Federal Professional Examination
The Federal Professional Examination is conducted for the purpose of determining whether a candidate possesses solid practical skills and a firm grasp of theory. It is intended for individuals who have several years of experience and who wish to specialise in a particular field. Those who pass the Federal Professional Examination are awarded the corresponding tertiary-level professional qualification from SERI and may work as specialists in their field and/or hold managerial positions.
The Federal Professional Examination is governed by examination rules established by one or more professional organisations (in most cases trade associations) responsible for the given profession. These examination rules are submitted to State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) for approval. Examples of professions for which the corresponding tertiary-level professional qualification is issued: Construction Site Foreman (profession no. 52645), Vocational Education and Training Specialist (profession no. 89641), Agricultural Operations Manager (profession no. 15044), Florist (profession no. 17241), Autobody Shop Manager (profession no. 44944), Chartered Specialist in Accounting and Financial Management (profession no. 68340).
Those who pass the Advanced Federal Professional Examination are awarded the corresponding tertiary-level professional qualification from SERI.
For some professions, there are two federal examinations for professional qualifications. In such cases, the requirements for the Advanced Federal Professional Examination are higher than those of the Federal Professional Examination.
Each Swiss professional qualification is issued with a diploma supplement, which indicates the level that the qualification holds in the Swiss National Qualifications Framework for Vocational and Professional Qualifications (NQF VPQ) and the corresponding level in the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (EQF) (updated at regular intervals).
Those who complete the preparatory course for the Advanced Federal Professional Examination receive a federal grant to cover a portion of their costs (see “Professional education”).
