Self-test: Is the "Electrical Project Manager Installation and Safety (BP)" course right for me?

What is the day-to-day work of an electrical project manager for installation and safety with a federal certificate? What do electrical project manager jobs look like?

Electrical project managers for installation and safety work in electrical installation and planning companies; depending on the size of the company, they not only take on specialist but also management tasks. However, they can also work independently. In this case, they can count all operators and users of electrical installations among their customers.
Electrical project managers for installation and safety are responsible for electrical installation projects - from planning, i.e. project planning and coordination, through to installation and further support and monitoring. They also carry out various checks on electrical installations and advise their customers on safety-related issues. They are authorized to carry out inspections in accordance with the Low Voltage Installation Ordinance (NIV) and can perform electrotechnical measurements.

Under the supervision of an expert manager, electrical project managers for installation and safety independently take on electrical installation projects for smaller new builds or conversions. However, they are also involved in larger installation projects, such as in hospitals or hotels.

They determine the optimum electrical installations, grids, circuits and fuse systems, taking into account the wishes of the client and the architect. To this end, they calculate the costs and prepare quotations. During project implementation, they regularly visit the construction site, supervise the installation work and carry out final inspections, spot checks and acceptance inspections.

They also carry out (periodic) checks on existing electrical installations in the low-voltage range, such as whether the installations still comply with the applicable standards and, if necessary, define optimization measures. They advise their customers in this regard.

Finally, maintaining customer contacts and other stakeholder groups is also part of the daily tasks of specialists in electrical project management for installation and safety.

Target group and skills: For whom is the professional examination (BP) to become an electrical project manager for installation and safety with a federal certificate suitable? What qualities and skills are required?

The target group for the preparatory courses and the professional examination to become an electrical project manager for installation and safety are:

• Professionals from the electrical sector who would like to take on more responsible tasks in the future and would like to create a good basis for the next career steps with the federal certificate
• Electrical specialists who want to deepen their skills (e.g. obtain the inspection authorization) and would like to position themselves advantageously on the job market with the federal specialist certificate
• Technically interested persons with an electric vehicle who would like to further their technical training and certify their newly acquired knowledge accordingly

Specialists in electrical project management for installation and safety should have the following personal qualities and skills:

• Analytical-conceptual skills
• Technical understanding
• Networked thinking and action
• Craftsmanship
• Responsible
• Service and customer-oriented
• Structural engineering knowledge

Requirements for admission to the professional examination for electrical project manager for installation and safety with a federal certificate (BP):

You will be admitted to the professional examination for Electrical Project Manager Installation and Safety if you meet the following requirements:

• In possession of a federal certificate of competence as an electrician EFZ or electrical planner EFZ or equivalent qualification and at least two years of professional experience in the field of planning or creating installations in accordance with NIV under expert supervision in Switzerland

Or

• A federal certificate of proficiency as an installation electrician EFZ or an equivalent qualification and at least four years of professional experience in the planning or installation of installations in accordance with NIV under expert supervision in Switzerland.

Or

• Another EFZ in a comparable Swiss profession in the electrical sector and corresponding practical experience of at least four years in the field of planning or creating installations in accordance with the NIV under expert supervision in Switzerland.

Or

• In possession of a decree from the ESTI regarding the recognition of the equivalence of the foreign electrical engineering training with that of an electrician EFZ and at least two years of professional experience in the field of planning or creating installations in accordance with the NIV under expert supervision in Switzerland

And

• The required module certificates* or certificates of equivalence can be presented

And

• completion of an internship and the report of the internship training are available

*The following is a list of the modules that must be completed for admission to the final examination (BP). (The individual modules are completed in the preparatory courses for the professional examination. The module certificates are valid for five years, i.e. you can take the BP within these five years):

• Module 1: Technical basics
• Module 2: Project management I
• Module 3: Planning and technical processing I
• Module 4: Installation and safety check
• Module 5: Leadership, communication and personnel management

You will find out whether you have been admitted to the professional examination at least three months before the start of the examination with a written notification including reasons and information on legal remedies in the event of rejection.

Note: The number of years of professional experience must be available at the time of exam registration or the start of the exam. At some schools it is therefore possible to start the preparatory course for the professional examination for Electrical Project Manager Installation and Safety even if you do not (yet) meet the requirements. It is then your responsibility to ensure that you meet the necessary requirements by the required date.

In addition: Many schools offer preliminary courses in mathematics or other electrical subjects. This gives you the opportunity to refresh your knowledge in this area. You can find offers and suitable schools here:
Mathematics,Electrician

Subject matter and content of the training

When compiling the course content for the preparatory course for the "Electrical project manager in installation and safety" professional examination, the schools are guided by the specifications of the BP sponsors. The sponsoring body is responsible for periodically reviewing the professional examination and the requirements for specialists in electrical project management in installation and safety. This ensures that the knowledge and skills imparted remain up to date, i.e. that they meet the requirements of the job market - a success factor for the federal PET examinations.

The learning content is taught in modules, which in turn contain so-called "learning fields". These cover the following topics:

Module 1: Technical basics

• Learning field basics, electrical engineering and mathematics: Mathematics, Electrical engineering basics, Direct current theory, Electric field, Magnetism, Single-phase alternating current
• Electrical systems engineering (materials science):Structure of the network, passive and active installation material
• Learning field Rules and technology:Legal pyramid, low-voltage installation standard (NIN), dangers of electricity
• Technical documentation learning field (schematics and planning)Electrical engineering symbols, types of diagrams, conventional lighting technology controls, installation planning

Module 2: Project management I

• Calculation learning field:including project objectives with customers and personnel, price calculations, purchase of materials and components, preparation of quotations, price checks, preparation and control of dimensions, assessment and monitoring of excess or shortfall in services, presentation of quotations
• Controlling learning field:Checking project and revision plans, monitoring quality standards, acceptance and inspection of electrical systems and installations, interpreting work contracts, etc.
• Learning field construction site management:including provision of materials, scheduling and personnel resource planning, ensuring and optimizing processes and workflows, customer communication

Module 3: Planning and technical processing I

• Learning field Regulations and standards:e.g. Electricity Act (EIeG), Ordinance on Low-Voltage Electrical Products (NEV), Heavy Current Ordinance (Stv), Low-Voltage Installation Ordinance (NIV), occupational safety, lightning protection systems
• Learning field Technological basicsElectrical engineering, lighting technology, emergency and safety lighting, building automation, photovoltaic systems, etc.
• Project planning, realization and services learning fieldIncluding schematic diagram, circuit diagram, apparatus plans, planning order, dimensioning and selection of conductors, updating of revision plans

Module 4: Installation and safety check

• Learning field Installation control:including visual inspection, ground measurement, interpretation of measured values, device testing
• Learning field Control documentation:including the creation and review of control documentation, measurement and test reports
• Occupational safety and hazardous substances learning field:including vital rules for handling electricity, hazardous substances, health protection and environmental protection

Module 5: Leadership, communication and personnel management

• Learning field leadership, communication, personnel management:This learning field corresponds to Module 2 "SME Management Specialist (FUF)" of the Swiss Association for Education in Business Management (BFG Schweiz).Hereyou will find all information on Module 2.

Internship:

Part of the course material for Electrical Project Manager Installation and Safety is also an internship, thanks to which the course participants get to know the processes and also the necessity of final, acceptance and periodic electrical inspections in everyday life. (In the answers you will find a helpful link for the search for suitable internships).

Costs and financing of further training

The costs listed for a preparatory course for the professional examination for electrical project manager for installation and safety vary greatly in some cases. This is because the schools set the costs themselves.

The examination fee, on the other hand, is set by the organizing body of the federal examination. It is binding for all candidates.

You should expect the following costs for the two to four semester electrical project manager course:

• Course fees/course costs:between CHF 15,900 and CHF 19,400. Thanks to the subject financing of the federal government, you will receive around 50% back from the federal government after the examination (regardless of the result).* In addition, suissetec members benefit from a reduction of CHF 900. This amount is automatically reimbursed by suisstec to those entitled.
• Fee for module examinations:CHF 1,690. The costs for the module examinations are determined by the provider who organizes and conducts them.
• Examination fees:CHF 1405.-. It is paid by the candidate as soon as they have received confirmation of admission.
• Fee for federal certificate and entry in the SERI certificate registeras a rule CHF 50.
• Extra costs:You will often have to expect additional costs for preliminary courses, teaching materials, training documents and simulation examinations, for example. Please contact the provider of your choice directly to find out what additional costs you can expect in addition to the course, module and examination fees.

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

Duration of study, number of lessons, teaching times, teaching model and learning effort

• The electrical project manager installation and safety training course lasts 2 to 4 semesters and is completed on a part-time basis. In addition, the course has a modular structure, which means that a number of skills are already tested in the modules. The focus of the cross-module final examination is therefore on the practical integration of the various sub-competencies.
• Training to become an electrical project manager for installation and safety comprises approx. 746 - 789 lessons. These usually take place on two evenings per week or on one afternoon and one evening per week, sometimes also on Saturdays. Please note: The course dates and timetables are put together independently by the school. There may therefore be differences from provider to provider.
• The course is offered and delivered using various teaching models. As a rule, you can choose between face-to-face teaching or online formats such as online teaching, hybrid teaching or blended learning. In the answers you will find a link to a website on which the various forms of teaching are explained.
• Thanks to the in-service training concept, you can immediately apply and deepen your knowledge in practice. Nevertheless, you should allow sufficient time for preparation and follow-up of the lessons and for self-study - how much depends on your previous knowledge, working style and learning speed. We recommend that you allow at least 4-6 hours per week as a precaution.

Note: Some schools offer so-called "taster lessons". This gives you the opportunity to gain an insight into the lessons and the learning atmosphere. Important aspects on the way to a successful graduation. It is best to contact the school of your choice directly for a taster lesson.

Degree, diploma and title

If you have successfully completed all five modules and have the necessary module certificates and also meet the requirements for previous education and professional experience, then you can sit the final examination (BP).

The professional examination for electrical project managers for installation and safety takes place annually, provided that at least ten candidates meet the admission requirements according to the invitation to tender for the examination. Otherwise, the BP takes place every two years. Candidates can choose the language in which they wish to be examined. There is a choice of the three official languages: German, French and Italian.

Candidates are notified at least 50 days before the start of the examination. The invitation includes the examination program (including details of the place and time as well as the aids permitted and to be brought along) and the list of experts.

The professional examination lasts a total of seven hours and comprises three parts, which are structured as follows:

1) Project management

1.1) Project assignment (written/AVOR*, 120 min.)

In this part of the examination, candidates are given a task in the area of installation. They create detailed projects based on the information provided.

1.2) Presentation and technical discussion (oral, 80 min.)

In this part of the examination, candidates present their detailed projects to a panel of experts.

2) Case work (standards and safety) (AVOR, 60 min., written/practical/oral, 80 min.)

Candidates are given a case situation which they must work on or prepare for the subsequent examination interview within 60 minutes.

3) Measurement task/electrical engineering (written, practical, oral, 80 min.)

In this part of the examination, candidates are given one or more measurement tasks. They must present and interpret the measurement results.

*AVOR = work preparation for the examination interview

Diploma and title

Successful graduates of the professional examination receive a federal certificate and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected title "Electrical Project Manager Installation and Safety with Federal Certificate" or "Electrical Project Manager Installation and Safety with Federal Certificate".

• In French: "Élektricienne cheffe de projet en installation et sécurité avec brevet fédéral / Électricien chef de projet en installation et sécurité avec brevet fédéral"
• In Italian: "Elettricista capo progetto in installazione e sicurezza con attestato professionale federale"
• In English: "Licensed Project Manager for Electrical Installation and Safety, Federal Diploma of Higher Education" (Attention: not a protected title. This is merely a recommended translation)

At some schools, after obtaining the federal certificate for electrical project managers, it is possible to obtain the HF degree as a qualified electrical engineer HF in just two semesters. Find out more about the HF course in electrical engineeringhere.