The higher professional examination (HFP) to become a qualified communications manager is very comprehensive and comprises a total of six examination parts, which in turn are divided into a written and an oral part.

The written part of the examination is as follows:

• Basics A and B (solving mini cases on topics such as: economics, business administration, business management, operational management, marketing and market research)
• Corporate communication (solving practical cases in this area)
• Commercial communication (solving practical cases in this area)

The second part of the examination, which is an oral examination, is structured as follows:

• Critical success factors (technical discussion)
• Diploma thesis (presentation and technical discussion)

Dipl. Kommunikationsleiter/innen sind in Kommunikationsabteilungen grosser und mittelgrosser Unternehmen anzutreffen, ebenso wie in Werbe- und Kommunikationsagenturen. Dort sind sie in leitender Stellung oder in Kommunikationsabteilungen auch in der Führung tätig und sind für das Konzipieren, Planen und Realisieren der Produkt- und Dienstleistungskommunikation verantwortlich. Auch können Leiter der Kommunikation eine eigene Agentur gründen.

After the Head of Communications training, Heads of Communications can complete the following advanced courses:

• Higher professional examination for the Federal Diploma in Marketing Management
• With a vocational baccalaureate or "sur dossier": Bachelor's degree at a university of applied sciences in communication or communication with a focus on journalism/organizational communication
• Postgraduate studies at a university of applied sciences: MAS in Communication Management, MAS in Corporate Communications Management or EMBA in Business Administration - Communication Management

The further training course for communication managers provides you with all the skills required to manage a marketing department.

You have the following responsibilities:

• Planning marketing communication
• Ensuring the achievement of communication goals
• Personnel management in the Marketing Communications department
• Responsible for the communication budget
• Coordinate marketing communication activities with activities from other areas of the company

Anyone wishing to take the Advanced Federal Diploma Examination in Communication Management must meet the following criteria:

• Completed professional examination as a communications specialist or PR specialist.
• At least two years of professional experience in the field of advertising in a leading position

or

• Federal certificate as a marketing specialist
• At least three years of professional experience in the field of corporate or marketing communications, provided that at least two of these years are in a management position.

or

• Degree from a university or university of applied sciences or a higher professional examination, higher technical college in the commercial field
• Three years of professional experience in corporate and marketing communications, two years of which in a management position

or

• Completed other previous education
• Five years of professional experience in corporate and marketing communications, two years of which as a communications manager (advertising manager) or advertising consultant with a management function

In der Regel findet die Weiterbildung zum dipl. Kommunikationsleiter / zur dipl. Kommunikationsleiterin berufsbegleitend statt. Die Unterrichtsmodelle unterscheiden sich dabei jedoch je nach Schule, so dass eine vorherige Abklärung notwendig ist, um das für die jeweilige Situation passende Kursmodell zu finden.

The communication manager training course focuses in particular on topics relating to communication management:

• Marketing
• Integrated communication/marketing communication
• Media
• Sales promotion/direct marketing/event marketing/sponsoring/multimedia
• Marketing statistics/advertising impact monitoring
• Public Relations/Investor Relations
• Business administration/cost accounting/budgeting
• Law
• National economy