The part-time continuing education, further training "Specialists in SME Management" is expected to take one year.

After completing the further training in SME management and passing the professional examination (BP), graduates are awarded the qualification: "Specialist in SME management with federal certificate".

Anyone wishing to take part in the SME Management Specialist course and the subsequent Federal Professional Examination must either have a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training (VET Diploma) or an equivalent qualification and two years of professional experience in an SME management position, or at least eight years of professional experience in an SME management position without an equivalent qualification. In all cases, proof of the required module qualifications or certificates of equivalence must be provided. Before starting the course, check with the educational institution to make sure that you meet all the current requirements.

Specialists in SME management with a federal certificate have the following options for continuing education in SME management:

• Higher professional examination for the federal diploma as an auditor or fiduciary expert
• Higher technical college as a business economist HF
• With a vocational baccalaureate: study at a university of applied sciences, e.g. business administration

During the preparatory course for the Federal Professional Examination in SME Management, participants complete six modules that are required for admission to the FPE. These are

• General corporate management
• Organization
• Accounting
• Leadership, communication and personnel management
• Marketing, public relations, supplier and customer relations
• Law in corporate management SMEs

The responsibilities of an SME management specialist are as follows:

• Leadership tasks in upper management
• Strategic analysis and planning
• Finance, organization and human resources
• Public relations

These responsibilities are underpinned by the competencies as company or sub-divisional management.

The costs for continuing education, further training vary depending on the educational institute, as is the case for the Business Management SME Federal Professional Examination (FPE). The course costs between CHF 9,800 and CHF 15,800, plus CHF 2,290 for the federal examination fees and CHF 2,600 for the module examinations as well as other additional costs. However, as it is possible to apply for federal funding for this continuing education, further training, you will be reimbursed 50% of the costs for the course, module examinations and teaching materials upon application once you have passed the Federal Professional Examination.

The following alternatives to further training in business management are available:

• Certificate courses such as:
  • SME Businessman / Businesswoman
  • Management
  • Corporate management
  • Corporate culture / organizational culture
• Higher professional examination for managing director
• Advanced technical college in management
• Postgraduate studies at a higher technical college:
  • Leadership and management
  • Corporate management
• Bachelor's degree in International Management at a university of applied sciences
• Master's degree in Sustainable Business Development at a university of applied sciences
• Various CAS and MAS courses at universities of applied sciences

An SME management specialist performs the following tasks:

• Take on leadership and management tasks in small or medium-sized companies
• are largely responsible for the success of the business
• bear the company risk - often even as (co-)owner
• competently use business management tools
• Analyze business performance and derive appropriate measures from it
• be responsible for staff recruitment and development
• Implement new organizational structures and processes as required
• Represent the company vis-à-vis the various stakeholder groups
• Specialists in corporate management SMEs deal with topics such as responsible corporate management (corporate social responsibility) and environmental issues