Self-test: Is the "Metal construction designer with federal certificate" course the right one for me?

What do the activities in a metal construction designer job look like?

A metal construction designer works in the technical office of a metal construction, steel construction and façade construction company. This involves calculating and drawing up quotations and coordinating the various work steps. Metal construction designers are able to lead a team and supervise assembly. This includes supporting employees, instructing apprentices and supervising work. The focus is on the construction of metal and steel structures such as doors and gates, stairs and railings, windows, all-glass systems, canopies, facades and conservatories as well as customer contact and care.

The following activities are common in a metal construction designer job:

• Tasks in the personnel area:
  • Training apprentices in the metal construction industry
  • Instructions to clerks in the technical office and to metal construction draughtsmen
  • Responsible for the employees reporting to him
  • Responsibility for the execution of orders
  • Processing of assigned orders, allocation of work to subordinate employees according to their performance capabilities in order to ensure the best possible work processes
  • Developing and implementing economic solutions
  • Scheduling and coordination of ongoing orders in the technical office
  • Design and drawing project support
  • Responsible for order preparation
  • Order-related material procurement
  • Handing over orders to the workshop and assembly manager
  • Implementation of scheduling, organizational and technical specifications for the line, material procurement - workshop - assembly
  • Constructive support and monitoring of order execution
  • Cost calculation and monitoring

• Business management tasks:
  • Responsible for the equipment in the technical office
  • Preparation of simple quotations and assistance with quotations for larger projects
  • Monitoring materials management
  • Control of working and production times
  • Proposals for rationalization measures
  • Dealing with customers and suppliers

Target group and skills: Who is the metal construction designer apprenticeship with professional examination suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?

The metal construction designer training course with subsequent professional examination is aimed at the following people from the metal construction sector who wish to take on organizational tasks, including managing, promoting and motivating employees and passing on their knowledge to apprentices:

• Metal construction designer
• Metal construction draughtsman
• Steel construction draftsman

The following skills and characteristics are required for a successful job as a metal construction designer:

• Leadership qualities, communication skills
• Interest in geometry, knowledge of mathematics
• Interest in technical drawing and planning
• Spatial imagination, logical thinking, sense of abstract relationships
• Technical understanding, interest in construction technology
• Sense of responsibility
• Reliability and organizational skills
• Precise working methods, patience, perseverance
• Interest in metalworking
• Ability to work in a team, sense of form

Requirements for admission to the professional examination in metal construction:

The following prerequisites are required for admission to the final examination "Federal Professional Examination for Metal Construction Designers":

• a federal certificate of proficiency (EFZ) as a metal construction designer or in a related profession and
• At least 3 years of professional experience in metal construction after completing basic vocational training

and

• Vocational trainer course and
• Required module qualifications or certificates of equivalence

The following module qualifications must be demonstrated for admission to the federal examination and the award of the federal certificate in metal construction:

• Marketing + Acquisition 1
• Calculation 1
• Materials Technology & Process Engineering 1
• Building physics 1
• Design III Metal construction
• Construction IV Facade construction or Construction V Steel construction
• Personnel management 1
• Project management 1

The individual modules are completed as compulsory modules in the preparatory courses for the professional examination. The module certificates are valid for 6 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 metal construction designers - in the event of rejection, including reasons and information on legal remedies.

Subject matter and content of the further training course for metal design engineers:

The subject matter of the preparatory courses for the professional examination for the federal certificate as a metal construction designer is based on the specifications of the sponsor of the federal examination, theAM Suisse(umbrella organization for the metal construction, agricultural engineering and farriery sectors (formerly Swiss Metal Union).

The learning content of the further training course in metal construction design is divided into the following topics and areas of competence:

• Marketing and acquisition
  • Fundamentals of general business administration
  • Marketing basics
  • Marketing tools
  • Customer care and customer loyalty
• Calculation
  • Basics of the calculation structure
  • Cost types
  • Calculation and offer
  • Directing work
  • Procurement bases
  • Revenue reduction
• Materials technology and process engineering
  • Fundamentals of materials technology
  • Mathematics / technical calculations
  • Steel materials
  • Stainless steel
  • Aluminum
  • Casting materials and processes
  • Plastics / composites
  • Glass
  • Connection techniques
  • Assembly
  • Insulating and sealing materials
  • Fire protection
• Building physics
  • Thermal insulation basics
  • Basics of moisture protection
  • Sound insulation basics
• Construction: Metal construction / steel construction work
  • Designing and planning sophisticated metal construction work / steel construction work
• Construction: Facade construction
  • Requirements for the façade
  • Facade types / types
  • Assembly and fastening technology
  • Structure and individual parts of a façade
  • Test procedure
  • Maintenance and upkeep
  • Facade renovations
• Construction: Steel construction
  • Steel construction standards
  • Project and quality management in steel construction
  • Load-bearing structure elements
  • Steel - concrete composite
  • Connection techniques
  • Fire protection in steel construction
  • Calculation & Sales
  • Construction
  • Fabrication
  • Surface protection
  • Assembly
  • Industrial construction
• Personnel management as a metal construction designer
  • Understanding personnel administration
  • Understanding staff remuneration
  • Understanding social insurance
  • Knowledge of the apprenticeship system (excl. master teacher course)
  • Knowledge of personnel management
• Project management
  • Project management basics
  • Project initialization
  • Project goals
  • Phase models
  • Project organization
  • Structure plan, procedure list and schedule
  • Resource plan, resource plan and cost plan
  • Standards, guidelines and contracts
  • Quality assurance and quality management

Metal construction course - costs and financing:

Depending on the provider and duration, the costs for further training as a metal construction designer vary. On average, the following amounts are to be expected for the training costs:

• Course fees:approx. CHF 8,420 to CHF 19,880 (incl. module examinations)
  After taking the exam, you will receive around 50% of this amount back from the federal government on request (regardless of the result).* Participants from companies that are subject to the L-GAV (National Collective Employment Agreement) and have paid contributions towards the costs of implementation and further training will receive a refund of 20% of the course fee (excluding VAT and excluding contributions towards materials, teaching aids, accommodation and meals). Employers who are AM Suisse members or employees of these companies are entitled to a lump-sum refund as a further training subsidy.
• Examination fees:not yet known
  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 Metal Construction Designer examination.
• 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 1.1.2018, preparatory courses for federal professional examinations such as the further training course for metal construction designers 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.

Duration of study, number of teaching hours, teaching times and learning effort for the further education in metal construction:

• Duration of study:The training and further education for metal construction designers is modular in structure (i.e. some of the skills are assessed in module examinations before the professional examination and are only tested across modules in the final examination) and takes three to five semesters or two semesters full-time.
• Number of lessons:The training for the professional examination in metal construction design comprises around 480 lessons.
• Lesson times:The teaching times vary depending on the provider of the metal construction designer course. Classroom teaching takes place three days a week, one evening and half-day on Saturdays or one evening and full-day on Saturdays.
• 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 lesson preparation and follow-up as well as for self-study. Depending on your prior 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 further training in metal construction.

Degree, diploma and title:

The professional examination "Metal construction designer with federal certificate" takes place annually, provided that the minimum number of 12 candidates meet the admission requirements, otherwise every two years. It can be held in the three official languages German, French and Italian.

Candidates for the professional examination in metal construction design will be notified at least three weeks 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 metal construction designers comprises the following three parts:

1. Practical work (practical, 12 to 15 hours, double weighting)
   • The examination task may be divided into independent subtasks. Candidates prepare the production documents according to a template, description or oral information.
   • The learning objectives of the Building Physics I and Design III modules form the basis for the cross-module examination paper.
2. Technology (oral, 2 hours, 1 weighting)
   • The assignment comprises a networked example from the metal construction industry. The focal points are formed from the topics of the modules Materials Technology and Process Engineering I and Building Physics I. The contents of the other modules are taken into account as appropriate depending on the task.
3. Market / People / Company (oral, approx. 1 hour, 1-fold weighting)
   • The task includes a networked example from the metal construction industry.
   • The focal points are formed from the topics of the modules Marketing and Acquisition I, Calculation I, Personnel Management I and Project Management I. The contents of the other modules are taken into account as appropriate depending on the task.
   • In the oral examinations, candidates are examined individually.
   • A technical interview is to take place in which the candidate is assessed on his/her skills as a metal construction designer.
      

Diploma and title

Graduates of the professional examination receive a federal certificate and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected title "metal construction designer with federal certificate" or "metal construction designer with federal certificate".

• In French: "Projecteur constructeur sur métal avec brevet fédéral", "Projecteuse constructrice sur métal avec brevet fédéral"
• In Italian: "Disegnatore metalconstruttore con attestato professionale federale", "Disegnatorice metalconstruttrice con attestato professionale federale"
• In English: "Designer in Mental Construction with Federal Diploma of Professional Education and Training" (Attention: This is only a recommendation/translation and not a protected title)