How the Swiss dual system works in practice
In the dual track, apprentices sign a contract with a host company, attend theory and general education classes at vocational school and take inter-company courses organised by their industry, for example in Jura watchmaking or construction in Vaud.
CFC or AFP: choosing the right level
The CFC (Federal VET Diploma) takes three or four years depending on the trade. The AFP (Federal VET Certificate), completed in two years, targets more practical profiles and later allows entry into a CFC, often with a shorter duration.
Trades that take on apprentices
The canton of Vaud offers around two hundred CFC trades and some sixty AFP trades. Commercial employee, social care assistant, installation electrician, logistician and micromechanic in precision industry are among the most sought-after paths.
The vocational baccalaureate to go further
The vocational baccalaureate can be taken alongside the CFC or in one to two years afterwards. It gives access to universities of applied sciences, such as HES-SO in French-speaking Switzerland, without going through upper secondary school or an extra bridging course.
Timeline for finding a training place
Most apprenticeships start in August, but large companies such as SBB, Swisscom or the Basel pharmaceutical groups often recruit a year ahead. Short taster placements lasting a few days, very common in French-speaking Switzerland, usually come before signing.
The apprenticeship contract and its rules
The minimum age is 15, with a written contract co-signed by the parents if the apprentice is a minor. The contract is approved by the cantonal vocational training office, which also checks supervision conditions in the host company.
How much an apprentice earns
No legal minimum wage applies to apprentices: professional associations publish recommendations that rise with each year of training. The canton of Vaud stresses that these amounts are not enough to live on alone, which is why cantonal grants exist.
Holidays and working time for apprentices
Up to the age of 20, the Code of Obligations grants at least five weeks of holiday a year. Vocational school days count as working time, and sectors covered by a CCT (collective labour agreement), such as hotels and restaurants, often add further rules.
Starting an apprenticeship as an adult
Nothing stops you starting a CFC at 30 or 40. After a first CFC or another diploma, the duration may be cut by a year if the company agrees. Our page on training and changing careers in Switzerland covers recognition of prior learning.
Young foreigners and residence permits
According to the canton of Vaud, holders of B, C, F or G permits can start an apprenticeship under certain conditions. A young person arriving from abroad has their school level assessed, then the cantonal population office confirms permission to work.
Cross-border apprentices from France
A young person living in Haute-Savoie or Doubs can train with an employer in Geneva or Neuchâtel on a G permit. They then attend vocational school in the canton of employment, in French, and take inter-company courses in Switzerland.
After the CFC: first job and salary
Many companies keep their apprentices after the final exam. The salary of a newly qualified CFC holder then depends on the CCT, the canton and the sector; Geneva, for example, imposes a cantonal minimum wage of CHF 24.59 per hour in 2026.
Steps to secure an apprenticeship place
- Explore trades with your canton's careers guidance centre and check the list of vacant places published by cantonal offices.
- Do one or more taster placements to try out the trade and get a written assessment from the apprenticeship trainer.
- If needed, take an aptitude test recognised by the industry, such as Multicheck or Basic-check, which many companies ask for.
- Send a complete application with a cover letter, CV with photo, school reports and placement certificates.
- Sign the apprenticeship contract, have your parents co-sign it if you are a minor, then wait for approval from the cantonal office.
- Check your residence or cross-border permit before training begins, usually in August.
Apprentice wages and costs to expect
| Item | Order of magnitude | What makes it vary |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice wage | Industry recommendation, indicative | Trade, year of training, canton |
| Cantonal minimum wage | Does not apply to apprentices | Geneva, Neuchâtel, Jura, Ticino, Basel-Stadt |
| Materials and tools | Paid by the apprentice or the company | Contract and industry regulations |
| Cantonal grant | Based on an application | Family income and canton of residence |
| LAMal health insurance | Young adult premium, indicative | Canton, deductible, premium reduction |
Application file for an apprenticeship
- Cover letter written for each company
- CV with photo and contact details of referees
- Copies of school reports from recent years
- Certificates from completed taster placements
- Result of a Multicheck-type aptitude test if requested
- ID document and residence or cross-border permit
Why apprenticeship applications get rejected
- Applying in May for an August start when the company already chose its apprentices the previous autumn.
- Sending a generic letter that names neither the trade nor the company, which apprenticeship trainers spot immediately.
- Skipping taster placements, which often serve as the real job interview in Swiss small and medium-sized firms.
- Forgetting that the contract must be approved by the cantonal office and starting work without authorisation or a valid permit.
- Confusing full-time vocational school with the dual track: a trade school pays no wage to its students.
Apprenticeships in Switzerland: practical answers
Can I do an apprenticeship in Switzerland without speaking German?
Yes, in French-speaking Switzerland apprenticeships take place in French, in Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel, Jura, Fribourg or French-speaking Valais. German remains an asset in commerce or logistics, but vocational school teaches in the language of the canton.
Is an apprenticeship possible after the French baccalauréat?
Yes. A baccalauréat holder can sign a CFC contract, and some companies accept a shortened duration. The cantonal vocational training office decides whether previous studies are recognised and whether any reduction applies.
What is the difference between a trade school and a dual apprenticeship?
A trade school trains full-time in classrooms and workshops, with no wage. A dual apprenticeship takes place mainly in a company, with an apprentice wage. Both lead to the same federal CFC qualification.
What can I do if I do not find a place in time?
Cantons offer transition solutions: a pre-apprenticeship year, a motivation semester funded by unemployment insurance or integration measures. These schemes let you keep doing taster placements and apply again from the following autumn.