What is everyday working life like as a technical business management assistant with a federal certificate?

Technical business management assistants with a federal certificate have a basic technical/trade education and further training in business management. This enables them to work in all operational functions that mediate between technology and business administration. A technical business management assistant ensures that company processes run smoothly. In doing so, they focus on the overall system (environment and safety) and the general conditions of the company (resources, competitiveness, infrastructure, quality) and act in accordance with economic, social and ecological principles.

The following areas of work are typical for technical business management assistants:

• Technical sales and marketing
• Supply Cham Management
• Qualified processing in the functional areas of procurement and production
• Management of technical and business projects
• Managing small and medium-sized enterprises

Possible tasks after training as a technical business management assistant include

• Supporting and coordinating customers, suppliers and producers
• Obtaining quotations, preparing own quotations, pre- and post-calculation of orders, issuing invoices
• Price negotiations, monitoring deadlines, monitoring costs
• Ordering, merchandise management, budgeting, quality assurance
• mostly employee and team management
• Design and optimize workflows and company processes in departments such as production, sales, procurement, etc.
• Plan, manage and organize projects
• Technical support for customer service, sales and marketing

Target group and skills: For whom is the professional examination in technical business management with a federal certificate suitable? What qualities and skills are required?

The "Technical Business Management Assistant" courses are aimed at people with a basic technical or trade qualification who want to switch to an administrative role and/or take on management tasks. In the classic sense, they enable a change from the workshop to the office.

It is also a good training course for technical professionals who want to become self-employed.

Important qualities and skills for the profession of technical business management assistant are

• Interest in commercial work
• Entrepreneurial thinking and flair for numbers
• Sociability and fluency
• Enjoy computer work
• Organizational skills
• High level of independence and quick comprehension
• Responsible and reliable

Prerequisites for admission to the professional examination for technical salespeople:

The following prerequisites are required for admission to the final examination (federal professional examination) as a technical business management assistant:

• Federal Certificate of Competence EFZ or equivalent and at least three years of professional experience in the technical/craft sector

or

• Federal Vocational Certificate EBA or equivalent and at least five years of professional experience in the technical/craft sector

Some schools also require a high level of willingness to learn as well as good oral and written German language skills. Depending on your previous knowledge, it is advisable to attend a preliminary accounting course. Depending on your knowledge, a preliminary course or elective course in computer science, languages, German grammar/spelling and keyboarding may also be useful.

You will be informed in writing at least three months before the start of the examination whether you meet the requirements for the professional examination for technical business management assistants - in the event of rejection, including reasons and instructions on how to appeal. Anyone who has a retraining decree from the IV will be admitted to the examinations - if they do not have an apprenticeship, they will not be admitted. For people with a migration background, a document/proof of training is required.

Note: The requirements, such as professional experience, only need to be fulfilled at the time of the federal written examinations. Some schools may be prepared to admit you to a preparatory course for the professional examination for technical business management assistants if you do not (yet) meet the criteria for admission to the federal examination at the start of the course. You are responsible for meeting the requirements at the time of the examination or examination registration. The apprenticeship period is not recognized as practical experience, so professional experience can only be credited from the completion of basic training. Part-time work of 80% is recognized as full-time. Military service in a technical field is also recognized if there was no employment at the same time. This is subject to the timely transfer of the examination fee.

Subject matter and content of the "Technical Business Management Assistant" further training course:

The subject matter of the preparatory courses for the professional examination for the "Technical Business Management Assistant" certificate is based on the specifications of the sponsor of the federal examination, the Anavant Swiss Association of Technical Executives.

The learning content of the apprenticeship is divided into the following "Technical Business Management Assistant" subjects:

• Supply chain management (infrastructure as well as quality, standards, occupational safety and ecology)
• Marketing and sales (services, customer service)
• Personnel management (leadership, communication, personnel work, self-management)
• Finance (financial management, IT, financial accounting, accounting)
• Corporate management (environment)
• Law and economics
• Integrated case study (on central processes and tasks)
• Problem-solving and decision-making methodology (prioritizing / planning the working day and problem-solving and decision-making methodology)
• Presentation and communication (reflection, acting quickly and correctly in problematic situations, project management)

Costs and financing of further training for technical business people:

Depending on the provider and the duration of the course, the costs for further training in technical business management may vary slightly. On average, you can expect to pay these amounts:

• Course fees:between CHF 6'900.- and CHF 19'200.-
  After taking the exam, you will receive around 50% of this back from the federal government on application (regardless of the result)*.
  Note: Members of the Kaufmännischer Verband receive a 10% discount on the costs of training courses and courses offered by individual training providers
• Course fees for shortened two-semester courses for technical business management assistants: approx. CHF 10,000.
• Examination fees:CHF 1,800 (as at: 2023)
  The examination fee is set by the body responsible for the professional examination. It is paid by the candidate after confirmation of admission to the Technical Business Management Assistant examination.
• Extra costs:At some schools, the costs for enrolment fees, teaching materials, training documents, books, intensive exam training, simulation exams, school diplomas and interim qualifications, for example, are not included in the course fees. Please contact the provider of your choice directly to find out what additional costs you can expect for the technical business management assistant further training course.
• Acquisition of additional qualifications:For additional qualifications such as the edupool.ch Higher Business Diploma, VSK Higher Business Diploma, VSH Office and Commercial Diploma, ICT Smart User SIZ or ICT Advanced User SIZ, you must expect to pay extra for the preparation and external examination.

*Since January 1, 2018, preparatory courses for federal professional examinations such as technical business management assistant have been financially supported by the federal government. Graduates of these courses can therefore be reimbursed up to 50% (max. CHF 9,500) of the course costs paid after taking the federal examination. In exceptional cases of hardship, the federal contributions are also paid out in advance.

Duration of study, number of lessons and learning effort for the "Technical Business Management Assistant" course:

• The "Technical Business Management Assistant" course is modular in structure and lasts 2 to 5 semesters part-time or approx. 2 semesters full-time. It comprises approx. 750 lessons.
• Lesson times vary depending on the provider of the "Technical Business Management Assistant" course. As a rule, lessons take place two evenings a week or all day on a weekday and/or Saturday.
• Many schools now offer a mix of face-to-face and online courses (online, hybrid teaching, blended learning) as well as self-study.
• Thanks to the extra-occupational concept of the "Technical Business Management Assistant" further education course, you can apply and consolidate the course material in practice straight away. Nevertheless, you should allow sufficient time for preparation and follow-up of the lessons and for self-study - how much depends on your previous knowledge, working style and learning speed. As a precaution, we recommend that you allow at least 10 - 13 hours per week.

Note: Some schools offer so-called "taster lessons". This gives you the opportunity to gain an insight into the lessons and the learning atmosphere. These are important aspects on the way to a successful "Technical Business Management Assistant" qualification. It is best to contact the school of your choice directly.

Degree, diploma and title Technical Business Management Assistant:

The professional examination "Technical Business Management Assistant with Federal Certificate" takes place annually, provided that at least 50 candidates (in German, 15 in French and 5 in Italian) meet the admission requirements, otherwise every two years. It can be held in German, French or Italian.
Candidates for the professional examination for technical business management assistants are notified at least 30 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 professional examination for technical business management assistant comprises the following nine examination parts:

1. Supply Cham Management (written, 90 minutes)
   • Knowledge questions and mini-cases
   • on fields of action: Supply chain management, infrastructure, quality, standards, occupational safety and ecology
2. Marketing and sales (written, 90 minutes)
   • Knowledge questions and mini-cases
   • to fields of action: Marketing and sales, as well as services (customer service)
3. Personnel management (written, 90 minutes)
   • Knowledge questions and mini-cases
   • on fields of action: Employee management and communication as well as personnel (work)
4. Finance (written, 90 minutes)
   • Knowledge questions and mini-cases
   • to fields of action: Financial management as well as financial accounting and bookkeeping
5. Corporate management (written, 90 minutes)
   • Knowledge questions and mini-cases
   • on fields of action: Corporate management and environment
6. Law and economics (written, 90 minutes)
   • Knowledge questions and mini-cases
   • to fields of action: Law and economics
7. Integrated case study (written, 150 minutes)
   • integrated case study
   • Central processes and tasks of the central fields of activity of technical business people
8. Problem-solving and decision-making methodology (written, 60 minutes)
   • Post-basket task to demonstrate problem-solving and decision-making methodology
   • prioritize and plan various activities from a working day as a technical business management assistant
9. Presentation and communication (oral, 60 minutes - incl. 30 minutes preparation time)
   • Examination item 1: Presentation and reflection
   • Exam item 2: Demonstrate critical incidents - act quickly and correctly in problematic situations

Diploma and title "Technical Business Management Assistant"

Graduates of the professional examination receive a federal certificate and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected title "Technical Businessman with Federal Certificate" or "Technical Businesswoman with Federal Certificate".

• In French: "Agente technico-commerciale avec brevet fédéral", "Agent technico-commerciale avec brevet fédéral"
• In Italian: "Agente tecnico-commerciale con attestato professionale federale"
• In English: "Specialist in Business Administration and Applied Technical Management, Federal Diploma of Higher Education" (Attention: This is only a recommendation/translation and not a protected title)