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Professional and qualified

Recognition of your diplomas

Recognition of vocational training

Important points before you think about moving to Switzerland is the recognition of your professional training

Institutions in Switzerland require Swiss professional recognition from the date of taking up the position or in the foreseeable future after taking up the position. For the recognition procedure, a language test in one of the three national languages (German, French, Italian) at B2 level is required. In some cases, the canton imposes additional language requirements on applicants. If your language skills are not at the required level, we will support and advise you, in cooperation with our partners (lecturers and language schools in Switzerland and abroad), to meet the language requirements. You should take advantage of this offer, because not all language training courses are and will be recognised in Switzerland.

Another point that should not be neglected is your origin and the passport you hold. If you do not have a passport from one of the EU states, you are considered a third-country national. Under the current conditions, entry into Switzerland is only possible in exceptional cases. Another important aspect is the recognition of your professional training; here, too, the place of training plays a very important role.

Not all training courses are recognised in Switzerland. For example, the recognition procedure for nursing professions has been changed. Before you can apply for recognition, you must go through a so-called pre-check at the SKR. All your documents will be checked and you will receive an assessment of the professional training to be recognised in Switzerland based on the diplomas you have submitted.

There are training courses that are currently not recognised as equivalent in the health system, e.g. geriatric nursing = CH specialist in care or e.g. specialist in visceral surgery - this qualification is not known in Switzerland.

Therefore, we suggest that you inform yourself as a matter of priority and in a relevant manner, and we will be happy to assist you as a competent team.

Employment as a temporary employee

We only hire staff who already have SRC recognition.

Statement of the Health Directorate ZH

On 1 February 2020, the Federal Act on Health Professions (Health Professions Act; GesBG SR 811.21) and the associated ordinances (Health Professions Recognition Ordinance (GesBAV, SR 811.214), Register Ordinance GesBG (SR 800.216) and Health Professions Competence Ordinance (GesBKV, SR 811.212) entered into force. These also regulate the exercise of various health care professions in their own professional responsibility as well as the associated professional duties. For the employment of nursing staff, the Health Act §3 in conjunction with §36 (GesG) regulates the criteria under which Spitex institutions and old people's and nursing homes may be operated.

Furthermore, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that nursing professionals with a positive PreCheck are allowed to carry out their work, but only as a trainee or under the professional supervision of a qualified nursing professional who already has a professional licence or the corresponding diploma as an HF nursing professional acquired in Switzerland, or already has the recognition of the professional qualification acquired abroad.

It is compulsory for foreign nursing professionals to have their professional qualification or diploma acquired abroad fully recognised by the SRC, including proof of language proficiency at level B2, if they are employed and remunerated as equivalent nursing professionals and bear the same responsibility..

There has been no change in practice with regard to employment criteria for nurses in Spitex, homes, hospitals, etc. Every foreign professional qualification must be recognised by SKR and is then entered in the national register of health professionals. This serves as quality assurance among the health professions and the persons who make themselves known in such a profession. 

We will be happy to send you the relevant link, /en/health/health-professions/care.html, where you will find all the information, application forms as well as fact sheets, e.g. authorisation to operate a retirement and nursing home or  a Spitex institution. Under Personnel you will find the current employment regulations concerning SKR recognition. Please read them carefully.

As regards the professional qualification in nursing, geriatric care, etc. acquired in Germany, the following applies as of September 2013: 

The three-year German training in geriatric nursing is comparable in terms of admission requirements and scope not with the Swiss training for dipl. Pflegefachmann/ dipl. Pflegefachfrau HF and also not fulfils the minimum requirements of the EU Directive 2005/36/EC for nurses responsible for general care. Therefore, the comparison of the German training in geriatric care to a nursing or care profession at upper secondary level (Fachfrau/Fachmann Gesundheit EFZ and Fachfrau/Fachmann Betreuung EFZ mit Fachrichtung Betagtenbetreuung) was made 

The comparison of the training programmes for geriatric nursing and health care specialist (FaGe) showed that German geriatric nurses would have to complete extensive compensatory measures in order to obtain recognition with the qualification of health care specialist (Fachfrau/Fachmann Gesundheit EFZ).

This is the case because Swiss training takes all age groups into account, whereas German geriatric nursing focuses on the care of the elderly.

The job profile and the competences of the three-year German geriatric care are most comparable with the Swiss training Fachfrau/Fachmann Betreuung EFZ (FaBe) Fachrichtung Betagtenbetreuung. The need for compensation to obtain recognition (equivalence) would be within a reasonable range.

This means that the training in geriatric care is recognised in Switzerland as an EFZ (Fachfrau,-mann Betreuung EFZ).

The SRC's recognition procedure enables health professionals with comparable training and professional experience to fill comparable positions. This procedure is carried out in several steps and is time-consuming.

How does the recognition procedure begin?

The recognition procedure begins with the obligatory PreCheck. This initial free assessment of your documents is carried out via the online portal www.precheck.ch. The PreCheck is a free procedure to clarify whether the SRC is competent to deal with your application for recognition. To save you from unnecessary costs, an assessment is made at the same time as to whether your application has a chance of success. For a detailed examination of the content, you must then submit a fee-based application.

Your advantages:

  • Tiresome postal routes and postage costs are saved

  • Documents can be submitted online

  • Applicants are always and everywhere informed about the current status

  • Questions can be asked directly

  • via the online portal. via the online portal

  • Up-to-date fact sheets and information are available

  • The result and information on further modalities and costs are available directly on the online portal.

What does the recognition procedure cost?

Recognition can cost up to CHF 1,000. Depending on the profession, an additional CHF 130 registration fee for the National Register of Health Professions NAREG will be charged. The fees are charged in one total invoice or in two partial invoices. Please note that the costs vary depending on the recognition procedure. The detailed cost information per profession can be found on our website available under the corresponding profession.

Direct recognition of diplomas in the medical professions from EU/EFTA countries

Persons with diplomas from an EU/EFTA state require diploma recognition for professional establishment. Anyone wishing to provide services for a maximum of 90 working days per calendar year must initiate the registration procedure.

Requirements for recognition

The cumulative requirements that must be met for a diploma from an EU/EFTA state to be recognised in Switzerland are as follows:

  • The applicant is a Swiss national or a national of one of Switzerland's contracting states (EU or EFTA) or his/her spouse is a national of one of these states;

  • The diploma submitted (including any additional certificates required) corresponds to the designation contained in EU Directive 2005/36/EC or in the EFTA Convention;

  • The diploma (including any additional certificates required) was issued by the authority named in EU Directive or in the EFTA Convention. in the EFTA Convention;

  • The diploma (including any additional certificates) has been issued by the authority mentioned in the EU Directive or in the EFTA Convention.

90-day service workers, i.e. persons who maintain their main professional activity and residence in a state of the EU/EFTA and do not wish to settle professionally in Switzerland, are obliged to initiate the registration procedure. For access to the registration procedure, see below under "Links".

Speech entry

Medical professionals who wish to practise the profession in Switzerland must have the necessary language skills. Language skills can be entered in the register of medical professions (MedReg). Applications for registration of a Swiss official language (German, French, Italian) can be submitted together with the application for recognition. Further information can be found in the application form. The registration of other languages can only be applied for after recognition has been granted and only via the online language registration. The fee per language entry is between CHF 50 and CHF 100. For information on submitting an application, requirements for entry, fees / procedure and important further information, see: www.spracheintrag.admin.ch.

(maximum 90 days per calendar year)

EU/EFTA citizens who wish to exercise a regulated profession in Switzerland for a maximum of 90 working days per calendar year must submit a notification to SERI before providing the service. Professional qualifications are carefully reviewed by the competent authority if the profession has an impact on public health or safety. Compared to the recognition procedure for establishment, the deadlines are shorter. The centralised procedure is simplified thanks to the online portal.

All service providers from the EU/EFTA are also subject to a further registration obligation with the State Secretariat for Migration SEM - Meldeverfahren für kurzfristige Erwerbstätigkeit. The online registration must be made before the service provision begins. This confirmation of registration is a mandatory requirement for entry into Switzerland.

Please note that some services may not be provided or are restricted until further notice due to the current health situation. Notifications to SERI are possible and will be forwarded to the authorities responsible for practising the profession after the professional qualifications have been verified. Decisions on admission to the profession and entry into Switzerland are made at cantonal level.

We place you reliably!

The labour market in Switzerland is becoming increasingly flexible, with many choosing to work exclusively in temporary jobs. If you are looking for a career change, temporary work could be just the thing for you.