Self-test: Is the "Occupational health and safety expert (HFP)" course suitable for me?

What does the day-to-day work of an occupational health and safety expert with a federal diploma look like?

Occupational health and safety experts work in companies of all sizes and in all sectors. They often work in specialized consulting firms, professional organizations or implementing bodies such as Suva or SECO. There they are responsible for the occupational safety and health protection of employees and take on specialist and management tasks.

They work in teams that are composed differently depending on the assignment and situation. They also work closely with the company management, the relevant ASGS stakeholders and the employees. With their interface function, occupational health and safety experts also ensure appropriate communication and exchange between the ASGS stakeholders within the company, the company management and external specialist departments and experts.

ASGS experts are responsible for risk management, which includes hazard identification, risk assessment, assessment of the need to involve other specialists, analysis and definition of measures as well as checking their legal compliance. The measures are communicated to the target group, documented and the persons concerned are trained. The cost budget is kept under control.

ASGS experts also offer specific advisory services relating to occupational health and safety. Finally, they are responsible for prevention work and try to integrate a corresponding prevention culture into the company culture.

Target group and skills: Who is the "Occupational Health and Safety Expert" higher professional examination with a federal diploma suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?

The course and the higher professional examination to become an "Occupational Safety and Health Protection Expert with a Federal Diploma" are suitable for

• ASGS specialists who wish to further expand and deepen their skills in this area
• Professionals in the ASGS environment who would like to increase their market value by obtaining a recognized federal diploma
• Occupational physicians and occupational hygienists who would like to continue their training specifically in the field of ASGS and open further professional doors with a federal diploma

Expert ASGS should have the following personal qualities and skills:

• Communication skills
• Judgment
• Analytical, systemic and economic thinking
• Safety awareness
• Strong sense of responsibility
• Ability to work in a team
• Empathy, critical faculties
• Organizational skills
• Innovative ability
• Assertiveness
• Negotiating skills
• Environmental awareness

Requirements for admission to the Higher Professional Examination for "Occupational Safety and Health Protection Expert" (HFP):

Persons who fulfill the following conditions by the time of the examination date or registration for the examination are admitted to the higher professional examination for "Occupational Health and Safety Expert":

• Federal certificate as an occupational health and safety specialist (BP) or equivalent qualification and at least three years of professional experience* in the field of occupational health and safety since obtaining the federal certificate

Or

• Successfully completed further training as a safety engineer, occupational physician or occupational hygienist in accordance with the Ordinance on the Qualification of Occupational Safety Specialists (SR 822.116) and at least three years of professional experience in the field of ASGS since graduation

You will find out whether you have been admitted to the Advanced Federal Diploma Examination at least 25 weeks before the start of the examination with a written notification including reasons in the event of a negative decision.

Note:Some schools are prepared to admit you to a preparatory course for the Higher Professional Examination in Occupational Health and Safety even if you do not (yet) 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. The admission requirements vary depending on the provider.

*Explanation of professional experience: According to the guidelines, one year of professional experience is deemed to have been completed if at least 50% of a full-time position in the ASGS sector was held after completing the training.

Subject matter and content of the training

The preparatory courses are offered and run by professional associations, public or private schools. Although they are not regulated by the state and are not subject to state supervision, the schools follow the specifications of the sponsoring body of the federal examination when compiling the learning material for the Higher Professional Examination for Occupational Safety and Health Protection Experts*.

The following topics and skills are taught in a preparatory course:

A: Implementation and further development of management systems on the basis of legal principles and international standard requirementsMonitoring legal principles in the ASGS area, integrating ASGS into corporate strategy and management, analyzing ASGS key figures, planning, conducting, monitoring and documenting audits.

B: Management in the ASGS area:including advising company management, providing technical guidance to ASGS specialists, addressing employee concerns and proposing measures, monitoring the budget, coordinating external specialists

C: Managing interfaces in the ASGS area:inter alia, communicating in a level-appropriate and interdisciplinary manner, ensuring that there are other interfaces in areas relevant to safety, health and environmental protection, assessing the need to involve other specialists and coordinating them

D: Risk management in the ASGS area (recognizing, assessing and dealing with ASGS risks):including holistic assessment and documentation of risks in the company, planning of measures in the ASGS area and (over)checking their effectiveness

E: Creation of ASGS competencies in a complex environment:Support in the procurement, operation and maintenance of buildings, plant, machinery and equipment, among other things, drawing up appropriate concepts and regulations for cooperation with third-party companies

Q: Consideration of national and international approaches and different cultures:including exchange with national and international colleagues, adapting and implementing national and international guidelines, initiatives and campaigns in the ASGS field

G: Promotion of prevention and corporate culture in the area of ASGS:Among other things, develop a prevention program in the ASGS area and promote good practice

* The awarding body is responsible for periodically reviewing the PET examination and the requirements for experts in the field of occupational health 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.

Costs and financing of further training

Apart from the examination fee, which is set by the sponsor of the "Occupational Health and Safety Expert" higher professional examination, the costs vary depending on the school.

In general, the following costs must be expected for the ASGS training course, which lasts approx. 1 year and can be completed on a part-time basis:

• Course feesApprox. CHF 16,700.- You will receive around 50% of this back from the federal government after the examination (regardless of the result).
• External examination fees:not yet known (as of August 2023). The examination fee is set by the body responsible for the examination regulations. It is paid by the candidate after admission has been confirmed.
• Extra costsSome schools do not include the costs for teaching materials, training documents and simulation exams in the course fees. Please contact the provider of your choice directly to find out 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, training concept, teaching time, teaching format and learning effort

• Duration and training concept:The Occupational Health and Safety Expert training course lasts approx. 12 months, can be completed on a part-time basis and is offered independently by many schools as part of the modular concept. However, in contrast to the professional examination for occupational health and safety specialists, no module certificates specified by the HFP sponsors are required for admission to the examination for the ASGS expert training course. The ASGS training course is designed in the "classic" way, i.e. the final examination covers all the competencies to be assessed.
• Lesson time:When the modules or lessons are offered and held depends on the timetable of the respective school, which in turn is determined independently by each school. There may therefore be differences. As a rule, lessons take place on a working day - either all day or in the afternoon and evening, occasionally also on Saturdays.
• Teaching format:Many schools offer a mix of face-to-face and online courses (online, hybrid teaching, blended learning) as well as self-study. You can therefore choose the format that allows you to combine further education with family, work and free time in the best possible way. You can find an overview of the teaching formats in the answers.
• Learning effort: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.

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

The higher professional examination "Expert in Occupational Health and Safety" is held annually in German, French and Italian if at least 16 candidates meet the admission requirements after the announcement, otherwise at least every two years. Candidates can decide for themselves in which language they wish to be examined.

Candidates are notified at least seven weeks before the start of the examination. The invitation includes the examination program (location, time of the examination, permitted aids) and the list of experts.

The higher professional examination lasts a total of 6.5 hours and consists of four parts, which are structured as follows:

1) Diploma thesis (written, prepared in advance) and technical discussion (oral, 60 min)

In the first part of the examination, candidates deal with a complex, real-life situation based on a company, which they examine for its potential for improvement. To do this, they analyze the situation and identify suitable measures.

2) Case studies 1 and 2 (written, 120 min each)

In this part of the examination, candidates are given one or more realistic cases to work on in writing.

3) Mini Cases (written, 60 min)

In this part of the exam, candidates are also given several small and realistic cases to work on in writing.

4) Case simulation (oral, 20 min (10 min preparation)) and reflection (oral, 10 min)

In the final part of the examination, candidates are confronted orally with a realistic problem situation. In a discussion with the person involved, they then look for a suitable solution.

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 "Expert in Occupational Safety and Health Protection (ASGS) with a federal diploma".

In French: "Experte de la sécurité au travail e de la protection de la santé (STPS) avec diplôme fédéral / Expert de la sécurité au travail et de la protection de la santé (STPS) avec diplôme fédéral"

In Italian: "Esperat della sicurezza sul lavoro e della protezione della salute (SLPS) con diploma federale / Esperto della sicurezza sul lavoro e della protezione della salute (SLPS) con diploma federale"

Recommended English translation (this is not a protected title): "Expert in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education"