Vocational and Professional Education and Training Act (VPETA)

The Federal Act of 13 December 2002 on Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPETA, SR 412.10), which came into force on 1 January 2004, is the most important legal basis for the Swiss VET sector (upper-secondary level) and PET sector (tertiary level). Although they previously depended on other provisions, the fields of health care, social care and arts as well as agriculture and forestry are now governed by VPETA. It also includes federal public law provisions on the following:

• VET programmes, including the Federal Vocational Baccalaureate (FVB);
• professional education and training (PET);
• job-related continuing education and training (CET);
• qualification procedures, qualifications and titles;
• training of VET and PET professionals;
• vocational, educational and career guidance;
• Federal contributions to the costs of vocational and professional education and training.

VPETA also establishes the terms of implementation (authorities, administrative justice and criminal provisions).

VPETA is completed by numerous federal and cantonal implementing provisions, including:

• Ordinance of 19 November 2003 on Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPETO, SR 412.101);
• Ordinance of 19 November 2003 on Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPETO, SR 412.101);
• VET ordinances for the various VET programmes;
• Cantonal provisions (implementing legislation);
• SERI Ordinance on Minimum Requirements for Language, Communication and Society Instruction in VET Programmes (OCMCG, SR 412.101.241);
• EAER Ordinance of 11 March 2005 on Minimum Conditions for Recognition of Degree Programmes and Continuing Education and Training Courses at Professional Colleges (MiR-PC, SR 412.101.61).

Relations between the host company and the learner are not only governed by VPETA and VPETO but also by the provisions of the Swiss Code of Obligations (CO, SR 220) concerning the apprenticeship contract as well as the provisions of the Employment Act (EmpA, SR 822.11) concerning the protection of workers’ health.