What does the day-to-day work of "SME management specialists" with a federal certificate look like?

Specialists in business management SMEs work in small or medium-sized, mostly owner-managed companies in numerous sectors. They take on leadership and management tasks and are responsible for maintaining the business. As a rule, SME management specialists are already current owners or co-owners of the company or are expected to become such in the foreseeable future.

As an SME management specialist, you are personally connected to the company, which means that you are not only responsible for the company's success, but also bear the corresponding risks. You represent your company to the outside world - with the aim of successfully marketing your own products and services.

Specialists in corporate management SMEs use suitable (business management) instruments for the independent management of their company and for responsible corporate management (so-called corporate social responsibility).

They monitor and analyze the course of business and business processes and, if necessary, define suitable (optimization) measures.

They keep an eye on global (economic) developments and industry-specific trends and weigh up whether there is a need for action for their own company. They are also responsible for recruiting and hiring new employees.

They also keep an eye on the company's financial situation. This also includes evaluating the annual financial statements.

SME management specialists work closely with other members of management, employees, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders. They maintain an active network on relevant business and industry platforms and take care to maintain their contacts in the long term.

For whom is the professional examination (BP) to become an SME management specialist with a federal certificate suitable? What qualities and skills are required?

The following persons belong to the target group of the preparatory courses for or the professional examination for SME management specialists:

• Ambitious professionals with management experience who would like to run their own company in the future and would like to create a good basis for this with the federal certificate.
• Professionals in management positions (from SMEs) who wish to certify their knowledge and skills with an appropriately established certificate and thus increase their chances on the job market
• SME founders who would like to receive further training in business management

Specialists in SME management should have the following personal qualities and skills:

• Entrepreneurial skills
• Analytical and conceptual skills
• Commercial skills
• Load capacity
• Sense of responsibility
• Good communication skills
• Organizational skills
• Interest in economic issues, developments and trends
• Confident appearance

Prerequisites for admission to the professional examination for SME management specialists with a federal certificate (BP):

If you meet the following requirements, you will be admitted to the professional examination for SME Management Specialist.

• You are in possession of a federal certificate of proficiency (EFZ) or equivalent and have at least two years of professional experience* in a small or medium-sized enterprise SME in a management position**

Or

• You can demonstrate at least eight years of professional experience in a management position in an SME

And

• You can present the required module qualifications or certificates of equivalence

The modules required for admission to the final examination are listed below (the modules are completed in the preparatory courses for the BP. They remain valid for five years, during which time the professional examination can also be taken):

• Module 1: General corporate management
• Module 2: Leadership, communication and personnel management
• Module 3: Organization
• Module 4: Accounting***
• Module 5: Marketing, public relations, supplier and customer relations
• Module 6: Law in the management of SMEs

You will find out whether you have been admitted to the professional examination for specialists in SME management at least four months before the start of the examination with a written notification including reasons and information on legal remedies in the event of rejection.

As the admission requirements do not have to be met until the time of registration for the final examination or the first day of the professional examination, some schools allow you to start the preparatory course for the BP - even if you do not (yet) fully meet the admission requirements.
In such cases, you are responsible for ensuring that you meet the necessary requirements by the required date. The central point of contact for questions regarding the fulfillment of the requirements is the respective sponsoring body of the federal examination.

Would you like to complete the SME management specialist course but not the professional examination? At some schools, it is also possible to attend the course without taking the exam. For example, you can simply attend and complete the individual modules. Upon successful completion, you will receive a module certificate that is valid for five years. Contact the school of your choice directly and ask what options are available.

*This information refers to a full-time position and is calculated pro rata in the case of a part-time position.

** The following is meant by a management position: performing leadership and management tasks in a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME), furthermore supervising and assessing at least two employees (including apprentices).

***Many schools offer specific preliminary courses in the areas of accounting / bookkeeping / costing. With appropriate placement tests, you can find out immediately whether your knowledge is sufficient to complete the module or whether it makes sense for you to attend a preliminary accounting course.

Subject matter and content of the training

The learning content in preparatory courses for the professional examination for "SME Management Specialist" is based on the specifications of the sponsoring body of the federal examination. The latter is responsible for periodically reviewing the BP and the requirements. This ensures that the requirements (which are actually in demand on the job market) and thus also the quality of the federal PET examinations are up to date.

The learning content is divided into the following six modules:

• Module 1: General corporate managementCorporate social responsibility and environmental management, self-management, time management, etc.
• Module 2: Leadership, communication and personnel managementAmong other things, situational leadership behavior, coping with communication situations and conflicts, preparing and conducting meetings and events, making business decisions, recognizing changes in technology, the economy and nature and using them sustainably in the company, dealing appropriately with various stakeholder groups, managing personnel administration, etc.
• Module 3: OrganizationDefinition of the division of labour, observation, recognition and improvement of organizational routines and processes
• Module 4: AccountingAmong other things, calculation of key management figures such as profit and liquidity and definition of appropriate measures, financial management, evaluation of payment transactions, bookkeeping, interpretation of figures and data
• Module 5: Marketing, public relations, supplier and customer relationsMarket analysis and derivation of trends for your own company, development of effective communication with various stakeholder groups, design of marketing instruments
• Module 6: Law in the management of SMEsKnowledge of the economic and legal framework conditions in all areas of entrepreneurial trade and their implementation, assessing contracts, clarifying legal issues

Costs and financing of further training

The costs listed in each case for a preparatory course for the professional examination to become an SME management specialist vary greatly in some cases. This is because the schools set the costs themselves.

The examination fee, on the other hand, is set by the organizing body of the federal examination. It is binding for all candidates.

You should expect the following costs for the approx. 12-month training course in SME management:

• Course fees/course costsbetween CHF 9,800 and CHF 14,600. Thanks to the subject financing of the federal government, you will receive around 50% back from the federal government after the examination (regardless of the result).
• Fee for module examinationsCHF 1'500.- The costs for the module examinations are determined by the provider who organizes and conducts them.
• Examination feesCHF 2,290, to be paid by the candidate as soon as they have received confirmation of admission.
• Extra costsYou will often have to expect additional costs for, for example, preliminary courses, teaching materials, training documents, simulation exams, individual tutoring and support (e.g. when preparing work). Please contact the provider of your choice directly to find out what additional costs you can expect in addition to the course fees, module examinations and examination fees.

*Since 1.1.2018, preparatory courses for federal professional examinations (BP) and higher professional examinations (HFP) have been financially supported by the federal government. Graduates of these courses can therefore be reimbursed up to 50% (max. CHF 9,500 for BP, max. CHF 10,500 for HFP) of the course costs paid after taking the federal examination. In exceptional cases of hardship, the federal contributions are also paid out in advance.

Duration of study, teaching times, teaching model and learning effort

• The SME Management Specialist course has a modular structure, is completed on a part-time basis and lasts approx. 12 months. A number of skills are already tested in the modules. The focus of the cross-module final examination is therefore on the practical integration of the various sub-competencies.
• The preparatory courses are offered as day and afternoon/evening courses. However, this varies from school to school, as the course dates or timetables are put together independently by the schools.
• Since the coronavirus pandemic at the latest, the various teaching models have become an integral part of schools, giving you the opportunity to combine further education with family, work and leisure in the best possible way. As a rule, you can choose between face-to-face teaching or online formats such as online teaching, hybrid teaching or blended learning. In the answers you will find a link to a website that explains the different forms of teaching.
• Thanks to the extra-occupational concept of the SME management course, you can apply and deepen the learning material in practice straight away. Nevertheless, you should allow sufficient time for preparation and follow-up of the lessons and for self-study - how much depends on your prior knowledge, working style and learning speed. We recommend that you allow at least 4-6 hours per week as a precaution.

Note: Some schools offer so-called "taster lessons". This gives you the opportunity to gain an insight into the lessons and the learning atmosphere. Important aspects on the way to a successful graduation. It is best to contact the school of your choice directly for a taster lesson.

Degree, diploma and title

If you have successfully completed all the required modules and can present the necessary module certificates or certificates of equivalence and also meet the requirements for previous education and professional experience, then you can sit the cross-module final examination (BP).

The professional examination for SME management specialists takes place every year, provided that at least 20 candidates meet the admission requirements after the call for applications. The BP can be completed in German, French and Italian. Candidates can decide for themselves in which of the three official languages they wish to be examined.

Candidates are notified at least 6 weeks before the start of the examination. The invitation includes the examination program (including details of the place and time as well as the aids permitted and to be brought along) and the list of experts.

The professional examination is divided into the following three parts:

1) Performance dossier (written, prepared in advance, weighting 3)

In this part of the examination, candidates demonstrate that they can apply and implement the skills they have acquired in their own professional practice. They are also able to transfer these skills to other situations and companies.

In the 25-page performance dossier, candidates describe or analyze their leadership skills. They show how they use and apply these in the company.

2) Presentation (oral, 20 minutes, weighting 1)

3) Examination interview (oral, 60 minutes, weighting 2)

Diploma and title:

Successful graduates of the professional examination receive a federal certificate and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected title "SME Management Specialist with Federal Certificate" or "SME Management Specialist with Federal Certificate".

• In French: "Spécialiste en gestion de PME avec brevet fédéral"
• In Italian: "Specialista della gestione PMI con attestato professionale federale"
• The recommended translation in English (this is not a protected title): "Specialist in Business Management SME with Federal Diploma of Professional Education and Training"

In addition:

Candidates who have successfully dealt with the specific issues relating to owner-managed family SMEs receive the additional certificate "Family SMEs" from the sponsoring organization "Bildung Führungskräfte Gewerbe Schweiz (BFG)".