A survey of those interested in the vocational trainer course revealed that the majority of people (50%) who enquired about schools did so after reading an online assessment. Another 26% made inquiries to schools for a vocational trainer course that were recommended to them for the vocational trainer course. The remaining 24% were already familiar with these schools. Another alternative reason was indicated by these comments: "This school offers the best value for money", "My workplace is nearby", "It's close to where I live", "I found it by chance on the internet", "Saturday course possible", "nearby location", "to obtain cantonal qualification", "quick course start", "coincidence" or "online".

Vocational training courses are generally independent of profession and cross-industry. This leads to a better mix of participants and a more diverse exchange. In addition, the educational objectives set by the federal government are overriding. There are many special features in the area of basic commercial training in particular. For this reason, these specific requirements are also taken into account in a KV vocational trainer course. It makes sense to attend a KV vocational trainer course in order to provide young people with good support and guidance during their basic commercial training. This is an important and demanding task. Attendance of an official vocational trainer course is only compulsory for one person per training company. In addition to the legal foundations and knowledge of possible training profiles, the KV vocational trainer course also teaches how to promote the practical, academic and personal development of KV apprentices. Course participants learn about training planning and assessment with performance targets and behavioral criteria, including the ALS (work and learning situation) and PE (process units) work tools. Topics such as health care, accident prevention, addiction prevention and conflict resolution are also covered in the KV vocational trainer course.

A vocational trainer course is useful for people who supervise apprentices in companies:

• (Future) vocational trainers with coordination and organizational tasks
• Practical training - supervision of apprentices with regard to practical technical training
• Supervisors of apprentices

According to the Vocational Training Act, every company that trains apprentices must have at least one person who has completed a vocational trainer course. This is also known as a master teacher course. There are no legal requirements for this (except in the canton of Schwyz, where at least two years of professional experience are required).

The course is useful for all supervisors of apprentices who are responsible for their practical training in a company - not just for the person responsible for the course, who has overall responsibility. The course is important because it deals specifically with topics that affect young people during their development and training. This information is not available in any other continuing education, further training course.

This vocational trainer training course lasts 40 hours. It can be completed in different time models or partly digitally as a webinar. In the vocational trainer course, prospective vocational trainers learn the formal and legal foundations of a learning relationship. They understand the successful interaction between vocational school, training company and inter-company courses (ÜK) as a concept of vocational education and training (VET).

Graduates of a vocational trainer course are aware of the difficulties and problems faced by young people during an apprenticeship. They are able to support and understand apprentices. They are also familiar with the necessary learning and working techniques after the vocational trainer course. In addition to making a good selection of learners, vocational trainers also prepare professional assessments for their learners.

At the end of the course, participants receive a cantonal certificate as a vocational trainer, which is valid throughout Switzerland. With the cantonal certificate as a vocational trainer, you can take on responsible tasks and thus create better career opportunities for the future. The cantonal office then decides on the authorization to train apprentices.

Of course, there are further training opportunities after the vocational trainer with course certificate. For example, to become an education specialist with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education. The Federal Diploma of Higher Education can be obtained by completing a 100-hour training course for vocational trainers in training companies, which follows on from the vocational trainer course. This continuing education, further training lasts six to eight months. A certain number of years of professional practice in the teaching field and a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training are required. By passing a Federal Professional Examination, you will become an education professional with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education. This course is aimed at vocational trainers from the practical field who would like to prepare for the Federal Professional Examination with four modules of 4 to 10 days each. A cantonal course certificate as a vocational trainer and proof of at least one year's professional experience in the area of responsibility of vocational training are required for this "Vocational trainer with Federal Diploma of Higher Education". Each module is completed with a certificate of competence and, if you pass the Federal Diploma of Higher Education, you will be awarded the title of Education Specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education.

Vocational trainer courses are offered both profession- and industry-neutral and tailored to various vocational trainer jobs:

• Cross-professional and cross-sector vocational trainer course: suitable for vocational trainers from all sectors - promotes exchange and understanding between the professions
• Courses for vocational trainers in the field of basic commercial training: Services and administration, public administration and the notary sector
• Vocational training courses in IT for basic ICT training: taught by industry experts such as Swiss Post, Swisscom, the cantonal police and ICT Bern
• Courses for vocational trainers in the field of medical assistance
• Vocational trainer course for care specialists
• Course for vocational trainers from the MEM sector (mechanical, electrical and metal industries)
• Vocational training courses for painters/plasterers
• Courses for vocational trainers in the retail trade: Specialized in the retail trade sector
• Vocational training courses for pharmacies: all examples and practical tips are geared towards this sector

Industry-specific courses are organized by the respective professional associations and, in addition to the general content of vocational training, also address the industry-specific objectives, challenges, questions and forms of assessment in the relevant industry. Depending on the industry, you will be confronted with different circumstances in the vocational training jobs. Each sector provides a folder with checklists, topics, teaching techniques, assessment aids and legal principles for the entire VET program. This has proven to be an extremely practical and quick-to-use aid in the day-to-day supervision of apprentices.

According to a survey conducted by the education platform Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch, the reasons why people are interested in a vocational training course are as follows:

• 61% of respondents say the reason is to check that the course meets their needs
• 26% of the survey participants see their interest in continuing education for vocational trainers as being based on a recommendation.
• Mention of the course in job advertisements was the decisive factor in the interest of only 13% of respondents.

Clearly the majority are interested in the course, but are not yet sure whether it is the right training for them. However, another reason may be that they work in this field, as survey participants confirm with their comments:

• on trainee training: "If I am to supervise CT trainees, then I also want to be trained accordingly", "Accompanying trainees" and "To be able to train the next generation"
• for training apprentices: "Supervision of an apprentice", "The current apprentice trainer is leaving the company", "We need someone in the business and I'm interested in the course" and "I need to give staff the opportunity to train"
• Self-motivation: "I've always wanted to do it", "I want to give a young man a chance", "I need the information for my advisory work", "I've started my own business and want to pass on my knowledge.", "I would like to create a commercial apprenticeship", "We would like to train apprentices in our company and I would like to attend the course", "Because I would like to provide better technical support to the apprentices and expand my knowledge and confirm it.", "I would like to train apprentices", "I have always been interested", "Pure curiosity", "I would like to expand my specialist knowledge" and "Become a vocational trainer"
• Confirmation of qualification: "I already train at Deutsche Bahn, but unfortunately I have nothing in writing as a vocational trainer", "Necessary for the federal final examination", "I need the course for my professional development", "Basic requirement that we are allowed to train" and "We will be training a mediamatician in the company from 2024"

Depending on the type of continuing education, further training CT you are interested in, you will need a different level of previous education and corresponding professional experience.

Continuing education, further training for Federal Professional Examination (FPE) or Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) usually requires an apprenticeship (Federal VET Diploma) in the relevant profession or equivalent training, such as a high school diploma or commercial diploma, as well as several years of professional experience in the relevant field.

The situation is often different for certificate courses and courses at Colleges of Higher Education (CHE), where people with little or no professional experience in the commercial sector can also be admitted.

For more information, please contact the schools. Contact us now quickly, easily and without obligation using our contact form or use the "Ask a question" button to get in touch with the right contact person directly.

In many cantons in Switzerland, there are no statutory admission requirements for a vocational trainer course at a school, so each school sets its own admission criteria. However, an apprenticeship qualification with a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training and at least two years of professional experience are often required.

Anyone wishing to register for the CAS Education in Healthcare Professions must have either a professional qualification in healthcare (BSc or NTE) or an Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education (CHE) and at least 300 hours of further training or diplomas in other disciplines and a certificate of equivalence for continuing education, further training in order to be admitted "sur dossier". Professional and practical experience in the supervision of apprentices and students as well as a good command of English are required.