Informal one- or two-year apprenticeships

Informal one- or two-year apprenticeships were phased out with the introduction of formal two-year VET programmes for the Federal VET Certificate in the Vocational and Professional Education and Training Act (VPETA) of 13 December 2002.

Informal apprenticeships imparted the skills and knowledge required to use straightforward manufacturing or working processes. Employers would then test acquisition of individual competences and issue a certificate of completion that would be signed by the cantonal authority.

Some cantons maintain training certificates that are similar to the certificates of completion awarded for informal one- or two-year apprenticeships. These training certificates bear a different name and are credited towards a cantonal qualification.