activity with the authorities: the birth certificate of a training organisation.
- C.2The declaration must be filed within three months of signing the first training agreement or contract.
- C.3It triggers annual obligations: the pedagogical and financial report (BPF), internal rules, appropriate accounting.
The link with Qualiopi
The NDA is the absolute prerequisite: without it there is no training organisation, hence no possible Qualiopi certification. The Qualiopi audit also checks the legal compliance of the structure.
The process, summarised
- 1.Sign the first training agreement or contract with a client.
- 2.File the activity declaration online via the 'Mon Activité Formation' portal, with the requested documents (including that first contract and the programme).
- 3.Receive the activity number issued by the DREETS.
- 4.Submit the pedagogical and financial report every year to keep the number active.
Indicative costFree of charge: the activity declaration involves no administrative fee.
FAQ — NDA
+Is the NDA an approval or a mark of quality?
No. It is a simple administrative registration. French law actually prohibits presenting it as State approval in your communications.
+Can the NDA lapse?
Yes, notably if the annual pedagogical and financial report is not filed or shows no training activity. A new declaration must then be filed.
+Does the NDA grant VAT exemption?
Not automatically: VAT exemption for vocational training requires a separate tax attestation request filed with the DREETS.
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