Self-test: Is the "Hairdresser with Federal Diploma of Higher Education" course the right one for me?

Target group and skills: Who is the hairdresser training and Federal Professional Examination suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?

The hairdresser training is aimed at the following people:

• Future hairdressing specialists who want to further develop and improve their job-specific skills in managing a team
• Professionals from the hairdressing industry who are looking for theoretical and practice-oriented in-depth training in core areas of their daily work
• Professionals from the hairdressing sector who see the training of employees as an important part of their professional activity and wish to do so

The following skills and qualities are required for a successful job as a hairdresser:

• Leadership qualities and service-oriented thinking
• Sense for colors and shapes
• Customer orientation, empathy and patience
• Manual dexterity and interest in precision work
• Fashion awareness, inventiveness and creativity
• Eagerness to learn and ability to work in a team
• Sense of order, cleanliness and hygiene awareness
• Resistant constitution and no allergies
• Organizational talent and enjoy motivating employees
• Sense of responsibility, independent working style and discipline

Requirements for admission to the Federal Professional Examination Coiffure:

The following prerequisites are required for admission to the final Federal Professional Examination:

• Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training (VET Diploma) as a hairdresser or hairdresser's assistant or equivalent qualification

and

• At least 3 years of professional experience (100% or crediting pro rata) after completion of vocational education and training (VET)
   

You will find out whether you meet the requirements for the Federal Professional Examination Coiffure at least three months before the start of the examination with a written notification - in the event of rejection including reasons and instructions on how to appeal.

Subject matter and content of the hairdresser / hairdresser training:

The subject matter of the preparatory courses for the Federal Diploma of Higher Education in Hairdressing is based on the requirements of the responsible body for the Federal Examination, coiffureSuisse.

The learning content of the hairdresser / hairdresser training is divided into the following topics:

• Advice and sales
  • Conduct a professional consultation
  • Knowledge about the four types of people, selling and advising
  • Recommendations for care and styling
  • Product sales in the advisory process
  • Building long-term customer relationships
• Professional implementation
  • Understanding and interpreting customer wishes better
  • Practical implementation of customer wishes
  • Choice of suitable cutting techniques, products and styling
  • Intensify professional practice
• Professional leadership
  • Aspects of entrepreneurial thinking and action
  • Activities of a management position
  • Understanding of strategic processes in hairdressing salons
  • Professional work planning and team leadership
  • Implement and optimize organizational processes
  • Monthly budget planning
  • Warehouse and infrastructure management
  • Planning and implementation of needs-based and situation-specific training for the team
  • Motivation theories
• Basic training for vocational trainers
• Teaching and learning in the company (didactics module)
• The fascination of physical and/or chemical hair modification

Costs and financing of the courses:

The costs vary depending on the provider and duration of the hairdressing training. On average, the following amounts are to be expected for the training costs:

• Course fees:about CHF 5'100.- to CHF 6'600.-
  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 2,200 (as at August 2025)
  The examination fee is set by the responsible body of the Federal Professional Examination. It is paid by the candidate once admission to the federal examination has been confirmed.
• Extra costs:At some schools, the costs for enrolment fees, teaching materials, training documents, books, intensive exam training, simulation exams, school diplomas and intermediate 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 to pay for continuing education, further training as a hairdresser.

*Since 1.1.2018, preparatory courses for Federal Professional Examination such as hairdresser / hairdresser training 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 lessons and learning effort:

• The hairdresser training, continuing education, further training is classically structured (i.e. the Federal Professional Examination covers all the skills to be assessed) and lasts 2 semesters. It comprises around 240 lessons.
• The teaching times vary depending on the provider of the continuing education, further training. Depending on the training provider, face-to-face teaching takes place on a fixed weekday, a weekday and one or two evenings or as block teaching.
• Thanks to the extra-occupational concept of the hairdresser / hairdresser training course, you can immediately apply and deepen the learning material in practice. 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 lesson 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 hairdressing training.

Degree, diploma and title:

The Federal Professional Examination "Hairdresser with Federal Diploma of Higher Education" is held annually in German, French and Italian, provided that the minimum number of 10 candidates meet the admission requirements.

Candidates for the Federal Professional Examination are notified at least four 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 Federal Professional Examination for Hairdressers comprises the following six parts:

1. Professional leadership (written, 120 minutes, weighting 2)
2. Relooking (weighting 1):
   • Relooking dossier (written, 8 weeks, prepared in advance)
   • Relooking Chemical color change or permanent hair reshaping incl. consultation and sale (practical, 130 minutes)
3. Chemical color change or permanent hair reshaping (practical, 130 minutes, weighting 1)
4. Updo (practical, 60 minutes, weighting 1)
5. Cutting (practical, 55 - 85 minutes, incl. 15 minutes consultation, weighting 1) - the time depends on the chosen cut
6. Expert discussion with reflection (oral, 30 minutes, weighting 1)

Diploma and title

Graduates of the Federal Professional Examination receive a Federal Diploma of Higher Education and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected title "Hairdresser with Federal Diploma of Higher Education" or "Hairdresser with Federal Diploma of Higher Education".

• In French: "Coiffeur avec brevet fédéral", "Coiffeuse avec brevet fédéral"
• In Italian: "Parruchiere con attestato professionale federale", "Parruchiera con attestato professionale federale"
• In English: "Hairdresser with Federal Diploma of Professional Education and Training" (Attention: This is only a recommendation/translation and not a protected title)