In order to work in building maintenance, a sound education with continuing education, further training is essential. For example, you can qualify for these activities with an apprenticeship as a specialist in building maintenance with a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training (FPE) and, if you are interested, complete further training with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education (FPE) to become a janitor with a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training. Continuing education, further training for the Federal Professional Examination can also be ideal for adults with a different apprenticeship qualification and several years of professional experience in caretaking.

The janitor course at professional examination level lasts two years and is completed on a part-time basis. A total of around 500 lessons must be completed. Upon successful completion of the Federal Professional Examination, you can be awarded the title "Caretaker with Federal Diploma of Higher Education".

For admission to the janitor continuing, further education, including Federal Professional Examination, you must meet the following requirements at the time of the examination:

1. Certificate of competence(Federal VET Diploma) of a three-year vocational education and training (VET) program
2. Two years of professional experienceas a janitor with a workload of at least 80%
3. ECDL- European Computer Driving License Basic
4. Course certificate asVocational trainerin training companies
5. Specialist licensefor the use ofPlant protection productsin special areas
6. Emergency aid cardwith CPR
7. Complete BLS-AED-SRC card (Life-saving measuresfor resuscitation)

The following subjects are tested in the professional examination for janitors:

• Cleaning
• Building maintenance
• Building technology
• Sports, outdoor and green areas
• Administration and employee management
• Networking and communication

After successfully passing the professional examination to become a janitor, since 2008 you have had the opportunity to take the Higher Professional Examination for Caretakers (HFP). This further training builds on the janitor certificate. Janitors are involved in planning and organizing the maintenance of larger properties.

The janitor tasks in a janitor job are:

• make an important contribution to maintaining the value of properties
• Support and maintenance of the building's technical systems
• Ensure trouble-free and safe operation in large buildings such as shopping centers, hospitals, schools and sports facilities
• manage and coordinate the cleaning service
• Delegate maintenance work
• Manage the key inventory
• take care of the purchase and professional handling of machines, furniture and consumables
• Responsible handling of chemicals and cleaning products
• regularly monitor heating, hot water, ventilation, air conditioning and water treatment systems as well as electrical and sanitary components
• Operating control and regulation technology
• ensure occupational and operational safety as well as environmental protection and energy saving
• Building cleaning and compliance with hygiene regulations
• Maintenance of gardens, lawns and green spaces, squares and paths
• partial maintenance of equipment and machines that they use for their work
• Use fertilizers and pesticides sensibly and professionally
• carry out small repairs to buildings, machines, furniture and equipment yourself
• Hire external service providers for major repairs
• Contact person for the needs of the people who live and work in the properties
• Responsible for accepting and handing over the apartment when tenants change, checking the condition of the rental property and recording any defects in the handover protocol
• Coordinating the deployment of office assistants, writing work reports, preparing the annual budget, keeping energy accounts, obtaining quotations, commissioning external service providers with orders and repairs and checking their invoices
• represent the interests of the client in construction and conversion projects vis-à-vis the construction management
• Managing employees and training apprentices

Further training as a janitor is varied and exciting. The requirements of the properties are as varied as the resulting activities. As a janitor with a federal certificate, you will work in a field of tension between people, technology and properties. You enjoy the maintenance and management of buildings and facilities and have technical understanding as well as manual skills.

You should have the following personal skills for the janitor training program:

• High sense of responsibility
• High quality awareness
• Independent way of working
• Technical understanding
• networked thinking and acting

After successfully completing your training as a janitor with a federal certificate, you will be able to take responsibility for the proper maintenance of buildings and facilities. During your janitor training, you will have acquired comprehensive knowledge of cleaning, maintenance, horticulture and professional waste disposal. You will also be familiar with the activities involved in property management.

They hire external service providers to carry out the work, train internal employees and supervise apprentices. After training as a janitor, they are also able to carry out regular checks and maintenance work on technical building systems, locking systems or access control systems themselves.

The Federal Professional Examination in Caretaking is a first specialization after the Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training. For this reason, the previous salary will continue to be paid during the training. The amount of this salary depends on various factors, in particular

• From the respective professional field
• From the industry
• From the place of work: the larger the city, the higher the salary; there are also differences between the cantons
• Company size: the larger the company, the higher the salary

Specialist specialization and passing the Federal Professional Examination enable promotion to middle management and the assumption of significantly more demanding tasks. Increasingly, holders of a federal certificate are also responsible for training apprentices, which is naturally also reflected in their salary.

Here too, the janitor's salary or salary development depends on various factors, such as the industry, region, company size, professional experience, previous education and age. Another decisive factor for the salary is whether the qualification leads to a new position and function in the previous company or in another company. You can calculate your personal salary opportunities with "Salarium", the federal government's salary calculator, for example.