Self-Assessment “Trainer with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education”: Is this course right for me?

What is a typical workday like for a trainer with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education?

Instructors with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education work part-time or full-time in continuing education and further training. They often work for multiple employers on a freelance basis or are responsible for in-house training at larger companies. Training and coaching people are the focus of their work. The primary responsibilities of trainers include the development and planning of educational programs, as well as their implementation and evaluation. In doing so, they either draw on existing curricula to create training sequences or design customized course concepts. Their responsibilities also include researching suitable teaching materials and resources, as well as providing them. Their teaching duties further encompass advising, supporting, and encouraging individual learners, as well as preparing for and following up on exams.

The duties of a trainer with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education are:

• Organizing Events and Follow-Up
• Train employees
• I lead courses, seminars, and conferences for educational and recreational centers, clubs, associations, and labor unions to impart theoretical and practical expertise
• Planning educational programs and developing new training modules
• Assessment of Training Needs for Companies, Institutions, or Specific Target Groups
• Development of Appropriate Training Modules
• Consideration of subject-specific, methodological and pedagogical, as well as educational policy, organizational, and financial framework conditions
• Define learning content and learning objectives with the client
• Developing and designing training materials, maintaining web-based training tools, advertising and communication materials
• Professional guidance for individuals and groups
• Guide, motivate, and support learners throughout the learning process, and assess their progress
• Other tasks: administrative work such as preparing for exams, correspondence, attending training courses and courses for your own continuing education, further training

(Note: The weighting of individual job responsibilities can vary significantly depending on the company and job description.)

Typical functions are

• Trainer / Instructor
• Lecturers
• Course Instructors
• Coach (male or female)
• Training Coordinator (male or female)

Target Audience and Skills: Who is the “Trainer with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education” Federal Professional Examination intended for? What qualities and skills are required?

The "Instructor" training courses are intended for:

• Individuals in adult education (with practical experience in education)
• Individuals who wish to specialize in on-the-job training within their company
• Education professionals
• Trainers in Companies and Organizations
• Apprentice Trainers
• Line Managers and Employees with Training Responsibilities
• HR professionals
• Self-Employed Individuals in the Field of Adult Education

Important qualities and skills for the profession of trainer are:

• High level of expertise in one's own field
• Enjoyment of working with adults and teaching
• Interest in educational issues
• Good general knowledge
• Good communication skills
• Ability to deal with conflict
• Confident demeanor
• Educational Interest
• Organizational talent

Requirements for admission to the Federal Professional Examination in adult education:

Individuals are eligible to take the final Federal Professional Examination to become a trainer if they:

• holds a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training, the Matura (Specialized Baccalaureate or Baccalaureate), or an equivalent qualification,
• can demonstrate a total of 300 hours of training experience (spread over at least four years) as an instructor
• has the required module certificates or certificates of equivalence

Some schools also require personal aptitude, professional aptitude, a federal course certificate for vocational profiles (Art. 44 BBV), German language proficiency at the B2 level, an interest in digital teaching and learning methods, or a willingness to take the lead in the learning process through self-study and to engage in a personalized learning journey.

Candidates will be notified in writing no later than 15 business days after the QSK meeting whether they meet the requirements for the Federal Professional Examination to become a trainer; in the event of rejection, the notification will include the reasons for the decision and information on the right to appeal. Once admitted, the candidate must submit the qualification dossier within 12 months. After this period has expired, the candidate must re-register for the central review.

Note: In some cases, you can begin training to become an instructor even without professional experience or with as little as 75 hours of experience—check with your chosen educational institution for details. However, initial experience in mentoring adults (learners, students, or employees) clearly enhances learning success. It is therefore strongly recommended that you begin providing practical or educational guidance yourself, at the latest while you are enrolled in the training program.

Course material and content from the instructor training course:

The curriculum for the preparatory courses for the Federal Professional Examination leading to the Federal Diploma of Higher Education as a Trainer is based on the guidelines set by the responsible body of the Federal Professional Examination, the SVEB (Swiss Association for Continuing Education, Further Training).

The training curriculum is divided into the following modules and steps:

• Old system since 2015:
  • Level 1: Basic Qualification:
    • Module AdA-FA-M1: Conducting Training Sessions with Adults (SVEB Certificate for Course Instructors, 13.5 ECTS)
      • AdA FA-PA-E: From Field Supervision to Course Instruction
      • Ada FA-PA: Providing Learning Support to Individuals
  • Level 2 Specializations Leading to the Federal Diploma of Higher Education as an Instructor:
    • Module AdA-FA-M2: Facilitating Group Processes in Learning Activities (120 learning hours, 4 ECTS)
    • Module AdA-FA-M3: Supporting Individual Learning Processes (82 learning hours, 2.5 ECTS)
    • Module AdA-FA-M4: Designing Educational Programs for Adults (130 learning hours, 4.5 ECTS, including supervision)
    • Module AdA-FA-M5: Designing Didactic Adult Education Courses (138 learning hours, 4.5 ECTS, including supervision)
    • Supervision (must be taken concurrently with Module 4 or 5; 5 sessions, at least 16 hours)
• According to the new Ada construction set from 2023:
  • Group Module: The “SVEB Certificate for Instructors—Conducting Learning Sessions” (formerly “Course Instructor”) or the “SVEB Certificate for Instructors—Individual Coaching” (formerly “Practical Instructor”) mark the beginning of your continuing education, further training program (14 days).
  • Advanced Modules (may also be taken concurrently with Specialization Modules):
    • Support Module: An advanced module designed to support study groups and individual learners (7 days)
    • Teaching Module: Advanced module on the didactic design and planning of courses for adults (7 days)
  • Three modules that can be taken at the same time
    • Transversal Modules: Do not schedule this too early in the continuing education, further training program in order to develop an understanding of the profession within the work environment (1 day / 5 half-days)
    • Networking Module: at the end of the continuing education, further training program, to facilitate and enable the transfer of learning (2 days / 3 half-days)
    • One advanced module of your choice (may be taken concurrently with elective modules):
      • Facilitating Group Processes in Learning Courses (4 days)
      • Designing and Developing Online Learning Programs from a Pedagogical Perspective (4 days)
      • Planning and Designing Competency-Based Qualification Processes (4 days)
  • Federal Professional Examination for Instructors

Good to Know:

• The time and cost involved in the new and old systems are roughly the same.
• Training can be started and continued under either the new or the old system (it remains valid for up to 10 years).
• There is aTransitional Provisions for the New System- For example, if you have Module 1 from the old system, you can move directly on to the advanced modules. If you have the old Module 2, you can skip the specialization module. If you have the old Module 3, you can skip the advanced module on support.
• The professional certification (under the new system) is obtained through the Federal Professional Examination.
• A focus on competencies, an emphasis on the transfer of learning, lifelong learning, and an understanding of one’s role are innovations that align with a forward-looking approach to education.
• Digital learning environments, such as blended learning and facilitated e-learning, support the learning process in this new format and ensure that knowledge is conveyed in a contemporary way.

Costs and Funding for Adult Education:

Depending on the provider and the duration of the course, the costs for the continuing education, further training program for instructors with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education vary slightly. On average, you can expect the following amounts:

• Course fees:between CHF 8,500 and CHF 13,900
  After taking the exam, you will receive around 50% of this back from the federal government on application (regardless of the result)*.
  Note: Members of the Kaufmännischer Verband receive a 10% discount on the cost of training programs and courses offered by individual educational providers.
• Basic Certificate, SVEB Instructor Certificate:Between CHF 3,200 and CHF 4,500 for conducting educational sessions or providing individual coaching
• Examination fees:CHF 680.- or CHF 1050.- (as at August 2025)
  The examination fee is set by the responsible body for the Federal Professional Examination. It is paid by the candidate upon confirmation of admission to the trainer examination.
• Extra costs:At some schools, the costs for items such as enrollment fees, teaching materials, course handouts, books, hotel fees, seminar fees, supervision, intensive exam preparation, mock exams, registration fees, course diplomas, and interim certificates are not included in the course fees. Please contact the provider of your choice directly to find out what additional costs you can expect for the continuing education, further training program.

*Since January 1, 2018, preparatory courses for Federal Professional Examinations have been financially supported by the federal government. Participants in this program may therefore receive a refund of up to 50% of the course fees paid (max. CHF 9,500) after passing the federal examinations. In cases of hardship, federal subsidies may, as an exception, also be paid in advance.

Duration of the program, number of class hours, and time commitment for the Trainer continuing education, further training program:

• The continuing education, further training program has a modular structure (i.e., some of the competencies are assessed in module exams prior to the Federal Professional Examination, and in the final exam, only cross-module competencies are tested) and lasts 2 to 3 semesters on a part-time basis. It comprises approximately 35 to 38 days of instruction (including 14 days for the basic certificate). The total number of lessons for the five modules is approximately 115. Due to its modular structure, the program can be arranged flexibly in terms of timing. The SVEB certificate is valid indefinitely—modules 2 through 5 must be completed within five years.
• Class schedules vary depending on the provider of the trainer training program. Typically, classes are held as full days, in the evenings, as half-days, in intensive courses, or as seminars.
• Many schools now offer a mix of face-to-face and online courses (online, hybrid teaching, blended learning) as well as self-study.
• Thanks to the part-time format of the Trainer Continuing Education, further training program, you can immediately apply and reinforce what you’ve learned in a practical setting. Nevertheless, you should allow enough time for lesson preparation and follow-up, as well as for self-study—how much depends on your prior knowledge, work style, and learning pace. As a precaution, we recommend setting aside at least 7–10 hours per week. In addition, you’ll need to teach approximately 75 hours of your own classes during the training period.

Note: Some schools offer what are known as “trial lessons.” This gives you the opportunity to get a feel for the classes and the learning environment. These are important factors on your path to successfully completing the trainer certification program. It’s best to contact the school of your choice directly.

Degree, diploma and title:

Once the Quality Assurance Commission (QSK) has granted your admission and confirmed it to you, the assignment for preparing the performance dossier will be sent to you no later than 12 weeks before the submission deadline. You will be informed well in advance of the exact date the assignment will be announced in a separate notice. After the performance dossier has been reviewed by the examination experts, the QSK will officially determine and approve the examination results. The results will then be communicated via the exam application through the candidates’ personal profiles. The assignment and the QSK meeting take place quarterly, with the required interval between them.

The degree varies depending on the chosen program:

• Old system: Instructor since 2015:
  • Participants must submit the proof of competence for SVEB Modules 2–5, along with the SVEB 1 certificate, to the office of the Swiss Association for Continuing Education (SVEB) for central review.
  • This is the only federal professional examination in Switzerland for which candidates are not required to take a written exam when applying for the professional certificate. Instead of a final professional examination, there is aCentral Review (ZÜ)based on the evidence of competence submitted in the module courses. The evidence of competence submitted in the qualification portfolio, along with the corresponding evaluations by the module instructors, is subject to a second evaluation by experts appointed by SVEB.
  • Upon successful completion of the examination, the SVEB will issue the Federal Diploma of Higher Education as a "Trainer."
• According to the new Ada construction set from 2023:
  • Assessment: Assessments are conducted in each of the modules. These typically consist of written exams, presentations on case studies and examples, individual or group assignments, and follow-up assignments.
  • Provide proof of at least 300 hours of teaching experience over a period of at least 4 years (teaching at least 3 students who are at least 16 years old; 100 of these hours may consist of one-on-one instruction and individual learning support)
  • ThePassing the Final Exam"Instructor" through an assignment to create a written performance portfolio and an online audit

Diploma and the title “Instructor”

Graduates of the Federal Professional Examination receive a federal certificate and are authorized to use the federally protected title “Instructor with a Federal Certificate” or “Trainer with a Federal Certificate of Competence” and the optional additional English title “Professional Bachelor.”

• In French: “Formateur avec brevet fédéral,” “Formatrice avec brevet fédéral,” Professional Bachelor
• In Italian: “Formatore con attestato professionale federale,” “Formatrice con attestato professionale federale,” Professional Bachelor
• In English: “Trainer in Adult Learning with a Federal Diploma in Professional Education and Training, Professional Bachelor” (Note: This is only a recommendation/translation and not a protected title)