French Professional Liability Certificate — Therapist

Under Article L.1142-2 of the Code de la santé publique (Law no. 2002-303 of 4 March 2002), the obligation applies to any individual or legal entity providing prevention or care activities on a self-employed, fee-paying basis. Naturopaths, reflexologists, hypnotherapists, meditation guides, and psycho-corporal support practitioners all fall within scope, regardless of business structure — auto-entrepreneur (France's simplified sole-trader regime), EURL, SASU, or unregulated liberal profession. The requirement applies from the very first invoiced session.

No decree sets a statutory minimum for unregulated wellness practitioners. Professional federations recommend at least €1,500,000 per claim and €3,000,000 per policy year for bodily injury. A sub-limit of €150,000 per claim for non-material damages (psychological harm, loss of opportunity) is common in 2026 market contracts. Always read the exclusions specific to each technique before signing — an activity not explicitly listed will not be covered, no matter how similar it is to a listed one.

The RC pro attestation must state: the policyholder's full legal name or company name (raison sociale), the policy number, the complete list of covered activities with their French business classification codes (code NAF — 86.90F for paramedical activities or 96.04Z for beauty and wellness care), per-claim and annual indemnity caps, the policy start and end dates, and any material exclusions. If you practise multiple techniques (e.g. naturopathy plus hypnotherapy), each must be named explicitly for the cover to be enforceable.

No. Practising without cover breaches Article L.1142-2 of the Code de la santé publique. On the civil side, an uninsured practitioner becomes personally liable under Articles 1240 and onwards of the Code civil (French Civil Code) for all damages caused to a third party — your personal assets are at stake with no cap. Practically, the vast majority of wellness studios, room-rental platforms, and partner organisations require a current certificate before any collaboration and will terminate the arrangement immediately if it lapses.

The certificate is valid for the policy duration — typically 12 months with automatic annual renewal (tacite reconduction). It must be provided to any client or partner that requests it, before the first session. If your policy changes mid-year (new technique added, change of legal structure), request an updated certificate immediately. Retain the original and all previous versions for at least ten years after the policy ends: under Article 2226 of the Code civil, bodily-injury claims prescribe ten years from the date the damage is consolidated (date de consolidation du dommage).

Annual premiums range from €150 to €450 depending on declared turnover, the number of techniques covered, and the insurer (MAAF Pros, AXA Professions libérales, Allianz, Hiscox, APRIL). For an auto-entrepreneur with annual revenue below €30,000, the premium typically falls between €180 and €250 TTC (all taxes included). Some professional federations — such as the FFMBE and CNAPF — negotiate group schemes giving members full cover for under €150/year. Always compare at least three quotes before committing.