The dual system: company and vocational school
A Swiss apprenticeship combines three or four days in a company with lessons at a vocational school and inter-company courses run by trade associations. The cantonal vocational training office approves the apprenticeship contract and also supervises the host company.
Around 250 occupations open through apprenticeship
SEFRI (the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation) lists some 250 occupations in initial training, from commercial employee to automation technician and healthcare assistant. Open places appear on the cantonal apprenticeship exchange and on the national career guidance portal.
The two-year AFP for hands-on learners
The AFP (Federal VET Certificate) suits young people who learn best through practice, for example care and support assistants or retail assistants. Depending on the trade, holders can then enter the second year of the matching CFC directly.
The CFC in three or four years
The CFC (Federal VET Diploma) is the qualification Swiss employers expect for a skilled position. Practical details, from choosing a host company to apprentice pay, are covered in our guide on finding an apprenticeship in Switzerland.
Vocational baccalaureate and access to universities of applied sciences
The vocational baccalaureate can be taken during or after the CFC, full time or alongside work. It gives exam-free entry to universities of applied sciences such as HES-SO or ZHAW, and the passerelle exam then opens the way to a university.
Federal diplomas and colleges of higher education
Higher vocational education offers around 470 qualifications: the federal certificate, the advanced federal diploma and the ES diploma from a college of higher education. An ES mechanical engineering technician or a certified accountant can reach management roles without university.
Federal funding for exam preparation courses
People who take a course preparing for a federal exam can have 50% of eligible course fees refunded by the Confederation once they have sat the exam. The application goes to SEFRI, together with proof of payment.
Earning a CFC as an adult
Adults have four routes to a CFC or AFP, including validation of prior learning with at least five years of work experience. For people with no qualification, our guide to finding a job without a diploma in Switzerland explains the options.
Getting a foreign qualification recognised
For a regulated profession, recognition goes through SEFRI, the Swiss Red Cross for many health occupations, or MEBEKO for university medical professions. Our page on jobs in Switzerland for foreigners covers the related steps.
Level statements for non-regulated occupations
For a non-regulated foreign qualification, such as sales or IT, no recognition is required. SEFRI can still issue a level statement, which helps a recruiter in Zurich or Lausanne compare the diploma with a CFC.
Continuing education and career change for adults
Adult education centres, Migros Club Schools, universities and professional associations offer CAS and DAS programmes and evening classes. The ORP (regional employment centre) can fund some training measures for jobseekers, subject to a decision by the fund or cantonal authority.
Becoming an apprentice trainer yourself
To supervise apprentices, an in-company trainer must complete a cantonal course of at least 40 hours or equivalent training. Those who want to teach adults often aim for the federal certificate described in our profile of the adult trainer in Switzerland.
Your path to training and working in Switzerland
- Take stock with the cantonal career guidance office, free for young people and often open to adults.
- Choose the right route: AFP, CFC, vocational baccalaureate, federal diploma or college of higher education, depending on age, experience and goals.
- For a foreign qualification, apply for recognition to SEFRI, the Swiss Red Cross or MEBEKO, depending on the profession.
- Check your residence status: an apprenticeship or job requires a valid permit issued by the cantonal population office.
- Send applications to host companies with a Swiss-style CV, photo, school reports and any trial placement reports.
- Sign the apprenticeship contract, approved by the cantonal vocational training office, then enrol at the vocational school.
Training costs and apprentice pay at a glance
| Item | Amount or rule | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice wage | Indicative, rising each year | Set by the company or recommended by the trade association |
| Federal exam preparation course | Federal refund of 50% of eligible fees | Paid after sitting the exam |
| Recognition of a foreign diploma | Indicative fee, depending on authority and file | SEFRI, Swiss Red Cross or MEBEKO |
| DELF, DALF or Goethe language certificate | Indicative, depending on level and exam centre | Often required by the school or employer |
| LAMal health insurance | Indicative premiums, by canton and age | Premium reductions possible for young people in training |
Documents for a training place or recognition request
- Swiss-format CV with photo
- School reports or transcripts from recent years
- Original diplomas and certified translations
- Employment references proving experience for validation of prior learning
- Residence permit or passport
- Language certificate (DELF, DALF, Goethe) if training is in another language
- Reports from trial placements in companies
Common mistakes in a Swiss training plan
- Skipping the trial placement in a company, which often decides who gets an apprenticeship over candidates who completed one.
- Treating the CFC as a second-rate diploma, when combined with a vocational baccalaureate it opens universities of applied sciences.
- Applying with a regulated foreign diploma that has not been recognised, which blocks hiring in care or teaching.
- Applying too late: in many cantons companies award apprenticeship places almost a year before the August start.
- Paying a private school that promises a federal diploma without checking that it really prepares for an exam recognised by SEFRI.
Questions about Swiss vocational training
Can a 35-year-old adult start an apprenticeship in Switzerland?
Yes, there is no age limit. An adult can sign a standard apprenticeship contract, follow a shortened programme or use validation of prior learning with at least five years of experience. The cantonal career guidance office explains the schemes available in each canton.
Can a non-EU national do an apprenticeship in Switzerland?
It is possible for someone who already holds a residence permit, for example through family reunification. Coming from abroad solely for an apprenticeship, however, is rarely accepted: the cantonal population or migration office reviews each case individually.
What is the difference between a federal certificate and an advanced federal diploma?
The federal certificate confirms professional specialisation after a few years of practice, while the more demanding advanced federal diploma prepares for running a company or high-level expert work. Both are awarded by trade associations under SEFRI supervision.
Is a French BTS diploma recognised in Switzerland?
For a non-regulated occupation, no recognition is required and the employer assesses the BTS freely. A SEFRI level statement can help compare it with an ES diploma or a CFC. For a regulated occupation, a formal recognition procedure is still necessary.