Self-test: Is the course "Head Plumbing Fitter with Federal Certificate of Competence" what I am looking for?
Find out here whether the job profile "Head plumbing fitter with federal certificate" (formerly project manager for plumbing) suits you and whether a part-time preparatory course for the professional examination (BP) is the right path for you.
What do the activities of a head plumber with a federal certificate look like?
A head plumbing fitter (formerly project manager for plumbing) is responsible for the technical and administrative management of plumbing installations. The job includes planning, work coordination and execution with the employees assigned to them. This includes the entire installation process, from ordering materials to acceptance of the installed systems in the form of cold and hot water supply and drainage systems. The head plumbing fitter is the direct contact person and advisor for end customers, architects and the public sector. In this function in the middle management of executing companies in the sanitary industry, own projects can be managed and led to success and junior staff can also be trained.
The following activities are part of the day-to-day work of a Chief Plumbing Fitter:
- Administrative management of assembly work:
- Planning the systems in compliance with laws, standards and regulations
- Create design sketches
- Create material extracts
- Organize prefabrication of system components
- Ordering material
- Create a schedule
- Create employee assignments
- Find out about regulations in the contract for work and services
- Check assembly documents for completeness
- Create all documents required for billing
- Create final invoice
- Technical management of assembly work and team:
- Monitor prefabrication and check results
- Construction site organization
- Management of the assembly group and discussion of work processes
- Instruct plumbers and apprentices (show basic work techniques, explain fastening systems and convey sound insulation measures)
- Record material consumption
- Keeping work reports
- Responsible for compliance with occupational safety regulations
- Commissioning of the installed fittings, systems, components and piping systems
- Technical acceptance of the work and functional checks
- Elimination of any faults
- Clear explanation of correct operation and maintenance to customers
- Ongoing further training, as you have to be familiar with the constantly changing materials, systems and regulations in the building technology sector
- Contact and consultant for end customers, architects and the public sector
- Leading construction meetings
- Discuss work processes in advance
- Define deadlines and responsibilities
- Logging and information distribution
Question 1:
Does the job of head plumber for sanitary installations meet your expectations? Can you imagine working in this job?
If you like the actual activities of a head fitter for plumbing, you are on the right track. The next question is what type of training (level of education, learning content, duration, examinations, etc.) is the right one for you to acquire the relevant skills.
Even if you don't like all of the activities of a head plumber, it could still be the right job for you. In almost every job, there are also tasks that are less interesting. However, the tasks should arouse your interest and appeal to you.
Alternatively, you can look at descriptions of similar job profiles, as another degree may suit you better:
- Site manager (certified)
- Energy consultant for buildings (BP)
- Project Manager Building Services (BP)
- Building Technology (HF) (formerly Building Services (HF))
If you don't like the work of a head plumber, you should find out which parts of the job you don't like so much. Is it the administrative tasks? Or the supervision of the installation team and the technical approvals as head plumbing fitter?
Depending on your answer, you could look in job advertisements to see if there are jobs with a different distribution of tasks. Or you can take inspiration from other similar jobs. If you are generally unsure about your desired job, we can help you with ourAdvisorhelp you find your own calling.
Target group and skills: Who are the head fitter plumbing courses with professional examination suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?
The head fitter plumbing courses are aimed at plumbers who:
- improve and perfect their manual skills,
- assume a supervisor function,
- obtain a higher vocational training qualification in the form of a federal certificate,
- and who would like to create the basis for further development as a certified master plumber (HFP).
The following skills and characteristics are required for successful plumbing work in the role of Chief Plumbing Fitter:
- Leadership qualities and a sense of responsibility
- Spatial imagination and organizational skills
- Commercial skills and flair for numbers
- Technical understanding and manual skills as well as an interest in physical processes
- Mobility
- Independence and ability to work in a team
- Reliability and flexibility
- Sociability and pronounced environmental awareness
- Sense of order and cleanliness
- Resistant constitution, no balance disorder / dizziness
Question 2:
Do you belong to one of the target groups of the head fitter plumbing courses?
If you belong to the target group and you have the necessary skills and qualities, then the head fitter plumbing courses are still an option for you. The federal certificate still seems to meet your expectations.
- If you do not belong to any of the above-mentioned groups, you cannot directly aim for the federal certificate as head plumber for sanitary installations. There are numerous opportunities for further development in the field of building technology and there may be alternative training courses that interest you even more or suit you better.
- If you don't have the necessary skills and qualities for the job of head plumbing fitter, you probably won't be the best and most satisfied in such a role. Look for alternative training in the field of building services engineering.
- If you are still unsure about your professional development, contact experienced people such as career advisors for targeted advice or coaching:
Requirements for admission to the professional examination for head fitter for sanitary installations:
The following prerequisites are required for admission to the final examination "Federal Vocational Examination for Head Plumbing Fitter":
- Federal certificate of competence (EFZ) as a plumber
- and at least 2 years of professional experience in the sanitary industry after basic vocational training
or
- Federal certificate of proficiency (EFZ) in a related profession
- and at least 4 years of professional experience in the sanitary industry after basic vocational training
and
- has the required module qualifications or certificates of equivalence
The following module qualifications must be proven for admission to the examination and the award of the federal certificate as head fitter for sanitary installations:
- Practical work
- 10.21 Piping systems
- 10.22 Mounting systems
- 10.23 Flagship technology
- 10.24 Commissioning and error handling during installation
- Work organization
- 11 .21 Work preparation 1 Supply
- 11 .22 Work preparation 2 Disposal
- 11 .23 Work preparation 3
- 11 .24 Order processing 1
- Professional knowledge
- 12.17 Water 1
- 12.18 Gas 1
- 12.19 Property drainage 1
- 12.20 Technical arithmetic 1
- 12.21 Construction technology
- 12.22 Building technology
- Project planning
- 13.13 Project planning 1
- Applied legal issues
- 40.13 Legal basis
- Finance
- 41.22 Calculation 1
- Personnel management
- 44.15 Personnel management
- Vocational training qualification (in accordance with Article 44(1)(c) of the Vocational Training Ordinance)
The individual modules are completed as compulsory modules in the preparatory courses for the professional examination. The module certificates are valid for five years. You will be informed in writing at least three months before the start of the examination whether you meet the requirements for the professional examination for head fitter for sanitary installations - in the event of rejection, including reasons and information on legal remedies.
Question 3:
Do you have the required apprenticeship qualification and the necessary professional experience for the professional examination for head fitter for sanitary installations?
If you meet the requirements, you can start training to become a head fitter for plumbing as soon as possible. You will then be admitted to the professional examination.
If you are not sure whether your professional experience is sufficient, clarify your chances directly with the sponsor of the professional examination, thesuissetec.
If you have too little or no professional experience for the plumbing training to become a head fitter for plumbing with a professional examination, you have the following options:
- Search with the help of professional job boardsas followsfor suitable jobs.
- If you have someone with employment in theBuilding technology-industry, ask this person for help with your job search.
If you are not sure whether you are eligible for admission to the professional examination following further training as a head plumbing fitter with your qualifications through an equivalence test, please contact theExamination secretariator theSERIfor foreign degrees.
If you have not completed your basic vocational training, you can make up for it. How can you do this in ourAdvisor"The Swiss education system at a glance".
If you are unsure whether your qualifications and professional experience are sufficient, clarify your chances directly with the sponsor of the professional examination, thesuissetec.
If you have too little or no professional experience for the professional examination for head fitter for sanitary installations, you have the following options:
- Search with the help of professional job boardsas followsfor suitable jobs.
- If you have someone with employment in theBuilding technology-industry, ask this person for help with your job search.
If you are not sure whether you are eligible for admission to the professional examination following further training as a head plumbing fitter with your qualifications through an equivalence test, please contact theExamination secretariator theSERIfor foreign degrees.
If you have not completed your basic vocational training, you can make up for it. How can you do this in ourAdvisor"The Swiss education system at a glance".
Learning material and contents of the plumbing training course for head fitter:
The subject matter of the preparatory courses for the professional examination for the professional certificate as head fitter for sanitary installations is based on the specifications of the sponsor of the federal examination, the Swiss-Liechtenstein Building Technology Associationsuissetec.
The learning content of the plumbing training course to become a head fitter for plumbing is divided into modules and covers the following topics and areas of expertise:
- Practical work
- Piping systems
- Steel tube processing
- Copper and stainless steel installations
- Plastic and metal composite pipe installations
- Sewage systems
- Accident and fire prevention
- Mounting systems
- Systems
- Planning
- Realize
- Fastening systems
- Sound insulation
- Showcase technology
- Instruction
- Basic working techniques
- Piping systems
- Fastening systems
- Sound insulation
- Commissioning and error handling for installations
- Commissioning and troubleshooting of valves and systems
- Commissioning and troubleshooting of gas and heater components
- Commissioning and fault handling for cables and line systems
- Piping systems
- Work organization
- Work preparation 1 Supply
- Fabrication sketch / illustration
- Material pull-outs for assembly
- Calculating combinations and axis offsets
- Installation technology and fastening systems
- Work preparation 2 Disposal
- Fabrication sketch / illustration
- Material pull-outs for fastenings and brackets
- Calculating interlacing and overcranking
- Installation technology and fastening systems
- Work preparation 3
- Pre-wall systems
- Fire protection practice
- Sound insulation practice
- Installation and fastening technology
- Order processing 1
- Project organization, assembly processing, materials management
- Deadline, coordination, acceptance
- Facilities, work team, training
- Occupational safety
- Work preparation 1 Supply
- Professional knowledge
- Water 1
- Structure and tasks of the water supply
- Cold water supply
- Hot water supply
- Gas 1
- Gas and combustion theory
- Structure and tasks of the gas supply
- Domestic installations with natural gas
- Domestic installations with liquid gas
- Property drainage 1
- Building drainage, wastewater and rainwater
- Lifting systems
- Separation systems
- Specialized arithmetic 1
- Mechanics
- Hydrostatics
- Hydrodynamics
- Thermodynamics
- Building technology
- Building construction
- Building physics
- Building technology
- Heating technology
- Ventilation and air-conditioning technology
- Refrigeration technology
- Electrical engineering
- Water 1
- Project planning
- Project planning 1
- Drawing standards / types of representation
- Detailed plans
- Cable sections and installation instructions
- Recess plans
- Cold water supply systems
- Hot water supply systems
- Drainage systems
- Gas
- Project presentation
- Project planning 1
- Applied legal issues
- Legal basis
- Basics of liability law and contract law
- Fundamentals of employment contract law and the collective labor agreement (CLA)
- Principles of the contract for work and services (with standard SIA 118)
- Structure and functioning of our state system
- Structure of the Swiss legal system
- Legal basis
- Finance
- Calculation 1
- Cost components / allocation types
- Calculation
- Standards / Conditions
- Reports / extent for billing
- Information element calculation
- Calculation 1
- Personnel management
- Personnel management
- The basic skills in communication
- Using communication techniques
- Fundamentals of leadership
- The management function
- The personal management style
- Management by objectives (MbO)
- Assessing employees
- Vocational trainer course
- Vocational training qualification (in accordance with Article 44(1)(c) of the Vocational Training Ordinance)
- Personnel management
Some schools recommend a preliminary course in specialized arithmetic.
Question 4:
Are you interested in the contents of the plumbing training course for head fitter and would you like to acquire knowledge in this subject area?
Perfect, the content of the plumbing further training course to become a head plumbing fitter with a federal certificate is the perfect fit for you. With the skills you have learned, you can score points on the job market and increase your salary prospects. You can now find out more about the structure and concept of further training from the training institutes.
If you are only partially interested in the content of the plumbing training course to become a head fitter for plumbing, then this course is probably not the right one for you. Then take a look at other training and further education opportunities in the field ofBuilding technologythat suit you better due to the content taught.
Obviously, the typical learning content for a plumbing training course to become a head fitter for plumbing is not for you. Take a look at other further training courses instead. OnEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a wide range of options.
Sanitary courses - costs and financing:
Depending on the provider and duration, the costs for training as a head plumber vary. On average, the following amounts are to be expected for the training costs:
- Course fees:about CHF 13'860.- to CHF 21'450.-
After taking the exam, you will receive around 50% of this back from the federal government on application (regardless of the result)*. - Examination fees:CHF 800.- and CHF 100.- organizational services (as of 2023, additional costs for module examinations totalling CHF 2,880.- and approx. CHF 600.- for vocational training course)
The examination fee is set by the body responsible for the professional examination. It is paid by the candidate after confirmation of admission to the examination for training as head fitter for sanitary installations. - Extra costs:At some schools, the costs for enrolment fees, teaching materials, training documents, books, intensive exam training, simulation exams, school diplomas and interim qualifications, for example, are not included in the course fees. Please contact the provider of your choice directly to find out what additional costs you can expect for the course.
*Since January 1, 2018, preparatory courses for federal professional examinations, such as the training course for head plumber, have been financially supported by the federal government. Graduates of these courses can therefore be reimbursed up to 50% (max. CHF 9,500) of the course costs paid after taking the federal examination. In cases of hardship, the federal contributions are also pre-financed in exceptional cases.
Question 5:
Are you in a position to pre-finance around CHF 14,760 to CHF 22,350 in costs for sanitary courses and the federal examination?
The best. Here's another tip: If you are able to pay the entire cost of the plumbing courses for head plumber in advance, many schools will grant you a discount.
- Information on financial support options from the employer, federal government, canton, foundations or through loans from the Education Promotion FoundationEducaSwissyou will receive in ourAdvisor"How to finance your further training properly".
- Information on financial support for temporary workers through "temptraining", the further training fund of the temporary employment sector, is available athere.
- Information and help on budget planning and budget preparation can be foundhere.
First ask the schools about the actual costs you can expect to pay for the plumbing courses to become a head plumber. Then find out from your employer whether they will contribute to the costs of the sanitary training to become a head plumber. Or ask your school about the possibility of paying in installments. Perhaps there is someone in your private circle who will support your training project with a loan. There are also banks and credit institutions that grant educational loans.
- Information on financial support options from the employer, federal government, canton, foundations or through loans from the Education Promotion FoundationEducaSwissyou will receive in ourAdvisor"How to finance your further training properly".
- Information on financial support for temporary workers through "temptraining", the further training fund of the temporary employment sector, is available athere.
- Information and help on budget planning and budget preparation can be foundhere.
First find out from the schools about the actual costs you can expect to pay for the plumbing training course to become a head plumber. Then ask your employer whether they will contribute to the costs. Ask your school about the possibility of paying the costs of the plumbing courses for head plumber in installments. Perhaps there is someone in your private circle who will support your further training project with a loan. There are also banks and credit institutions that grant educational loans.
- Information on financial support options from the employer, federal government, canton, foundations or through loans from the Education Promotion FoundationEducaSwissyou will receive in ourAdvisor"How to finance your further training properly".
- Information on financial support for temporary workers through "temptraining", the further training fund of the temporary employment sector, is available athere.
- Information and help on budget planning and budget preparation can be foundhere.
Duration of study, teaching times and learning effort for the further training course in plumbing:
- The training and further education for sanitary engineers is modular in structure (i.e. some of the skills are assessed in module examinations prior to the professional examination and are only tested across modules in the final examination) and lasts three to four semesters while working. The training for the professional examination for head plumbing fitter comprises around 800 lessons.
- The teaching times vary depending on the provider of the further training course for head fitter in plumbing. Classroom teaching takes place on one to two days (or half days) per week or one weekday and Saturdays or block weeks (sometimes additional).
- Thanks to the extra-occupational concept of the Head Fitter for Plumbing training course, you can apply and consolidate the learning material in practice straight away. Nevertheless, you should allow sufficient time for lesson preparation and follow-up as well as for self-study. Depending on your previous knowledge, working style and learning speed, we recommend that you allow the same amount of time for the additional workload as the regular course duration.
Note: Some schools offer so-called "taster lessons", which provide an insight into the lessons and the learning atmosphere. A suitable learning environment is important on the way to successful completion of the advanced training course for plumbing technicians.
Question 6:
Can you cope with the time and effort required for the classroom lessons and the homework for the advanced training course for plumbing technicians?
If you are confident that you can cope with the teaching time and the learning effort, you should start a further training course in plumbing. At most, you can still consider whether you can achieve even better results, such as faster learning or better final grades, with suitable learning and working methods and a personal learning plan. In any case, efficient learning methods also pay off in the course for plumbing technicians.
If you don't have that much time to devote to the plumbing training course for head plumber, check with the providers whether you can complete the training over more than two years. Or can you find another way to make room for yourself? Perhaps you can hand over certain tasks during the training period?
Degree, diploma and title:
The professional examination "Chief Plumbing Fitter with Federal Certificate of Competence" is held annually in German, French and Italian, provided that a minimum of 10 candidates meet the admission requirements.
Candidates for the professional examination for head plumber will be notified at least 30 days before the start of the examination. The invitation includes the examination program (with details of the place and time of the examination as well as permitted aids) and the list of experts.
The professional examination for head plumbing fitter comprises the following two parts:
- Case study (written, 4 hours, double weighting):
- It consisted of five tasks in the specialist areas of property drainage, recesses, hot water requirements, material extract and specialist arithmetic, such as correcting an incorrect drainage diagram, calculating rainwater drainage, creating a recess plan, calculating hot water requirements and storage tank size for hot water preparation, material extract for the order for a basement distribution system and six specialist arithmetic tasks. By successfully completing the case study, the candidate proves that he/she is able to recognize complex problems from the professional environment, analyze them and develop practice-oriented solutions.
- Expert discussion (oral, approx. 45 minutes, 1-fold weighting):
- The subject of the expert discussion is made up of questions from the entire subject area of the modules of the professional examination, including the task of the case study. The candidate demonstrates to the experts that he or she can implement the module content in a networked and application-oriented manner.
Diploma and title
Graduates of the professional examination receive a federal certificate and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected title "Chief Plumbing Fitter with federal certificate" or "Chief Plumbing Fitter with federal certificate".
- In French: "Contremaìtre sanitaire avec brevet fédéral"
- In Italian: "Capo montatrice di impianti sanitari con attestato professionale federale / Capo montatore di impianti sanitari con attestato professionale federale"
- In English: "Chief Sanitary Engineer with Federal Diploma of Professional Education and Training" (Attention: This is only a recommendation/translation and not a protected title)
Question 7:
Do you have the confidence to pass the professional examination for head plumber?
Good, you are confident that you will successfully complete the professional examination following your training as a head plumbing fitter. Think about where you can best ensure the transfer of practical experience. Which learning and working methods are most efficient for you?
If you are unsure about successfully completing your training as a head fitter for plumbing, we recommend the following:
- oneInformation eventof the favored educational institute
- onepersonal consultation appointmentwith the school of your choice for training as a head fitter for sanitary installations
- at theSchool managementAsk about support options
- oneInformationby the sponsor of the professional examination, thesuissetecto dispel your concerns
- itselfSupportfromLearning therapistorCoachthroughautogenicormental trainingor get help around theExam anxietyto reduce
You are very unsure as to whether you will be able to complete the course after completing the further training course for head fitter for sanitary installations. You could take a look at which subjects you may have struggled with in the past. If these are subjects that will be repeated in the final examination after your training as a plumbing fitter, you should find out about possible preparatory courses, use tutors to fill any gaps in your knowledge or discuss with the school whether there is the possibility of internal tests or preparatory courses.
If you have intense exam anxiety, you could look for a different type of course that works more with learning achievements, mid-term exams or semester work. External help from learning therapists, kinesiologists, autogenic training providers or mental training providers can also be considered:
No, the Head Plumbing Fitter apprenticeship does not suit you. What a pity? Maybe not, because there are so many other options for further training. One or the other will certainly suit you much better.
Check which other further training courses are suitable for you. OnEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a large selection of offers.
Head fitter for plumbing with a federal certificate is probably not the right further training goal for you.
Are you surprised or disappointed? Perhaps you should take the test for the Head Plumbing Fitter apprenticeship again and see where your ideas or possibilities deviate from the ideal job. Perhaps this will point you in the direction of more suitable further training.
Then see which other further training courses interest you. ToEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a large selection of offers.
Further training as a head fitter for plumbing is not ideal for you - or is it?
If you are unsure, it is best to attend the information events of the sanitary course providers. There you will find out a lot more about further training. You can also discuss your personal options and questions directly with the specialist representatives present.
Directly to the schools:
"Head plumbing fitter with federal certificate of competence"
This training seems to suit you.
As a next step, we recommend that you attend an information event at suitable schools and obtain details of the exact costs and dates of the sanitary courses and check the financing.
Directly to the schools:
"Head plumbing fitter with federal certificate of competence"
Which school is right for me?
Our guide will help you decide which school to choose for the plumbing apprenticeship for head plumber:
At the back of the guide you will find a helpful checklist with the most important points to clarify, which will help you to keep an overview.
Also take a look at ourEvaluation toolwith numerous evaluations from former course participants.
Thanks to the numerous filter options, including the number of stars, region, year or school, you can display exactly the ratings that interest you.
This training seems to suit you.
As a next step, we recommend that you attend an information event at suitable schools and obtain details of the exact costs and dates.
Directly to the schools:
"Head plumbing fitter with federal certificate of competence"
Which school is right for me?
Our guide will help you decide which school to choose for the plumbing training course for head plumber:
At the back of the guide you will find a helpful checklist with the most important points to clarify, which will help you to keep an overview.
Also take a look at ourEvaluation toolwith numerous evaluations from former course participants.
Thanks to the numerous filter options, including the number of stars, region, year or school, you can display exactly the ratings that interest you.
This course seems to be made for you!
The best thing to do now is to attend information events at the schools you are interested in and find out everything you need to know about the specific content, costs and dates.
Directly to the schools:
"Head plumbing fitter with federal certificate of competence"
Which school is right for me?
Our guide will help you decide which school to choose for the plumbing training course for head plumber:
At the back of the guide you will find a helpful checklist with the most important points to clarify, which will help you to keep an overview.
Also take a look at ourEvaluation toolwith numerous evaluations from former course participants.
Thanks to the numerous filter options, including the number of stars, region, year or school, you can display exactly the ratings that interest you.