FAQ for professionals

All enquiries regarding the CA (applications, fees, entry requirements, equivalencies) should be addressed to the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon (CNSMDL), the only institution authorised by the Ministry of Culture to award this qualification.

Enrolment is open until 1 June 2026 for the entrance examination for the course (classical, contemporary and jazz disciplines) to join the 2027–2029 intake, either on a continuing professional development or initial training programme.

Further information is available on the CNSMDL website

No. The CA is only compulsory for sitting the external PEA competitive examination.

It is therefore possible to become a PEA without holding the CA:

• By sitting the internal competitive examination
• By sitting the professional examination
• As a contract staff member

Further information: CND factsheet on dance teaching in local government

The qualification level for the Certificate of Proficiency in Dance is Level 7 (equivalent to five years of higher education), which in some cases is linked to the award of a Master’s degree. Successful completion of the course leads to the award of 120 European credits.

Further information: CND factsheet – Dance teaching in local government

The CA in dance can be obtained through a training programme or via the VAE (validation of acquired experience).

The training programme is run by the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Lyon (CNSMDL). It comprises 900 hours spread over two years.

Admission to the course is by competitive entrance examination. It is aimed at professionals already working in the field who hold the State Diploma (DE) in the discipline.

Find out more: https://cnsmd-lyon.fr/formations-danse/certificat-daptitude-professeur-de-danse/

The Certificate of Aptitude for dance teaching is a postgraduate qualification, defined by a framework of professional activities and certification criteria.

It is awarded for the following disciplines: classical, contemporary and jazz dance.

The CA is structured into:

• 4 blocks of cross-disciplinary skills (common to all Level 7 qualifications)
• 3 blocks of dance-specific skills

Cross-disciplinary skills blocks:

• Applying advanced and specialised uses of digital tools
• Producing and utilising highly specialised knowledge
• Applying specialised communication for knowledge transfer
• Contributing to transformation in a professional context

Dance-specific skills blocks:

• Block 1: Teaching
• Block 2: Playing an active role in the institution’s strategic plan
• Block 3: Drawing on research to develop one’s artistic, cultural and educational practice

The framework sets out, by activity and task, the required knowledge, skills, competences and attitudes, as well as the assessment methods and criteria.

Further information on the framework: on the France Compétences website