The export clerk apprenticeship provides in-depth knowledge of international trade in goods and the legal and logistical principles of the export business. The following content is typically the focus:

• International trade and economic relations
• Meaning and application of the Incoterms
• Customs procedures, tariff classification and the International Customs Tariff
• Cooperation with different types of sales partners
• Organization of forwarding and practical export processing
• Creation of correct certificates of origin and use of ATA carnets
• Processing of documentary letters of credit and collections as well as bank guarantees
• Determining the origin of goods, free trade agreements and rules of origin
• VAT regulations for the cross-border movement of goods

These topics prepare students for their central role in export logistics - from document preparation and customs clearance to the safe delivery of goods abroad.

As schools and educational institutions can design their own curricula, the content may differ in detail. The specific subject matter should therefore be requested directly from the respective school. Use our contact form to forward your question directly to the appropriate school.

Training to become an export specialist with a certificate takes around five to six days or twelve evenings. There is also one day of exam preparation. The final examination must also be taken.

The main tasks in export clerk jobs are as follows:

• Recording of incoming orders
• Ordering from the supplier plants
• Requesting and preparing the necessary export documents such as certificates of origin, certificates
• Processing of letters of credit, documentary collections and bank guarantees
• Provision of transport documents and placement of forwarding orders
• Invoicing and monitoring incoming payments
• Processing of insurance claims
• Telephone and written contact with customers, suppliers, banks, forwarding agents, official bodies and insurance companies

The target group of continuing education, further training for export clerks is:

• Preparation of employees who are newly confronted with the export handling of goods
• Career changers who want to work in export in the near future and improve their chances on the job market
• Suitable for all employees working in export who want to refresh their knowledge or gain an overall view of the export business
• as a measure for the general promotion of young talent

The target group and admission requirements are determined independently by the schools. There may therefore be slight differences from school to school.
We therefore recommend that you contact the school of your choice directly via our contact form or use the "Ask a question" button to get in touch with the right contact person.

Export clerks have the following responsibilities:

• for the timely, cost-optimized, administrative order processing of incoming export orders for the territories and customers he is responsible for
• organizes his work area independently
• Administrative activities in connection with export processing
• has collective authority to act
• signs for correspondence together with another authorized signatory

The following contracts are possible in export processing:

• Diploma of the Swiss Chambers of Commerce and Industry (SIHK)
• Certificate of the provider

The training provides a good basis for further training such as the "Foreign Trade Specialist" course as preparation for the professional examination and later "Foreign Trade Manager" for the higher professional examination.