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
• have the Federal Diploma of Higher Education in Electrical Project Management Installation and Safety and would like to add specialist knowledge in planning and cost management of electrical installations to their profile

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 Federal VET Diploma electrician (electrical fitter) or Federal VET Diploma electrical planner or a Federal VET Diploma in another profession in the electrical industry.

For the laterAdmission to the Federal Professional Examinationyou must also 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:between CHF 15,600 and CHF 19,960. Thanks to the federal government's subject financing, you will receive around 50% back from the federal government upon application after the examination (regardless of the result).* In addition, suissetec members benefit from a reduction of CHF 900. This amount is automatically reimbursed by suisstec to those entitled.
• Fee for module examinations:CHF 1,880. The costs for the module examinations are determined by the provider who organizes and conducts them.
• Examination fees:CHF 1,675 (as of August 2025) It is paid by the candidate as soon as they receive confirmation of admission to the Federal Professional Examination in Electrical Project Manager Planning.
• Extra costs:You will often have to expect additional costs for preliminary courses, teaching materials, training documents and simulation examinations, for example. Please contact the provider of your choice directly to find out what additional costs you can expect in addition to the course, module and examination fees.

*Since 1.1.2018, preparatory courses for Federal Professional Examination (FPE) and Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) have been financially supported by the federal government. Graduates of these courses can therefore be reimbursed up to 50% (max. CHF 9,500 for FPE, max. CHF 10,500 for AFPE) of the course costs paid after taking the federal examinations. In exceptional cases of hardship, the federal contributions are also paid out in advance.

Duration of study, number of teaching hours, teaching times and learning effort for the electrical project manager continuing education, further training:

• Duration of study:The training, continuing education, further training Electrical Project Manager Planning is modular in structure (i.e. some of the skills are assessed in module examinations before the Federal Professional Examination and are only tested across modules at the final examination) and lasts three to four semesters.
• Number of lessons:The training for the Federal Professional Examination in Electrical Project Manager Planning comprises around 790 lessons.
• Lesson times:The lesson times vary depending on the provider of the continuing education, further training in electrical project manager planning. The lessons usually take place on two evenings per week or on one afternoon and one evening per week, sometimes also on Saturdays. Please note: The course dates or timetables are put together independently by the school. There may therefore be differences from provider to provider
• 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 another four to six hours per week for the additional workload.

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 successfully completing the continuing education, further training in electrical project manager planning.

Degree, diploma and title:

The Federal Professional Examination "Electrical Project Manager Planning with Federal Diploma of Higher Education" takes place annually, provided that the minimum number of 10 candidates meet the admission requirements. Otherwise, the examination is held one year later - regardless of the number of participants. The examination can be taken in the three official languages German, French and Italian.

Candidates for the Federal Professional Examination for Electrical Project Manager Planning will be notified at least 50 days 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 Electrical Project Manager Planning lasts a total of seven hours and comprises three parts, which are structured as follows:

1) Project management

1.1) Project task (written/AVOR*, 120 min.)

In this part of the examination, candidates are given a task in the area of installation. They create detailed projects based on the information provided.

1.2) Presentation and technical discussion (oral, 80 min.)

In this part of the examination, candidates present their detailed projects to a panel of experts.

2) Case work (standards and safety) (AVOR, 60 min., written/practical/oral, 80 min.)

Candidates are given a case situation which they must work on or prepare for the subsequent examination interview within 60 minutes.

3) Planning case (written/practical/oral, 80 min.)

In this part of the examination, candidates are given one or more planning cases. They must present and justify the solutions.

*AVOR = work preparation for the examination interview

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 "Electrical Project Manager Planning with Federal Diploma of Higher Education" or "Electrical Project Manager Planning with Federal Diploma of Higher Education".

• In French: "Électricien chef de projet en planification avec brevet fédéral", "Élektricienne cheffe de projet en planification avec brevet fédéral"
• In Italian: "Elettricista capo progetto in planificazione con attestato professionale federale"
• In English: "Project Manager for Electrical Design, Federal Diploma of Higher Education" (Attention: This is only a recommendation/translation and not a protected title)