What skills, what diplomas, and what certifications separate an experienced rescuer from a trainer in first aid recognized by the State? The answer depends on the targeted pathway, the concerned audience, and the regulatory framework that has significantly evolved since the decree of June 15, 2024. This article compares the pathways, prerequisites, and competency maintenance requirements for each first aid training specialty.
First Aid Training Pathways: Comparison of Pathways and Prerequisites
Since the decree of June 15, 2024, civil security has structured first aid training into three pathways: citizen, operational, and pedagogical. This division directly modifies the pathways to become a trainer.
| Pathway / Training | Trained Audience | Trainer’s Diploma or Certification | Required Organization |
|---|---|---|---|
| GQS (life-saving gestures) – citizen pathway | General public, short initiation | AFGSU 1 or 2, state diploma of doctor or nurse | Authorized civil security organization |
| PSC (citizen first aid, formerly PSC1) – citizen pathway | General public, complete training | Up-to-date GSU trainer certification | Authorized civil security organization |
| SST (workplace first aid rescuer) | Employees in companies | SST trainer certificate issued by the INRS network | Training organization authorized by INRS |
| PSE1 / PSE2 (team first aid) | Associative or professional rescue team members | PAE FPS (pedagogy applied to the role of first aid trainer) | Approved civil security association |
The table highlights a structuring point: each specialty requires a distinct pedagogical diploma. An SST trainer is not automatically authorized to teach PSC, and vice versa. Equivalences exist in the pedagogical pathway (holders of the GSU trainer certification obtain by equivalence the teaching unit “design and supervision of a PSC training action”), but they remain conditioned on affiliation with an authorized organization.
The detailed pathways by specialty are documented on the Soutien Adom website, which lists the pathways and applicable regulatory conditions.
First Aid Trainer Diploma: What the Regulations Really Require
The most common confusion concerns the term “diploma.” In first aid, we talk about pedagogical teaching units, not a traditional academic diploma. For PSC, the required unit is the PAE FPSC (Pedagogy Applied to the Role of First Aid Trainer). For SST, it is a specific certificate issued under the INRS framework.
However, a common prerequisite runs through all pathways: the trainer must hold the competency certificate for the level they teach. Training in PSC requires being certified in PSC. Training in PSE2 requires holding the PSE2.
The Specific Case of Health Professionals
The decree of June 15, 2024, opens a pathway for state-certified doctors and nurses. They can train in life-saving gestures (GQS) without going through the PAE FPSC, provided they work within an authorized organization. This equivalence does not extend to PSC or SST: for these trainings, the complete pedagogical pathway remains mandatory.
SST Trainer: A Pathway Managed by INRS
The SST trainer follows a distinct curriculum, administered by the Health Insurance – Occupational Risks network and INRS. The initial SST trainer training lasts several days and includes a certification evaluation. The candidate must be affiliated with a training organization authorized by INRS to practice. Without authorization from the employing organization, the individual certificate is not sufficient to legally provide SST training in a company.
Maintaining Trainer Competencies: The Often Overlooked Factor
Obtaining the certificate or authorization is only part of the pathway. Maintaining and updating competencies (MAC) conditions the right to practice over time.
- For the SST trainer, a MAC trainer session is mandatory according to a periodicity set by INRS. Without this update, the SST trainer certificate expires, and the trainer can no longer conduct sessions.
- For the PSC and PSE trainer, continuing education is governed by civil security texts. The GSU trainer authorization, for example, requires regular continuing education to remain valid.
- Trainers affiliated with approved civil security associations (Red Cross, FFSS, Civil Protection) also participate in internal refreshers that condition their maintenance in the associative system.
A trainer who allows their continuing education to expire loses their right to teach, regardless of their level of experience. This point distinguishes first aid from many other areas of professional training, where updates remain optional or declarative.
Legal Status and Authorization of the Training Organization
The first aid trainer cannot operate alone, without a structure. Two configurations exist:
- The salaried or volunteer trainer within an approved civil security association. The association’s approval covers the training activity. The trainer does not need a personal activity declaration number.
- The independent trainer, who creates their training organization (self-employed, LLC, etc.). They must then obtain an activity declaration number from the DREETS, and their organization must be authorized by the competent authority (INRS for SST, prefecture for civil security training).
- To access public funding (OPCO, CPF), the organization must also hold the Qualiopi certification, which attests to the quality of the training process.
The choice between these two paths depends on the targeted activity volume and audience. Companies that fund SST training generally require an INRS-authorized and Qualiopi-certified organization. PSC training intended for the general public most often goes through the associative network.
The distinction between the organization’s approval and the individual trainer’s certification remains the key to understanding the entire system. One does not function without the other: a certified trainer in a non-authorized organization cannot issue valid competency certificates, and an authorized organization without an up-to-date trainer cannot open sessions.
