Vocational trainer course FaBe: offers and providers at a glance

A survey of those interested in the vocational trainer course revealed that the majority of people (50%) who enquired about schools did so after reading an online assessment. Another 26% made inquiries to schools for a vocational trainer course that were recommended to them for the vocational trainer course. The remaining 24% were already familiar with these schools. Another alternative reason was indicated by these comments: "This school offers the best value for money", "My workplace is nearby", "It's close to where I live", "I found it by chance on the internet", "Saturday course possible", "nearby location", "to obtain cantonal qualification", "quick course start", "coincidence" or "online".

Vocational training courses are generally independent of profession and cross-industry. This leads to a better mix of participants and a more diverse exchange. In addition, the educational objectives set by the federal government are overriding. There are many special features in the area of basic commercial training in particular. For this reason, these specific requirements are also taken into account in a KV vocational trainer course. It makes sense to attend a KV vocational trainer course in order to provide young people with good support and guidance during their basic commercial training. This is an important and demanding task. Attendance of an official vocational trainer course is only compulsory for one person per training company. In addition to the legal foundations and knowledge of possible training profiles, the KV vocational trainer course also teaches how to promote the practical, academic and personal development of KV apprentices. Course participants learn about training planning and assessment with performance targets and behavioral criteria, including the ALS (work and learning situation) and PE (process units) work tools. Topics such as health care, accident prevention, addiction prevention and conflict resolution are also covered in the KV vocational trainer course.

A KV vocational trainer course teaches the basics for competently supporting apprentices in the commercial sector. The focus is on methodological, didactic and legal aspects of vocational training.

The following content is the focus of the KV vocational trainer course:

• Legal basis
  Communicating the relevant laws, duties and responsibilities in vocational training.
• Methodology and didactics
  Planning, design and implementation of learning processes in everyday working life.
• Role as a vocational trainer
  Reflection on one's own attitude and tasks in training supervision.
• Communication and feedback
  Effective exchange with learners as well as professional discussion and feedback methods.
• Assessment of learners
  Constructive performance assessment and targeted support planning.
• Practical case studies and exercises
  Implementation of what has been learned using realistic situations from everyday working life.

The content of the KV vocational trainer course provides targeted preparation for successfully guiding apprentices through their training and supporting them in their professional and personal development.

As the content of the KV vocational trainer course can vary slightly depending on the provider, it is advisable to check the details directly with the desired school. Each school determines its own focus and module structure.

Questions about the course or the modules? You can use our contact form to send a question about the KV vocational trainer course directly to the school of your choice.

As a KV vocational trainer, you support apprentices in the implementation of their training material and accompany them in their day-to-day work. The KV vocational trainer course provides tools for motivating learners and structuring learning processes. The course also teaches how examinations can be prepared and how feedback can be given in a discussion-oriented manner. In this way, a vocational trainer takes on a central role between the training company, the learner and the school.

A vocational trainer course is useful for people who supervise apprentices in companies:

• (Future) vocational trainers with coordination and organizational tasks
• Practical training - supervision of apprentices with regard to practical technical training
• Supervisors of apprentices

According to the Vocational Training Act, every company that trains apprentices must have at least one person who has completed a vocational trainer course. This is also known as a master teacher course. There are no legal requirements for this (except in the canton of Schwyz, where at least two years of professional experience are required).

The course is useful for all supervisors of apprentices who are responsible for their practical training in a company - not just for the person responsible for the course, who has overall responsibility. The course is important because it deals specifically with topics that affect young people during their development and training. This information is not available in any other continuing education, further training course.

This vocational trainer training course lasts 40 hours. It can be completed in different time models or partly digitally as a webinar. In the vocational trainer course, prospective vocational trainers learn the formal and legal foundations of a learning relationship. They understand the successful interaction between vocational school, training company and inter-company courses (ÜK) as a concept of vocational education and training (VET).

Graduates of a vocational trainer course are aware of the difficulties and problems faced by young people during an apprenticeship. They are able to support and understand apprentices. They are also familiar with the necessary learning and working techniques after the vocational trainer course. In addition to making a good selection of learners, vocational trainers also prepare professional assessments for their learners.

At the end of the course, participants receive a cantonal certificate as a vocational trainer, which is valid throughout Switzerland. With the cantonal certificate as a vocational trainer, you can take on responsible tasks and thus create better career opportunities for the future. The cantonal office then decides on the authorization to train apprentices.

A KV vocational trainer course offers specific skills to competently supervise learners and promote individual learning processes. The course teaches clear structures, legal principles of training and modern forms of teaching - this ensures that the KV vocational trainer can act confidently and professionally. Without preparation, supervising learners can be challenging, which is why the vocational trainer course is a useful basis for this.

Of course, there are further training opportunities after the vocational trainer with course certificate. For example, to become an education specialist with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education. The Federal Diploma of Higher Education can be obtained by completing a 100-hour training course for vocational trainers in training companies, which follows on from the vocational trainer course. This continuing education, further training lasts six to eight months. A certain number of years of professional practice in the teaching field and a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training are required. By passing a Federal Professional Examination, you will become an education professional with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education. This course is aimed at vocational trainers from the practical field who would like to prepare for the Federal Professional Examination with four modules of 4 to 10 days each. A cantonal course certificate as a vocational trainer and proof of at least one year's professional experience in the area of responsibility of vocational training are required for this "Vocational trainer with Federal Diploma of Higher Education". Each module is completed with a certificate of competence and, if you pass the Federal Diploma of Higher Education, you will be awarded the title of Education Specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education.

After completing the KV vocational trainer course, participants receive a recognized certificate that entitles them to train apprentices in the commercial sector. Certification usually takes the form of an official confirmation of successful course attendance, including proof of performance or a final thesis. This certificate is valid throughout Switzerland and serves as official proof that the KV vocational training course has been completed. If you would like to know more about the content, procedure or requirements for certification, you should request specific information on the prerequisites and examination modalities from the individual providers using our contact form.

As a rule, the KV vocational trainer requirements are a completed commercial apprenticeship and professional experience. Participants should have good communication skills and be motivated to train - prerequisites that are directly addressed in the KV vocational trainer course. In most cases, no specific additional qualifications are required, as the KV vocational trainer course teaches the basics that come directly from professional practice. If you would like to know the specific requirements for certain course variants, you can request them from the individual schools using our contact form.

Vocational trainer courses are offered both profession- and industry-neutral and tailored to various vocational trainer jobs:

• Cross-professional and cross-sector vocational trainer course: suitable for vocational trainers from all sectors - promotes exchange and understanding between the professions
• Courses for vocational trainers in the field of basic commercial training: Services and administration, public administration and the notary sector
• Vocational training courses in IT for basic ICT training: taught by industry experts such as Swiss Post, Swisscom, the cantonal police and ICT Bern
• Courses for vocational trainers in the field of medical assistance
• Vocational trainer course for care specialists
• Course for vocational trainers from the MEM sector (mechanical, electrical and metal industries)
• Vocational training courses for painters/plasterers
• Courses for vocational trainers in the retail trade: Specialized in the retail trade sector
• Vocational training courses for pharmacies: all examples and practical tips are geared towards this sector

Industry-specific courses are organized by the respective professional associations and, in addition to the general content of vocational training, also address the industry-specific objectives, challenges, questions and forms of assessment in the relevant industry. Depending on the industry, you will be confronted with different circumstances in the vocational training jobs. Each sector provides a folder with checklists, topics, teaching techniques, assessment aids and legal principles for the entire VET program. This has proven to be an extremely practical and quick-to-use aid in the day-to-day supervision of apprentices.