What does the everyday working life of ICT managers with a federal diploma look like?

ICT managers generally work in ICT departments of medium-sized to large companies and organizations, in public administrations or independently. With their comprehensive knowledge of information and communication technology (ICT) and their understanding of the interrelationships and dependencies in operational IT in the overall context of the company, they take on demanding specialist and management tasks.

ICT managers manage complex ICT projects and implement them on schedule. To do this, they are in close contact with customers and clients, discuss their wishes and ideas, assess feasibility and create concepts for suitable solutions.

ICT managers are also responsible for the availability of ICT systems, processes and infrastructures as well as information/data. They ensure that ICT technology functions properly. To this end, they carry out regular checks and eliminate risks at an early stage. Your tasks also include introducing quality and security standards and monitoring compliance with them.

ICT managers have a managerial function at executive level and develop the ICT strategy within the corporate strategy. They plan, implement and monitor this strategy and prepare the results in reports. They also check which services can be provided in-house and which need to be purchased externally. They are responsible for financial planning in ICT, including the planning of investments, monitor budgets and report to the management.

Finally, ICT managers lead a team or an entire department. In addition to motivating, promoting and assessing their employees, they are also responsible for organizing work processes.

Target group and skills: Who is the Higher Professional Examination for ICT Managers with a Federal Diploma suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?

The course and the higher professional examination for "ICT Manager" are suitable for

• for ambitious professionals with several years of ICT work experience and a federal certificate of some kind, who would like to take on demanding management tasks and complex specialist responsibility in ICT.
• for ICT professionals with several years of ICT professional experience and initial management experience (e.g. team leadership) and a federal diploma (HFP) of some kind who wish to further develop their knowledge and skills in order to make the leap into senior management.
• for interested ICT specialists and managers with a university degree (Bachelor's, Master's) who would like to expand or deepen their knowledge.
• People in management positions with at least 8 years of professional experience in ICT who would like to prove their skills with a federal diploma and thus expand their career opportunities.

ICT managers should have the following personal qualities and skills:

• Technical understanding
• analytical and conceptual skills
• quick comprehension
• networked thinking and acting
• independent way of working
• Flexibility and resilience
• Sense of responsibility
• Leadership and organizational talent
• Communication and negotiation skills
• Customer and service orientation

Prerequisites for admission to the Advanced Federal PET Diploma in ICT Management:

In order to be able to take the Advanced Professional Examination for ICT Managers, you must have passed the examination regulations by the date of the examination:

• Have a federal diploma (BP) and 4 years of professional experience* in ICT

Or

• Have a federal diploma (HFP) and over 3 years of professional experience* in ICT

Or

• A university degree (Bachelor's or Master's) and more than 2 years of professional experience* in ICT

Or

• At least 8 years of professional experience in ICT, of which the last 2 years in a managerial and/or line function (sur dossier examination)

*The cut-off date for proof of professional experience is the start of the examination. Part-time workloads are credited pro rata, which means that the time frame in which the required practical experience is accumulated is extended accordingly.

You will find out whether you have been admitted to the Advanced Federal Diploma Examination at least three months before the start of the examination by means of a written notification including reasons.

Note: Some schools are prepared to admit you to a preparatory course for the Higher Professional Examination for ICT Managers even if you do not meet the criteria for admission to the federal examination. It is your responsibility to ensure that you meet the necessary requirements at the time of the examination/examination registration. At some schools, it is also possible to attend the course without the intention of taking an examination. Admission requirements vary depending on the provider.

Subject matter and content of the training

The subject matter of the preparatory courses for the Higher Professional Examination for ICT Managers is based on the specifications of the sponsor of the federal examination, the Swiss ICT Vocational Training Association.

The learning material is divided into 7 areas:

• Application EngineeringDevelop ICT enterprise architecture, manage ICT application portfolio, define ICT development process
• Business EngineeringDesign ICT process, determine ICT process and organizational structure, advise on ICT deployment
• Business ManagementDevelop ICT strategy, define sourcing strategy, implement changes, create and monitor financial planning, plan human resources, handle legal aspects of ICT projects
• Marketing CommunicationDefine marketing activities
• Project ManagementDevelop ICT portfolio process, evaluate ICT portfolio, define ICT portfolio controlling
• Security/Risk ManagementPerform ICT security analyses, ensure ICT security
• Service ManagementEnsure ICT system processes, procure and monitor ICT services

Costs and financing of further training

The costs vary depending on the provider. In general, the following costs must be expected for the 2- to 4-semester in-service training course to become an ICT manager:

• Course fees: CHF 11,940-15,900, of which you will receive up to 50% back from the federal government on application after the examination (regardless of the result)*.
• Examination fee: currently CHF 3,400 (as of October 2022)
• Some providers charge extra for
  • Enrollment
  • Teaching materials and (software) licenses
  • Training documents
  • Internal examinations and examination training
  • Simulation test

Find out directly from the provider of your choice what additional costs you can expect.

*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 will therefore be reimbursed up to 50% (max. CHF 9,500 for BP, max. CHF 10,500 for HFP) of the course costs paid upon application after taking the federal examination. In exceptional cases of hardship, the federal contributions will also be paid out in advance.

Duration of study, number of lessons and learning effort

• The ICT Manager course has a modular structure and lasts 2-4 semesters.
• The course comprises between 320 and 448 lessons, which can be attended in different time variants (e.g. 1-2 evenings per week or 1 evening plus half a Saturday or all day on Saturdays only).
• Many schools offer a mix of face-to-face and online events (online, hybrid teaching, blended learning) as well as self-study. You can therefore choose the format that allows you to combine further education with your family, career and free time in the best possible way.
• Thanks to the in-service training concept, 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.

Degree, diploma and title

The Higher Professional Examination for ICT Managers is held every year if at least 25 candidates for German (or 8 for French and 3 for Italian) meet the admission requirements, otherwise every two years. The examination can be taken in one of the three official languages German, French or Italian.

The federal examination consists of three parts, which proceed as follows:

1. written examination

Part 1: Specialist knowledge, technical and methodological skills across all modules, 3 hours, written
Part 2: Case study, methodological and practical skills across all modules, 3 hours, written

The written examinations take the form of two independent tasks. The examination takes place on paper or on a computer system. Candidates are required to demonstrate their skills in practical situations, i.e. select the relevant work steps plausibly, design and carry them out in a comprehensible manner and present convincing arguments for the appropriateness of the solution.

2. technical discussion: technical and practical skills across all modules, 40-50 minutes, oral

Candidates are given a case study (example from practice), for which they work out a solution independently and within the given time.

They then present their solution to the panel of experts in 10 minutes.

This is followed by an expert discussion on the solution presented in the presentation and on other topics from all ICT fields of activity.

Diploma and title

Successful graduates of the higher professional examination receive a federal diploma and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected title "Certified ICT Manager".

In French: "ICT-Manager diplômé / ICT-Manager diplomée"

In Italian: "ICT-Manager diplomato / ICT-Manager diplomata"

In English (recommendation): "ICT Manager with Federal Diploma of Higher Vocational Education and Training"