Self-test: Is the "Electrical Project Manager Planning with Federal Diploma of Higher Education" course the right one for you?

What do electrical project manager planning jobs look like?

Where, in which functions?

Electrical project managers in planning mainly work in offices, as members of middle management in electrical planning offices, inspection companies, electricity supply companies or in industry. They manage teams and projects; often they also run their own electrical installation or planning company.

What?

Electrical project managers in planning know the technical installation interrelationships inside out and are responsible for planning the electrical infrastructure from the first meeting to the handover of the system to the customer. They also provide advice and coordination at the interfaces to industry-related trades such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning and plumbing.

To theTasksof electrical project managers include planning:

• Procuring the basis for systems
• Planning electrical infrastructure
• Negotiating with customers and authorities
• Provide electricity services
• Guiding employees and apprentices
• Coordinate project processes
• Ensure electrotechnical interfaces with other areas
• Carry out checks according to NIV
• Developing tools, instruments and methods in line with requirements

They also analyze and evaluate technical and social changes and develop innovative solutions. They always act in accordance with high ecological principles.

Who is continuing education, further training suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?

The Electrical Project Manager Planning training course with Federal Professional Examination is aimed at professionals in the electrical industry who:

• want to expand their specialist knowledge and further develop their methodological skills
• want to take on more responsibility in supervising employees and managing projects
• would like to demonstrate their ability to manage teams and electrical projects with a federal certificate

The following skills and qualities are required to be successful in the role of Electrical Project Manager Planning:

• Interest in electronics, leadership qualities
• Interest in planning work, no color vision impairment
• Logical thinking, analytical and conceptual skills
• Technical understanding and construction knowledge
• Sense of responsibility
• Flexibility, independence, ability to work in a team
• Resilient constitution
• Manual dexterity, practical disposition
• Quick comprehension, networked thinking and acting
• Speditive way of working as well as customer and service orientation

Admission to continuing education, further training

For theAdmission to continuing education, further trainingschools generally require a vocational qualification as an electrician Federal VET Diploma (electrical fitter) or electrical planner Federal VET Diploma or a Federal VET Diploma in another profession in the electrical industry. Some schools also require relevant professional experience.

For the laterAdmission to the Federal Professional Examinationyou must be able to demonstrate sufficient professional experience in the planning or construction of low-voltage electrical installations in Switzerland at the time of the examination. The scope depends on your professional qualification:

• Federal VET Diploma electrical fitter or Federal VET Diploma electrical planner or equivalent qualification: 2 years' experience in the above field
• Assembly electrician Federal VET Diploma, Federal VET Diploma in another comparable profession in the electrical industry or equivalent qualification: 4 years' experience in the above-mentioned field
• foreign electrotechnical vocational training and disposal of theESTIon the equivalence of the qualification with the Federal VET Diploma as an electrician: 2 years of experience in the above-mentioned field

Subject matter and content of the continuing education, further training Electrical Project Manager Planning:

The subject matter of the preparatory courses for the Federal Diploma of Higher Education in Electrical Project Manager Planning is based on the requirements of theEIT.swissthe responsible body for the audit.

The continuing education, further training is modular and consists of five modules:

Module 1: Technical basics

• Fundamentals, electrical engineering and mathematics: mathematics, electrical engineering basics, direct current theory, electric field, magnetism, single-phase alternating current
• Electrical systems engineering (materials science):Construction of the network, passive and active installation material
• Rules and technology:Legal pyramid, low-voltage installation standard (NIN), dangers of electricity
• Technical documentation (schematics and plans)Electrical engineering symbols, types of diagrams, conventional lighting technology controls, installation planning

Module 2: Project management I

• Calculation:including project goals with customers and personnel, price calculations, purchasing 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:Checking of project and revision plans, control of quality standards, acceptance and inspection of electrical systems and installations, interpretation of work contracts, etc.
• 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

• 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
• Technological basicsElectrical engineering, lighting technology, emergency and safety lighting, building automation, photovoltaic systems, etc.
• Project planning, realization and servicesIncluding schematic diagram, circuit diagram, apparatus plans, planning order, dimensioning and selection of conductors, updating of revision plans

Module 4: Planning

• Project planning:Including protection and safety concept, construction and expansion descriptions, contact with authorities, measurement concept, functional descriptions, requirements analysis, operating and maintenance concept, planning interfaces, installation technologies and handling of hazardous substances
• Cost management:including quotations, cost review with bill of quantities, cost control and forecasting as well as operating costs
• Specialist construction management:Among other things, support of the executing company, technical execution work supervision as well as organization, commissioning and acceptance as electrical project manager planning / electrical project manager planning

Module 5: Leadership, communication and personnel management

• 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 the information you need.

Costs

You can expect the following costs for continuing education, further training in preparation for the Federal Professional Examination for Electrical Project Managers in Planning:

• Course fees/course costs:depending on the school, around CHF 18,500-24,500 (including fees for module examinations). Thanks to federal subject funding, you will receive up to half of the course costs, but no more than CHF 9,500, back from the federal government upon application (regardless of the result) after the Federal Professional Examination*.
• Examination fees:CHF 1,675 (as of August 2025) It will be paid by the candidate as soon as they receive confirmation of admission to the Federal Professional Examination in Electrical Project Manager Planning.
• Extra costs:Sometimes there are additional costs for training documents, simulation tests or similar.

*In exceptional cases of hardship, federal contributions are also paid in advance.

Duration of study, type of continuing education, further training, number of lessons, teaching times and learning effort of the electric project manager planning further training:

• Duration of study:three to four semesters, part-time.
• Continuing education type:modular; five modules, all concluding with a module examination.
• Number of lessons:The training for the Federal Professional Examination in Electrical Project Manager Planning comprises around 790 lessons.
• Lesson times:Lesson times vary depending on the provider. Lessons usually take place on two evenings or one afternoon and one evening per week, sometimes also on Saturdays.
• Learning effort:The time required for self-study depends on prior knowledge, working style and learning speed. We recommend setting aside four to six hours per week for this.

Degree, diploma and title:

If you have allfive modulesyou have successfully completed theNecessary professional experienceyou can register for the Federal Professional Examination.

TheFederal Professional Examinationto become an "Electrical Project Manager Planning with Federal Diploma of Higher Education" takes place inyearlywill take place if at least ten candidates meet the admission requirements,otherwise every two years.

The Federal Professional Examination for Electrical Project Manager Planning takes a total ofthree hoursand consists ofthree parts(60 minutes each):

• Project management
• Case work
• Planning case

The tasks for each part of the examination are communicated at least seven working days before the examination date. The examinations are oral, but may also include written and practical elements.

Diploma and title

If you pass the Federal Professional Examination, you will receive the federal certificate and are entitled to use the following protected title:

• "Electrical project manager planning with federal certificate" or "Electrical project manager planning with federal certificate"
• "Électricien chef de projet en planification avec brevet fédéral", "Élektricienne cheffe de projet en planification avec brevet fédéral"
• "Elettricista capo progetto in planificazione con attestato professionale federale"

The English title recommendation is: "Project Manager for Electrical Design, Federal Diploma of Higher Education". This is not a protected title.