Primary school under the HarmoS agreement
In the cantons that signed the HarmoS intercantonal agreement, primary school lasts eight years, from year 1 to year 8, with the first two years being kindergarten. In French-speaking Switzerland, the Plan d'études romand sets shared learning goals from Geneva to the Bernese Jura.
Hired by the canton or the municipality
Primary teachers are employed by the cantonal department of public education or, in several German-speaking cantons, by the local school municipality. Vacancies are advertised in spring for the August start of the school year, often on the cantonal administration's job portal.
Universities of teacher education in Romandy
Swiss training means a bachelor's in primary teaching at HEP Vaud, HEP-BEJUNE, HEP Fribourg or HEP Valais, French-speaking teacher education universities. Geneva is the exception, with a university programme at the IUFE. Our page on education and training in Switzerland covers these routes.
A generalist rather than a subject specialist
A primary class teacher covers almost every subject: French, mathematics, science, history and art. Some cantons assign German, English or physical education to specialist teachers, which creates additional part-time posts for people who want to combine several schools or teaching loads.
CDIP recognition of a foreign teaching diploma
The Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (CDIP, or EDK in German) assesses teaching qualifications earned abroad. Without full recognition, a teacher may be required to complete compensation measures, such as an adaptation placement or an exam, before any permanent appointment.
C2 proficiency in the language of instruction
For recognition, the CDIP requires near-native language skills, evidenced by a C2-level certificate in French, German or Italian. A French-speaking applicant aiming for a post in Zurich or Lucerne therefore has to prove a flawless command of German before the file can move forward.
Working with multilingual classes
In schools in Geneva, Lausanne, Biel/Bienne or Renens, a large share of pupils speak another language at home. Class teachers work alongside teachers of French as a second language and special-needs teachers to adapt lessons to each child's level and progress.
Salary scales set by each canton
Teachers are paid on a public salary scale specific to each canton, with annual increments linked to years of service. Differences between Zurich, Vaud, Valais and Jura are significant, and actual pay should be checked in the cantonal regulations governing teaching staff.
Supply teaching and temporary cover
School heads keep lists of supply teachers to cover sick leave and maternity leave. These assignments, paid by the hour or by the lesson, let a teacher trained elsewhere get to know the Vaud or Neuchâtel school system before applying for a permanent position.
Teacher shortages in some regions
Several German-speaking cantons are short of primary teachers and sometimes hire people who are still in training. In Romandy the picture varies by region, and posts in rural Fribourg or the Jura attract fewer applicants than vacancies in the larger towns and cities.
Moving into secondary or special education
With an additional master's degree, a primary teacher can become a secondary school teacher in Switzerland or a special-needs teacher. Others move into social care or adult education, and our hub on teaching jobs in Switzerland lists these pathways.
Criminal record and the special extract
Anyone working with minors must provide a special extract from the criminal record, which shows any bans on working in certain activities. Cantonal departments always ask for it, alongside the standard extract, before signing a teaching contract with a new recruit.
Your route to a Swiss primary classroom
- Choose the language region where you can prove C2 proficiency, the key condition for recognition by the CDIP.
- Submit your foreign teaching diploma to the CDIP and complete any compensation measures it requests.
- If you want to train in Switzerland, enrol in a primary teaching bachelor's at a French-speaking HEP or in Geneva's IUFE programme.
- From February, watch the vacancies published by cantonal departments and school municipalities for the August intake.
- Build a file with a Swiss-style CV, employment references, placement reports and the special criminal record extract.
- Accept supply work to become known to school heads and obtain a first Swiss employment reference.
Primary teacher pay and related costs
| Item | Benchmark | What makes it vary |
|---|---|---|
| Primary teacher salary | Cantonal scale, indicative | Canton, salary class, annual increments, workload percentage |
| CDIP recognition of a foreign diploma | Fee set by the CDIP | Any compensation measures required |
| C2 language certificate | Exam fees vary | DALF, Goethe-Zertifikat or Italian equivalent |
| Bachelor's at a HEP | Moderate semester fees | Institution, canton of residence |
| Cost of living | High in Geneva and Zurich | More affordable in the Jura or Valais |
Documents required by cantonal education departments
- Swiss-format CV with photo
- Cover letter addressed to the school head or the department
- Teaching diploma and CDIP recognition decision
- C2 language certificate in the school language
- Employment references and teaching placement reports
- Standard and special extracts from the criminal record
- Passport and residence or work permit
Why primary teaching applications fail
- Applying without a CDIP recognition decision, even though cantons can only hire teachers on a permanent basis if their diploma is recognised.
- Submitting a university language certificate instead of an official C2 diploma, which is rejected in the recognition procedure.
- Sending your application in June for an August start, when most classes in Vaud or Fribourg have already been allocated.
- Forgetting the special criminal record extract, mandatory for jobs involving children in every Swiss state school.
- Showing no knowledge of the Plan d'études romand at interview, which suggests you do not know the curriculum pupils follow.
Primary school teaching in Switzerland: what applicants ask
Can a French primary school teacher work in French-speaking Switzerland?
Yes, provided the diploma is recognised by the CDIP, possibly with compensation measures. The teacher then applies to the chosen canton, which remains free to decide on hiring and may ask for additional training on the Plan d'études romand.
Do private schools in Switzerland also require CDIP recognition?
Requirements vary by canton and by school. International schools around Lake Geneva often recruit on their own criteria, but a recognised diploma is still an advantage. It is wise to check with the cantonal office that supervises private education.
Is part-time primary teaching common in Switzerland?
Very common. Many posts are offered at 50 or 80 percent, and job-sharing, where two teachers split one class, is widespread in both French- and German-speaking Switzerland. Pay is then calculated pro rata to the workload percentage.
How long does recognition of a foreign teaching diploma take?
It depends on whether the file is complete and on any compensation measures. It is sensible to apply to the CDIP several months before the cantonal recruitment period, which usually begins early in the calendar year.