Foreign professional recognition in Switzerland
One of the most common reasons for moving to Switzerland is to work. But will your training from Germany or Austria be recognised in Switzerland? In the following article you will find the answers to this important question - including information on professional recognition and the relevant authorities when emigrating to Switzerland.
Foreign professional recognition
Emigrating to Switzerland: Having your diploma recognised is an important step in being able to pursue your profession in Switzerland. There are two types of recognition: academic recognition and recognition of professional training. We will show you where you need to have your diploma recognised. The sooner you take care of this, the easier it will be to emigrate to Switzerland.
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Swiss professional recognition
Germans are often offered an attractive job in a Swiss company, whereupon they relocate to Switzerland. This has a positive effect on their career and the salary is usually more attractive in Switzerland.
However, you must bear the following in mind: when you move to Switzerland, you cross a border and find yourself in a new country. This country has different laws and regulations. And this affects all areas of life, such as the school system, the world of work and the housing situation.
This raises a crucial question: will your profession from Germany be recognised in Switzerland? What do you need to consider here? In this article, we will explain this to you and show you how to emigrate to Switzerland step by step.
a. Academic recognition 👨🎓
In the following, we must distinguish between two areas, namely academic recognition and recognition of your professional training. It is therefore important to clarify whether and what Switzerland recognises in both areas and what it does not.
Selected fields of study and training programmes are available in Germany and Switzerland are almost identical. Examples include the healthcare sector and marketing studies.
And yet other degree programmes from Germany can lead to difficulties when moving to Switzerland because they focus too much on Germany. A lawyer, for example, primarily deals with German law, not Swiss law.
Even within Switzerland, there may be different requirements in individual cantons, but not necessarily. It is therefore important to clarify the conditions of the canton to which you intend to move at an early stage. You can easily obtain this information directly from the municipality or canton.
It should be mentioned at this point that most academic qualifications are not an obstacle when moving to Switzerland. For example, doctors from Germany who wish to move to Switzerland must have their university diplomas recognised by the Swiss Medical Professions Commission (MEBEKO for short).
b. Recognition of your vocational training
On the one hand, there are the regulated Professions and on the other hand the non-regulated professions. What exactly does that mean?
Regulated professions are those that require special training in order to be practised at all. Examples of this are medical professions, legal professions or education. As in Germany, specific training and a corresponding diploma are required for such professions in Switzerland in order to be authorised to work in these areas.
Non-regulated professions are areas of activity that you can also carry out in Switzerland without any problems. You do not need to go to the authorities. These include commercial professions, the hotel industry and catering. In these sectors, the employer decides for themselves whether they want to employ someone or not.
What do you need for recognition?
Do you work in a regulated profession and now need to have it officially recognised by the cantonal authorities? Then you will find a guide below that will prepare you for this process. In Switzerland, this is officially referred to as the "validation of your professional path". This means that you have to officially prove what training you have completed or what your career path has been to date.
The following proofs are required:
- Identity card, passport or foreigner's identity card
- Officially certified copy of the diploma or training certificate
You realise that this is mainly about formalities and proving that you have the expertise in your industry. And if you already have five years or more of professional experience, this is certainly an advantage. Then you have a good chance of having your profession recognised in Switzerland.
In general, it can be said that a degree from a university in the EU is recognised in Switzerland without any problems. Nevertheless, you should clarify this before you enter the country to avoid any surprises. Of course, your future employer can also help you with this.
Foresight pays off
Some people who emigrate to Switzerland are initially surprised that their qualifications are not regarded as equivalent in this country. And we can certainly understand this surprise, especially if you have studied or completed vocational training in Germany. However, Switzerland has its own complex education and training system with various licences and certificates of competence. So let us be clear: if you want to start your life in Switzerland, having your diploma recognised is an essential step towards being able to pursue your profession in Switzerland. As you have learned in this chapter, there are two possible types of recognition: academic recognition and recognition of professional training. It is advisable that you take the route that suits you best so that you can emigrate to Switzerland with as little stress and worry as possible. Emigration Switzerland is easier if you know what's important - we at Deine3a are happy to support you.
Turning a problem into an opportunity
Switzerland has earned a first-class reputation worldwide as a nation of education and offers a diverse and high-quality range of training and further education programmes for people of all ages and professions. This can also be an opportunity for you to acquire new skills or deepen your existing expertise in certain fields. And you are spoilt for choice in Switzerland in this respect: according to the official careers advice service, there are no fewer than 20,000 further education courses waiting for participants. Perhaps you will soon be one of them?
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Our advisory team and office staff specialise in emigrants from Germany and Austria, and we help people emigrate to Switzerland every day. If you would also like to emigrate to Switzerland, please get in touch using the contact form and get to know our team in Zurich - we look forward to hearing from you! 🤗
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