Self-test: Is the "HR Manager Human Resources with Federal Diploma" course the right one for me?

What does the day-to-day work of an HR Manager with a federal diploma look like?

HR managers with a federal diploma work in the middle to upper management levels of a wide range of companies. There they are responsible for HR policy, which they define and strategically plan personnel development based on this. They can also be found in public administrations. They have a high degree of entrepreneurial thinking and action and are able to quickly grasp economic relationships and recognize the effects of the latest trends on HR policy.

HR managers are responsible for the management of HR department employees as well as for their targeted training and continuing education, further training and support for line managers. HR managers help to shape and support the necessary change processes in the company. They are just as familiar with social policy and social insurance as they are with labor law issues and company pension benefits.

Target group and skills: Who is the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) for Head of Human Resources with a federal diploma suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?

The course and Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) for "HR Manager with Federal Diploma" are suitable for

• Managers with responsibility for human resources who wish to demonstrate their knowledge and skills with an appropriate diploma.
• HR professionals who want to advance their career with a federal diploma and set themselves apart from the competition.

Head of Human Resources should have the following personal qualities and skills:

• Load capacity
• Expressiveness
• Communication skills
• Fluency in oral and written expression
• Operational readiness
• Leadership and social skills
• Empathy
• Ability to work in a team
• Assertiveness
• Negotiating skills
• Sense of responsibility
• Ability to deal with conflict
• Entrepreneurial mindset

Requirements for admission to the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) for HR Managers:

Persons who meet the following conditions by the time of the examination date or examination registration are admitted to the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) for Head of Human Resources:

• Federal Diploma of Higher Education in HR or another Federal Diploma of Higher Education (FPE) in HR-related professions and at least six years of professional experience, of which either two years as a qualified HR practitioner* or four years working in HR projects or HR consulting functions for complex tasks.

Or

• Degree from a University of Applied Sciences, College of Higher Education, Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) and at least four years of professional experience, of which either two years as qualified HR practice or four years working in HR projects or HR consulting functions for complex tasks.

Or

• Degree at continuing education and training / tertiary level and at least six years of management experience, including two years of management at two hierarchical levels.

You will find out whether you have been admitted to the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) at least three months before the start of the examination with a written notification including reasons in the event of a negative decision.

*The term "qualified HR practice" refers to the following: a comprehensive HR generalist function with overall HR responsibility in a medium-sized company or a complex sub-area responsibility in a larger company.

Note: Some schools are prepared to admit you to a preparatory course for the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) for HR managers if you do not (yet) meet the criteria for admission to the federal examination. It is your responsibility to ensure that you meet the necessary requirements at the time of the examination/examination registration. At some schools, it is also possible to attend the course without the intention of taking an examination. Admission requirements vary depending on the provider.

Subject matter and content of continuing education, further training

The subject matter of the preparatory courses for the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) for HR Managers is based on the specifications of the responsible body for the federal examination, the HRSE (Human Resources Swiss Exams).

The following topics are covered in the preparation courses:

• Helping to shape strategy work / cultural work(e.g. helping to shape normative principles and setting an example, deriving HR topics from the corporate strategy, actively helping to shape strategy processes in management, defining HR policy, etc.).
• Helping to shape implementation and change processes in the strategy(e.g. analyzing, initiating and supporting change projects, maintaining a regular exchange with management, conducting, evaluating and implementing employee surveys, etc.)
• Development and implementation of HR concepts(including presenting HR concepts convincingly and bringing about decisions, supporting the implementation of HR concepts and measuring their contribution to the company's success, etc.)
• Management of HR / HR areas / HR department(e.g. planning personnel deployment and procuring personnel, managing employees, formulating target agreements and ensuring the qualification and development of HR employees, organizing team communication, drawing up and monitoring the HR budget, etc.).
• Design of stakeholder group management(including exchanging information and maintaining contacts with relevant federal, cantonal or business bodies on relevant topics, building and maintaining an HR network, managing conflict and crisis situations)

Costs and financing of continuing education, further training

The costs vary depending on the provider (apart from the examination fee, which is set by the responsible body of the AFPE). In general, the following costs must be expected for the 2-3 semester part-time HR Manager training, continuing education, further training:

• Course feesbetween CHF 13,000 and CHF 16,600, of which you will receive around 50% back from the federal government after the examination (regardless of the result)*.
• Examination feesCHF 2,500 (as of August 2025) The examination fee is set by the responsible body of this course or AFPE. It is paid by the candidate after admission has been confirmed.
• Extra costsSome schools do not include the costs for teaching materials, training documents and simulation exams in the course fees.

Please contact the provider of your choice directly to find out what additional costs you can expect.

*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 will therefore be reimbursed up to 50% (max. CHF 9,500 for FPE, max. CHF 10,500 for AFPE) of the course costs paid upon application after taking the federal examinations. In exceptional cases of hardship, the federal contributions are also paid out in advance.

Duration of study, number of lessons and learning effort

• The HR Manager training, continuing education, further training is modular and lasts 2-3 semesters, depending on the provider.
• The course is offered at different times. These time variants are determined independently by the respective schools, so there may be differences. There are often day courses and evening courses, which are offered weekly on an afternoon or Saturday as well as in the evening.
• Many schools offer a mix of face-to-face and online courses (online, hybrid teaching, blended learning) as well as self-study. You can therefore choose the format that allows you to combine continuing education, further training with family, work and leisure in the best possible way.
• Thanks to the extra-occupational concept of continuing education, further training, you can apply and deepen your knowledge immediately in practice. Nevertheless, you should allow sufficient time for preparation and follow-up of the lessons and for self-study - how much depends on your prior knowledge, working style and learning speed. We recommend that you allow at least 4-6 hours per week as a precaution.

Note: Some schools offer so-called "taster lessons". This gives you the opportunity to gain an insight into the lessons and the learning atmosphere. Important aspects on the way to a successful graduation. It is best to contact the school of your choice directly for a taster lesson.

Degree, diploma and title

The Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) for Head of Human Resources is held annually if at least 40 candidates meet the admission requirements, otherwise at least every two years. Candidates can take the examination in German, French or Italian.

Candidates are notified at least 3 weeks before the start of the examination. The invitation includes the examination program (location, time of the examination, permitted aids) and the list of experts.

The Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) consists of three parts:

1) Shaping strategy and cultural work (case study, written, 120 minutes)

In this part of the examination, candidates are presented with a holistic, complex and innovative strategic case from the environment of a medium-sized company. Candidates work on the case using the steps "Situation analysis", "Central question", "Formulation of objectives" and "Consideration of next steps".

2) Acting in the role

2.1) Critical incidents, oral, 30 minutes

The term "critical incidents" refers to challenging and complex real-life situations in which the intervention of measures is crucial in order to deal with the situation successfully. The candidates are presented with three such situations. They must describe the procedure for the critical incidents and justify the measures taken.

2.2) Role play, oral, 30 minutes (incl. preparation and reflection)

The candidates carry out a role play based on a given written description of the situation. An examination expert takes on the role of the employee. The role play is followed by a reflection discussion in which the candidates are questioned by the examination experts about the discussion (e.g. self-assessment of the discussion, justification of statements, etc.).

3) Design and implement HR concepts

3.1) Case study concept, written 180 minutes (incl. 60 minutes preparation and presentation)

In this part of the examination, candidates draw up an HR concept for the initial situation, including possible variants, budget and procedural planning.

3.2) Presentation, oral, 15 minutes

This simulates a management meeting in which the candidates present their concept to the management.

3.3) Technical discussion, oral, 30 minutes

Subsequently, the HR concept presented is discussed from different perspectives and variants are developed (e.g. finance, sales, marketing).

Diploma and title

Successful graduates of the Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) are awarded a federal diploma and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected title "Head of Human Resources with a Federal Diploma / Head of Human Resources with a Federal Diploma".

In French: "Directrice des ressources humaines avec diplôme fédéral / Directeur des ressources humaines avec diplôme fédéral"

In Italian: "Direttrice delle risorse umane con diploma federale / Direttore delle risorse umane con diploma federale"

In English (This is only a recommendation/translation and not a protected title): "Human Resource Manager, Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education"