Technician HF Construction Planning: What does your day-to-day work look like?

As specialists in the construction industry, qualified HF construction planning technicians take on demanding and responsible specialist and management tasks in planning offices in the following areas: Architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and civil engineering as well as in planning and construction departments of the public sector (municipalities, cantons, federal government). Here, HF construction planning technicians act as a link between engineers, architects and other specialists.

Their work is based on the principles of engineers and architects. They ensure that their sketches and designs are implemented. In their role as designers and site managers, HF construction planning technicians are involved in the entire construction project - from planning to realization. They work both in the office and directly on the construction site.

As a first step, HF construction planning technicians plan the construction projects. To do this, they prepare the relevant documents and develop an implementation plan. To do this, they obtain the necessary permits, draw up a cost estimate and plan the specific work steps and deadlines.

The second step is the implementation of the construction project. This involves tasks for construction industry specialists such as analyzing individual parts of the construction project, developing solutions at a technical and building physics level, complying with building regulations and occupational safety measures, budget monitoring, checking construction progress and commissioning the finished building.

They are in constant contact with the client, suppliers, employees, authorities and specialists during the planning and implementation of construction projects.

Target group, personal characteristics and skills: For whom is the HF course of study to become a HF construction planning technician with a focus on architecture suitable?

The target group for the construction planner training course to become a certified HF construction planning technician is professionals from the construction industry / construction planning (architecture, civil engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, spatial planning) who would like to take on more responsible specialist and management tasks in the future and increase their career and salary opportunities with the federal HF diploma.

You should have the following personal qualities and skills for the job:

• Spatial imagination
• Analytical and conceptual skills
• Assertiveness
• Negotiating skills
• Organizational talent
• Structural engineering knowledge
• Sense of responsibility
• Leadership qualities
• Reliability

Prerequisites for admission to the construction planning course at a higher technical college with the study objective of technician HF construction planning

In order to be admitted to the construction planner course with a focus on architecture at a university of applied sciences (HF), the following admission requirements apply:

• Relevant basic vocational training with a federal certificate of competence (EFZ): Draughtswoman EFZ / Draughtsman EFZ with the specializations: Architecture, civil engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, spatial planning

Or

• Other EFZ or other upper secondary level qualification (high school diploma, technical secondary school certificate) or other equivalent qualification and at least one year of relevant professional experience in the field of construction planning.

And

• For in-service training, employment of at least 50% in an area corresponding to the course of study*.

Note:

• The admission requirements for the HF course to become a HF construction planning technician (formerly HF construction planning technician, specializing in architecture) may vary slightly from school to school. You can find out why this is the case further down in the text.
• Educational achievements that have already been completed can be credited if minimum conditions are met. If necessary, this can shorten the duration of the construction planning course. The school of your choice will be happy to provide you with information on this.

* In full-time training, work experience and the transfer from specialist training to practice is regulated by internships integrated into the course.

** The universities of applied sciences (HF) decide independently on the admission procedure. There may therefore be differences between the providers. The admission procedure is set out in the study regulations of the respective HF. It must comply with the relevant legal requirements. More information on this can be found in the answers.

Learning material, content and skills imparted in further training

The learning content of the construction planner apprenticeship is generally based on the "Construction planning" framework curriculum. The framework curriculum sets out the basic points for the training course (including the competencies to be achieved, see below in the text). Behind this is a sponsoring body that is responsible for creating the framework curriculum and also periodically checks it for up-to-dateness and quality*.
However, despite the framework curriculum, the universities of applied sciences (HF) have a certain amount of leeway when designing their training courses for HF construction planning technicians. The specific course content and areas of specialization** covered and how the topics are structured and deepened can therefore vary from college to college.

TheContentsof the construction planning training course to become an HF construction planning technician (formerly HF construction planning technician, specializing in architecture) can be summarized as follows:

• Mathematics
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Statics
• Construction
• CAD drawing
• Building technology
• Construction phases and construction processes
• Environment
• Sustainability
• Law
• Business administration
• Communication
• Project management
• Personnel management
• Risk management
• Accounting
• Occupational safety

Note:

• This is not an exhaustive list. As already mentioned, the content covered may vary from school to school.
• The names of the modules and subjects are determined independently by the schools, so they can also differ from provider to provider.

The HF course in construction planning covers the following subjectsCompetenciesmediated:

Cross-professional, general skills

• Design and responsibility of corporate and management processes
• Targeted use of methods for problem solving and innovation development
• Situation-adapted and effective communication design
• Reflection and advancement of personal development

Occupational field-specific skills

• Control and design of the construction phases and construction processes
• Determine, agree and guarantee sustainability in construction projects
• Planning and management of construction projects
• Constructive implementation of construction projects
• Realize construction projects according to the planning specifications
• Observe and implement construction rules

* The sponsors of the framework curriculum consist of the organization of the working world (OdA): the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects (SIA), the Federation of Swiss Architects (BSA), the Association of Freelance Swiss Architects (FSAI), SwissEngineering STV, the Swiss Association of Consulting Engineers (usic) and the Association of Swiss Interior Designers / Architects (VSI.ASAI) as well as the representation of the training providers: the Conference of Higher Technical Colleges KHF-T.

** Within the framework of a maximum of 10% of the total learning hours, the schools can set content priorities or specializations. The specializations or the corresponding additional competencies must be described in the school curriculum. The protected title "qualified technician HF construction planning" remains unchanged.

Costs and financing of further training

The costs for a construction planning course are set independently by the respective higher technical colleges. They can therefore vary. The amount of the costs depends on many factors, including the school, the training location and the training model/format.

In general, the following costs must be expected for the three-year training course to become a HF construction planning technician:

• Tuition fees:Between CHF 21,144 and CHF 24,450, which usually includes the costs for the exams and the diploma thesis. Interesting fact: The amount of the semester fee depends on the school and your canton of residence. The fees stated here apply to students resident in the canton of study. Students from outside the canton must expect to pay higher tuition fees. You can find out more about cantonal subsidies further down in the text*.
• Fees for additional certificates:At some schools it is possible to acquire additional certificates. For example, the IPMA certificates in the field of project management (more on this in the answers). These fees are usually not included in the tuition fees and are charged additionally.
• Other extra costs:At some schools, you can expect to be charged additional costs for various services for the construction planning course. For example, for enrolment and the student ID card, for preliminary courses, teaching materials, training documents or exam retakes.
  This is not an exhaustive list, but is merely intended to give you an idea of the additional costs you can expect. For a detailed list of additional costs, please contact the HF of your choice directly.

* Courses at universities of applied sciences (HF) are financially supported (subsidized) by the cantons. Students from outside the canton pay higher tuition fees. The following conditions apply in order to receive cantonal subsidies:

• at least two years of residence in the canton
• The course is listed on the EDK (Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education) list of eligible courses (you will find the link to the list in the answer texts).

The cantonal subsidies are usually regulated by the school; these subsidies are usually already included in the tuition fees stated by the schools.

Duration of study, number of learning hours, forms of learning, teaching times, teaching format and learning effort

• Duration of study:The training to become an HF construction planning technician takes between four semesters (full-time with integrated internships) and six semesters (part-time with at least 50% employment).
• Number of learning hours:The number of learning hours depends on whether you have a relevant Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ) or another qualification. With a relevant EFZ, the course comprises at least 3600 learning hours. For training courses without a relevant EFZ, the number of learning hours generally increases to 5400 learning hours.
• Forms of learning:The learning hours are divided into school-based and practical educational components. The school-based educational components include "contact study", i.e. analog and digital synchronous supervision by a teacher (e.g. traditional classroom teaching), "guided self-study", which means that learning tasks are assigned that must be completed within a specified time frame (e.g. exercises or reading assignments), "individual self-study", which includes, for example, the preparation and follow-up of lessons and exam preparation, and finally the "qualification procedure" with examinations and the diploma thesis. The practical training components include "practice", i.e. a relevant professional activity of at least 50% (applies to part-time studies) or the "internship", which means working under the supervision of specialists (applies to full-time studies).
• Lesson times:Lesson times are set independently by the schools. They can therefore vary from school to school. As a rule, lessons for part-time courses take place on one working day or two evenings per week, sometimes also on Saturdays. For full-time courses, lessons usually take place every day.
• Teaching format:Many schools now offer a variety of teaching methods. In addition to traditional face-to-face teaching, they usually also offer online teaching, hybrid teaching or blended learning. You therefore have the option of choosing the format that allows you to combine your construction planning studies with your family, career and free time in the best possible way.

Are you unfamiliar with the different teaching methods or don't know exactly how they differ? Onfollowing pageyou will find a helpful overview showing you the differences and the advantages and disadvantages of the individual teaching methods.

• Learning effort:You should allow sufficient time to prepare for and follow up on the lessons and for self-study - how much depends on your prior knowledge, working style, learning speed and chosen training model. We recommend that you allow at least 4-6 hours per week for the part-time model.

Note:Some schools offer so-called "taster lessons"/"trial lessons" for the construction planning course. This gives you the opportunity to gain an insight into the lessons and the learning atmosphere. Important aspects on the way to a successful degree. Take the opportunity and contact the school of your choice directly.

Degree, diploma and title

The HF Construction Planning Technician course includes various assessments of learning objectives during the course, for example in the form of semester or intermediate examinations as well as graded semester or project work. The grades you achieve here are also included in your final grades.

Have you successfully completed all your qualifications during your studies? Then you arefinal qualification procedureauthorized.

The final qualification procedure consists of a practice-oriented diploma thesis and oral and/or written examinations. Below are some important points about the diploma thesis.

• The thesis is written on one of the professional field-specific competencies and should have a practical or economic benefit.
• The thesis is presented to a panel of experts (a group of specialists) and then defended by the candidates in an expert discussion.

Nevertheless, the details of the implementation of the (final) qualification procedure are regulated by the respective HF in its study regulations.

Diploma and title

If the candidates have passed the final qualification procedure, the HF diploma is awarded. They are then entitled to use the federally recognized and protected professional title "Certified Technician HF Construction Planning".

• In French: "Technicienne diplômée ES en planification des travaux / Technicien diplômé ES en planification des travaux"
• In Italian: "Tecnica dipl. SSS progettazione edile / Tecnico dipl. SSS progettazione edile"
• The recommended translation in English is: "Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education in Construction planning". This is not a protected title.