Alternative Paths to the “Business Clerk (Federal VET Diploma)” Commercial Apprenticeship Certificate

In addition to the traditional route of a three- or four-year apprenticeship, there are three other ways to earn a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training (EFZ).

• Attendance at a (private or public) business school (open to both teenagers and adults)
• Adult Education Pursuant to Art. 32 of the BBV (for adults with 3 years of office work experience)
• Validation of Prior Learning (for adults with 3 years of office work experience)

1. Attend a private or public business school

There are schools that offer classes for teenagers and schools that cater exclusively to adults.

The Business Administrator (Federal VET Diploma) training program lasts three years and consists of three parts:

1. Three semesters of school. After two semesters, students can often take the VSH Office Administration Diploma exam as an interim qualification, and after the third semester, they can take the VSH or Edupool Business Diploma exam.
2. This is followed by a one-year professional internship in a business-related position
3. This is followed by another semester of school, which is primarily intended to prepare students for the final apprenticeship exam (QV) as a business clerk.

At the end of the program, graduates take the federal final apprenticeship examination (QV), and those who pass receive the Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training as a Business Administrator with the Federal VET Diploma.

Here is a visual representation of what education at a business school looks like:

2. Adult Education for Those Seeking to Make Up for Lost Education, pursuant to Art. 32 of the Vocational Training Ordinance (BBV)

Adults who have been working in an office for at least 5 years can take the accelerated path—known as “adult education”—to earn a business clerk certification.

• They no longer need to complete an internship because they can demonstrate their professional experience through their current job
• For theoretical instruction, they can either attend vocational school alongside the teenagers (during the day on weekdays) or take special preparatory courses for adults (in the evenings or on Saturdays). Those who are very disciplined and learn quickly can also master the course material through self-study.
• They then also take the regular federal final apprenticeship examination (QV), and those who pass receive the Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training as a Business Administrator EFZ.

3. Validation of Educational Achievements

Adults who have been working in an office for about 5 years also have the option of demonstrating, through a validation process, that they possess all the skills that would otherwise be assessed in the final apprenticeship exam (QV).

This allows you to earn the Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training as a Business Clerk without having to take the final apprenticeship exam (QV).

The process for validating educational achievements consists of 5 steps:

1. Information and Counseling. The counseling center in the canton where you live can provide you with information about your options.
2. Assessment: You document your professional competencies in accordance with the qualification profile for the Commercial Clerk (Federal VET Diploma).
3. Evaluation: Experts in the field will evaluate your documentation
4. Validation: You'll receive confirmation of which learning achievements will be credited to you and where you may still need to do some additional studying.
5. Certification: Once you have received confirmation of all required coursework, you will be awarded the Federal VET Diploma as a business administrator.

Here you'll find the addresses of the counseling centers in all cantons:http://adressen.sdbb.ch/

Directly to providers of "Business Management Assistant (Federal VET Diploma)" courses