Anyone wishing to take the Federal Professional Examination (FPE) in the field of social insurance (Social Insurance Specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education) must have completed at least three years of vocational education and training (VET) or equivalent / higher education and have at least three years of professional experience in the field of social insurance. Alternatively, two years of vocational education and training (VET) is possible, but in this case 5 years of relevant professional experience is required.

The title of insurance expert is not a precisely defined training or continuing education, further training. You can train to become an insurance expert in very different ways, which may or may not be federally recognized. A Federal Professional Examination (FPE), for example to become an insurance specialist with a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training, a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training (AFPE) to become a certified social insurance expert or a certified pension fund manager are such federally recognized continuing education, further training courses, as are, of course, Federal Diploma of Vocational Education (AFPE), courses at Universities of Applied Sciences and Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) courses at Universities.

The social insurance specialist course lasts two to four semesters, depending on the provider, and takes place alongside work. This is where you acquire the qualifications required for the federal examination (apart from the necessary professional experience). Those who meet the necessary admission requirements can then take the professional examination.

The further training course for social insurance specialists covers these thirteen fields of activity:

• Old-age and survivors' insurance (AHV)
• Disability insurance (IV)
• Accident insurance (UV)
• Health insurance (KV, compulsory / supplementary)
• Occupational benefits (BV, mandatory and extra-mandatory)
• Social security (SoSi)
• Unemployment insurance and insolvency compensation (ALV)
• Income compensation for service personnel (EO), maternity (EO) and paternity (VSE), family allowances (FZ), military insurance (MV)
• Legal (RE) and Coordination (KOO)
• Supplementary benefits to AHV/IV (EL) and social assistance (SH, including victim support)

Other voluntary subjects or subjects that prepare you for the professional examination for social insurance specialists may include the following:

• Negotiation & conflict management
• Conversation
• Working and learning techniques
• Self-management
• Audit strategy
• Dealing with exam anxiety

There are many opportunities for further training after completing an apprenticeship with a federal certificate of competence as a care specialist and these can take the form of additional courses and certificates or federal examinations and continuing education, further training. Federal Professional Examinations (FPE) are federal continuing education courses that lead to a Federal Diploma of Higher Education, such as Team Leader in social and socio-medical institutions; Migration Specialist; or Social Support Worker. Building on this, Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE) is possible, for example to become a certified occupational therapist or certified institution manager in the social and socio-medical field. Alternatively, after an apprenticeship and a few years of professional experience, care professionals can also consider attending a College of Higher Education (CHE) or, with a Matura, a University of Applied Sciences. Possible courses would be, for example, to become a certified activation specialist CHE, certified child educator CHE, certified social pedagogue CHE, Bachelor of Science (UAS) in social work, Bachelor of Science (UAS) in occupational therapy or many other training and continuing education, further training courses in the field of care.

The social insurance specialist course with a federal certificate provides up-to-date knowledge from all branches of social insurance. Holders of the certificate are able to process complex social insurance cases at the qualified processing level and to analyze problems from the entire field of social insurance and propose suitable solutions.

Depending on previous education, professional experience of four to eight years in social insurance is mandatory for registration for the Federal Professional Examination "Social Insurance Specialist with Federal Certificate".

The Insurance / Social Security Clerk course is not vocational training leading to a federally recognized qualification, such as a Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training (Vocational Certificate) or Federal Diploma of Vocational Education and Training (Vocational Certificate). A certificate course also does not entitle the holder to further education, further training leading to a federally recognized qualification, such as FPE (Federal Professional Examination) or AFPE (Advanced Federal Professional Examination (AFPE)). Before attending a certificate course, you should therefore always first have a vocational apprenticeship or a comparable qualification.