OdA Umwelt

About Us

The Organization for the Organization of the Working World (OdA) Environment is the professional association for the environmental sector and the administering body for the Federal Professional Examination for Nature and Environment Specialists, leading to a federal certificate, with five specializations: Biodiversity Conservation, Ranger, Animal Welfare, Environmental Communication, and Environmental Management.

“Using resources in an integrated and sustainable manner—in the environmental economy as well as in vocational training.” – That is our credo. Through vocational education and continuing education, further training, we are committed to fostering skills for an environmentally sound and resource-efficient economy, thereby contributing to the training of skilled workers for a sustainable economy and society.

OdA Umwelt is organized as an association and aims to promote environmental professions in vocational education and training as a sustainable career field, to strengthen their image, and to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas. To this end, OdA Umwelt fosters cooperation among the federal government, the cantons, professional associations, and educational providers.

Target groups

• Professional associations in the fields of education and/or the environment
• Administration in the field of education and/or the environment
• Educational providers in the fields of education and/or the environment
• Beginners and professionals in the environmental sector

Members

• Employer and Employee Associations in the Environmental Sector
• National organizations and cantonal agencies for nature conservation and environmental protection
• Providers of preparatory courses for advanced vocational degrees in the environmental field
• Education and university partners

Focus / Activities

• Responsible Body and Organization of the Federal Professional Examination for Nature and Environment Specialists
• Further development of the job profile and examination content
• Promoting Skills for an Environmentally Friendly and Resource-Conserving Economy (Focus on
• Cross-functional skills such as communication, counseling, awareness-raising, and project management, combined with subject-matter expertise in the fields of nature and landscape, agriculture and horticulture, and animal welfare)
• Development, Recognition, and Quality Assurance of Environmental Occupations
• Promoting professional exchange and networking
• Career Marketing and Career Information (Information on training, continuing education, and job opportunities through the online platform and events, such as webinars)

Training and continuing education, further training

Training programs leading to certification as a Nature and Environment Specialist with a federal certificate are offered by various partners:

• Specialization in Biodiversity Conservation
• Ranger Program
• Animal Welfare Specialization
• Major in Environmental Communication
• Major in Environmental Management

The OdA Umwelt guides and supports nature and environmental professionals throughout their entire educational journey:

• Organization of the Federal Professional Examination for Nature and Environment Specialists with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education
• Provision of information on preparatory courses, examination modalities and career prospects
• Information and guidance on training, continuing education, and job opportunities in the environmental sector

Offers for members

• Network: Networking and information on career development, new opportunities, tools, and events
• Participation: Opportunities to Actively Shape and Further Develop the Association
• Knowledge Transfer: Access to Expertise and Experts
• Education: expert activities against compensation, participation in commissions
• Career Marketing and Career Information: Promoting environmental careers in vocational education and training as a sustainable career field; expanding reach through word-of-mouth, e.g., via newsletter articles