Free Practice Questions for Directeur d'Établissement Sanitaire, Social et Médico-social

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Key Facts: Directeur d'Établissement Sanitaire, Social et Médico-social Exam

Catégorie A+

Civil Service Executive Leadership Corps in FPH

Décret n° 2007-1930

24 Months

Paid Executive Leadership Training at EHESP Rennes

EHESP

5/20

Strict Eliminatory Score on Any Written or Oral Test

Arrêté du 19 juin 2024

17 Hours

Total Duration of 4 Written Admissibility Papers

Centre National de Gestion

100 MCQs

Syllabus-Aligned English Study Adaptation Items

OpenExamPrep Bank

Recruiting Category A+ directors for French public social, medico-social, and healthcare establishments, the Concours D3S assesses public governance, health and social policy, law, finance, management, and communication through route-specific written and oral tests. The external route comprises four written tests (18 h total) and three admission orals. This bank is an English MCQ study adaptation rather than a format simulation.

Sample Directeur d'Établissement Sanitaire, Social et Médico-social Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Directeur d'Établissement Sanitaire, Social et Médico-social exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under Décret n° 2007-1930, what civil service category and statutory corps classification is held by a Directeur d'Établissement Sanitaire, Social et Médico-social (D3S)?

A.Category A+ executive management corps of the Fonction Publique Hospitalière (FPH)

B.Category A intermediate administrative corps of the Fonction Publique Territoriale (FPT)

C.Category B technical management corps of the Fonction Publique Hospitalière (FPH)

D.Contractual senior management cadre outside the statutory French civil service grid

Explanation: Décret n° 2007-1930 du 26 décembre 2007 establishes the specific statutory status of the corps des directeurs d'établissements sanitaires, sociaux et médico-sociaux (D3S) as a Category A+ executive leadership corps within the Fonction Publique Hospitalière (FPH). Members of this corps are recruited via national competitive examination administered by the Centre National de Gestion (CNG) and trained at the EHESP.

2According to Article L. 315-12 of the Code de l'action sociale et des familles (CASF), what is the statutory role of the director regarding financial execution in a public autonomous medico-social establishment?

A.The director acts as the comptable public responsible for collecting revenues and paying institutional debts

B.The director is the authorizing officer (ordonnateur) for receipts and expenditures, separate from the public accountant

C.The director shares joint co-ordonnateur authority with the president of the Conseil d'administration

D.The director possesses no independent spending power and must obtain prior signature from the ARS for each purchase

Explanation: Under Article L. 315-12 of the CASF, the director represents the autonomous public establishment, prepares and executes its deliberations, and is the ordonnateur for receipts and expenditures. The comptable public executes collection and payment operations under the separation-of-functions principle. Calling the director an ordonnateur secondaire incorrectly suggests that the establishment's budget is merely delegated from a principal state budget.

3Which key institutional body holds deliberative authority to vote on the budget (EPRD) and the Projet d'établissement in a public autonomous EHPAD?

A.The Conseil de surveillance

B.The Comité Social d'Administration Hospitalière (CSAH)

C.The Conseil d'administration

D.The Conseil de la Vie Sociale (CVS)

Explanation: In public autonomous social and medico-social establishments (such as public EHPADs governed by Articles L. 315-9 to L. 315-12 CASF), the governing body is the Conseil d'administration (CA). The CA deliberates and votes on key strategic decisions, including the Projet d'établissement, the État des Prévisions de Recettes et de Dépenses (EPRD), and the ERRD.

4Who presides over the Conseil d'administration of a municipal or intermunicipal public autonomous EHPAD under Article L. 315-10 of the CASF?

A.The Director General of the Agence Régionale de Santé (ARS)

B.The appointed D3S Director of the establishment

C.The elected representative of the residents from the Conseil de la Vie Sociale

D.The Mayor of the host municipality or the President of the competent EPCI

Explanation: Pursuant to Article L. 315-10 of the CASF, the Conseil d'administration of a communal public social or medico-social establishment is chaired by the Mayor (maire de la commune d'implantation) or, in intercommunal settings, by the President of the public establishment of intermunicipal cooperation (EPCI). If the establishment is departmental, it is chaired by the President of the Conseil départemental or their designated representative.

5Under Article L. 311-8 of the CASF, what is the mandatory maximum validity period of an establishment's strategic institutional plan (projet d'établissement ou de service)?

A.5 years

B.3 years

C.10 years

D.15 years

Explanation: Article L. 311-8 of the Code de l'action sociale et des familles specifies that every social and medico-social establishment must establish a Projet d'établissement ou de service for a maximum duration of five years. This strategic document sets institutional objectives, care standards, architectural evolution, and coordination with local health and social networks.

6What is the primary statutory purpose and typical duration of a Contrat Pluriannuel d'Objectifs et de Moyens (CPOM) concluded under Article L. 313-11 et seq. of the CASF?

A.An annual collective bargaining agreement negotiated strictly between the director and labor unions

B.A 5-year strategic and financial agreement signed between the managing body and pricing authorities (ARS / Conseil Départemental)

C.A 10-year architectural contract signed with regional urban planning agencies

D.A 15-year concession contract transferring public medico-social management to private commercial operators

Explanation: Under Article L. 313-11 of the CASF (as overhauled by the Loi ASV of 2015), the CPOM is a mandatory multi-year contract concluded for a standard duration of five years between the establishment's managing authority and the competent pricing authorities (the ARS and/or the Conseil départemental). It establishes strategic performance objectives, resource allocations, budgetary flexibility, and restructuring goals.

7Under Article L. 312-7 of the CASF, what legal vehicle allows social and medico-social establishments to pool resources, conduct common projects, or merge administrative services while retaining their distinct legal personality?

A.Groupement Hospitalier de Territoire (GHT)

B.Société Civile Immobilière (SCI)

C.Groupement de Coopération Sociale et Médico-Sociale (GCSMS)

D.Société Anonyme à Responsabilité Limitée (SARL)

Explanation: Article L. 312-7 of the CASF establishes the Groupement de Coopération Sociale et Médico-Sociale (GCSMS) as a flexible public or private legal entity allowing social and medico-social establishments to collaborate, mutualize procurement and back-office functions, operate joint services, or manage shared facilities while preserving their legal autonomy.

8In the event of an imminent danger to the safety, physical integrity, or moral well-being of residents in an ESSMS, what emergency power can the administrative authority (Préfet / DG ARS / Président du Conseil Départemental) exercise under Article L. 313-16 of the CASF?

A.Dissolve the host municipality's town council

B.Transfer immediate property ownership of the facility to private insurance providers

C.Approve automatic doubling of daily accommodation tariffs without hearing the director

D.Order total or partial temporary closure of the establishment and appoint a temporary administrator

Explanation: Under Article L. 313-16 of the CASF, when the health, safety, or moral well-being of residents is compromised, the competent administrative authority (Préfet, DG ARS, or Président du Conseil départemental) can issue a formal injunction (mise en demeure). In cases of urgent or unaddressed danger, the authority may order the temporary closure of the facility and appoint an administrateur provisoire to manage the establishment or organize resident relocation.

9What authorization risk can arise if an ESSMS fails to complete and transmit its required quality evaluation results through the statutory process and timetable?

A.The 15-year administrative authorization to operate may not be renewed by the supervisory authorities

B.The establishment is automatically reclassified as a private commercial corporation

C.The director is immediately stripped of their civil rights by ministerial decree

D.All residents are automatically transferred to acute care hospital beds within 48 hours

Explanation: ESSMS evaluation uses the national HAS framework, but the evaluation report is transmitted through the prescribed platform/process to the competent authorizing authority or authorities; it is not simply submitted to HAS as the authorization decision-maker. Evaluation results are among the information considered for authorization renewal, and failure to meet evaluation obligations can expose the operator to corrective measures and jeopardize renewal under the CASF.

10Which legal entity is legally competent to issue the initial authorization for creating an Institut Médico-Éducatif (IME) for children with intellectual disabilities?

A.The President of the Conseil Départemental exclusively

B.The Director General of the Agence Régionale de Santé (ARS)

C.The Mayor of the municipality where the IME is situated

D.The Minister of National Education

Explanation: Under Article L. 313-3 of the CASF, social and medico-social establishments providing care and education for children and adolescents with disabilities (such as IMEs) funded by national health insurance (Assurance Maladie) fall under the exclusive authorization competence of the Director General of the Agence Régionale de Santé (ARS).

About the Directeur d'Établissement Sanitaire, Social et Médico-social Exam

The Concours de Directeur d'Établissement Sanitaire, Social et Médico-social (D3S) recruits executive leaders (Category A+ civil servants) into the Fonction Publique Hospitalière (FPH) to manage public medico-social, social, and healthcare institutions across France. Established under Décret n° 2007-1930 and reformed under the Arrêté du 19 juin 2024, successful laureates undertake a rigorous 24-month paid executive management training program at the École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (EHESP) in Rennes. D3S directors head public nursing homes (EHPAD publics autonomes), child protection residential homes (MECS, foyers de l'enfance), disability support facilities (IME, MAS, FAM, ESAT), adult rehabilitation centers (CHRS), and local healthcare establishments. They act as ordonnateur, legal representative, and executive employer under the dual administrative oversight of the Agence Régionale de Santé (ARS) and Conseil Départemental.

Exam sponsor: Centre National de Gestion (CNG) des praticiens hospitaliers et des personnels de direction de la fonction publique hospitalière. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

The Arrêté du 19 juin 2024 governs external, internal, and third competitions. The external route has four written papers: 5-hour general composition (coef 5), 5-hour dossier note (coef 5), and two 4-hour option compositions (coef 3 each). Its three admission tests are a 30-minute jury interview (coef 5), 15-minute subject oral (coef 2), and 15-minute foreign-language test in German, English, or Spanish (coef 2). Candidates must consult the route-specific article and current opening notice.

Time Limit

External route: written 18 h total (5 h + 5 h + 4 h + 4 h); oral performance 60 min total (30 min + 15 min + 15 min), excluding preparation

Passing Score

Rank-based merit list for entry to 24-month EHESP director training; mark below 5/20 in any test is eliminatory

Exam / Certification Fees

No examination fee stated in the reviewed CNG registration materials

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: Approximately 6%–10% of candidates who sit the written admissibility tests. The Concours D3S is an elite Category A+ national civil service competition recruiting executive directors across the public social and medico-social sectors, with typically 60 to 90 posts open per year across external, internal, and third-competition paths. This describes exam candidates, not OpenExamPrep users or results from using our resources. Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

25%

Gouvernance et direction des établissements sanitaires, sociaux et médico-sociaux

Statutory prerogatives and legal liability of the director, establishment boards (Conseil d'administration in ESSMS, Conseil de surveillance in hospitals), Contrats Pluriannuels d'Objectifs et de Moyens (CPOM), Projet d'établissement, institutional cooperation (GCSMS, GHT), and administrative supervision by ARS and Conseils départementaux.

25%

Droit et politiques sociales et médico-sociales

Foundational legal architecture (Loi n° 2002-2, CASF, CSP, Loi ASV, Loi Bien Vieillir), pricing and budgetary mechanisms (EPRD, ERRD, PGFP), funding streams from Assurance Maladie (ARS) and Aide Sociale (Conseil Départemental), dependency evaluation tools (GIR, AGIRR, PATHOS), and authorization regimes (appels à projets).

25%

Gestion des ressources humaines et relations sociales dans la FPH

Statutory framework of the Code général de la fonction publique (CGFP) for the hospital civil service, social dialogue bodies (CSAH, FSSSCT, CAP), working hours regulation (Décret n° 2002-9), disciplinary procedures, prevention of psychosocial risks (RPS), and occupational health.

25%

Qualité, gestion des risques et éthique

HAS unified evaluation framework for ESSMS (référentiel national d'évaluation), fundamental rights and user tools of Loi 2002-2 (contrat de séjour, DIPC, CVS, personne qualifiée), legal protection of vulnerable adults (tutelle, curatelle, mandat de protection future), informed consent, directives anticipées, and ethical committee governance.

Preparing for the Directeur d'Établissement Sanitaire, Social et Médico-social Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Rank-based merit list for entry to 24-month EHESP director training; mark below 5/20 in any test is eliminatory
Assessment: The Arrêté du 19 juin 2024 governs external, internal, and third competitions. The external route has four written papers: 5-hour general composition (coef 5), 5-hour dossier note (coef 5), and two 4-hour option compositions (coef 3 each). Its three admission tests are a 30-minute jury interview (coef 5), 15-minute subject oral (coef 2), and 15-minute foreign-language test in German, English, or Spanish (coef 2). Candidates must consult the route-specific article and current opening notice.
Time limit: External route: written 18 h total (5 h + 5 h + 4 h + 4 h); oral performance 60 min total (30 min + 15 min + 15 min), excluding preparation
Exam / certification fees: No examination fee stated in the reviewed CNG registration materials Official sources

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Directeur d'Établissement Sanitaire, Social et Médico-social: Suggested Study Strategy

1Master the Code de l'action sociale et des familles (CASF) Book III: memorize the 7 fundamental resident rights tools established by Loi 2002-2 and the exact legal grounds for administrative authorizations under Article L. 313-1.

2Thoroughly analyze the budgetary mechanics of the EPRD and ERRD: understand how Section Soins (ARS/Assurance Maladie), Section Dépendance (Conseil Départemental/APA), and Section Hébergement are computed using the AGIRR and PATHOS algorithms.

3Understand the governance relationship between the Director, the Conseil d'administration (CASF Article L. 315-9 et seq.), the Agence Régionale de Santé (ARS), and the Conseil Départemental within the mandatory 5-year CPOM framework.

4Study the Code général de la fonction publique (CGFP) for FPH staff: know the powers of the Comité Social d'Administration Hospitalière (CSAH) and its Formation Spécialisée (FSSSCT), working time rules (Décret 2002-9), and the 4 groups of disciplinary sanctions.

5Familiarize yourself with the unified Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) ESSMS evaluation system: review the 3 chapters of the national evaluation referential (personne accompagnée, professionnels, ESSMS) and COFRAC accreditation requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the role and scope of a Directeur d'Établissement Sanitaire, Social et Médico-social (D3S)?

A D3S is a Category A+ executive civil servant in the French hospital civil service (FPH) tasked with managing public social and medico-social establishments (such as autonomous EHPADs, child welfare homes MECS, disability structures IME/MAS/FAM, and rehabilitation centers CHRS) as well as certain local health establishments. The director serves as legal representative, chief executive, and sole secondary authorizing officer (ordonnateur secondaire des dépenses et des recettes), leading institutional strategy, financial management, quality assurance, and staff supervision.

What are the eligibility requirements for the external Concours D3S?

External candidates must hold French or EU citizenship, enjoy full civic rights, have no entries incompatible with the exercise of duties on bulletin n° 2 of the criminal record, and hold a recognized national Master 2 (Bac+5 / Level 7) qualification in law, economics, political science, health management, or an equivalent credential.

Where does training take place following success in the competition?

Laureates are appointed as student directors (élèves-directeurs) and complete a 24-month paid executive management program at the École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (EHESP) in Rennes. The training program blends rigorous interdisciplinary academic coursework in Rennes with substantial operational internships in medico-social institutions, ARS delegations, and partner administrations.

What is the difference between a Conseil d'administration in an ESSMS and a Conseil de surveillance in a public hospital?

In public autonomous medico-social establishments (such as an EHPAD public autonome governed by Article L. 315-9 of the CASF), the governing body is the Conseil d'administration (CA), which votes on decisive operational acts including the EPRD, the ERRD, and the Projet d'établissement. In contrast, under the HPST reform codified in the Code de la santé publique (Article L. 6143-1 CSP), public healthcare establishments (CH) have a Conseil de surveillance with deliberative powers focused on strategic orientation and oversight, while executive decisions rest with the Director.

What financial regime governs public medico-social establishments (ESSMS)?

Public ESSMS operate under the EPRD (État des Prévisions de Recettes et de Dépenses) budgetary framework set by Article L. 314-7 of the CASF, which replaced the former administrative budget. The EPRD is negotiated within a 5-year Contrat Pluriannuel d'Objectifs et de Moyens (CPOM) with the pricing authorities (ARS and Conseil Départemental) and evaluated retrospectively via the ERRD (État Réalisé des Recettes et des Dépenses).

Why does this practice bank present questions in English?

Although the official competitive examination in France is conducted strictly in French, OpenExamPrep provides an English-language study adaptation to help candidates master complex institutional, legal, and operational principles through rigorous MCQs while meticulously preserving all standard French administrative, statutory, and regulatory terminology.