English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 1 Principles
1 Responsibility for upper-secondary level vocational education and training (VET) and tertiary-level professional education shall be shared by the Confederation, the Cantons and professional organisations (social partners, trade associations as well as other organisations and education and training providers within the VPET system). They shall strive to ensure that there is an adequate number of training options within the VPET system, particularly in promising occupational and professional fields. 2 The measures taken by the Confederation shall be designed to provide the Cantons and professional organisations with financial and other resources to encourage initiatives to the greatest extent possible. 3 In order to fulfil the purpose of this Act: a. the Confederation, the Cantons and professional organisations shall coordinate their activities; b. the Cantons and professional organisations shall also coordinate their activities.
Art. 2 Object and scope
1 This Act applies to all occupational and professional fields except those covered by the higher education sector: a. upper-secondary level vocational education and training (VET), including subjects taught in the preparatory course for the Federal Vocational Baccalaureate (FVB) Examination; b. tertiary-level professional education; c. job-related continuing education and training; d. qualification procedures, qualifications and titles; e. training provided to VPET professionals; f. responsibilities and principles associated with vocational, educational and career guidance; g. federal funding to help cover the costs of the VPET system. 2 This Act does not apply to education and training governed by other Federal Acts. 3 The Federal Council may, in agreement with the Cantons, exclude individual occupational or professional fields from the scope of this Act if doing so is required for the efficient allocation of tasks between the Confederation and the Cantons.
Art. 3 Objectives
This Act shall foster and develop: a. a Vocational and professional education and training (VPET) system that enables individuals to develop on an occupational, professional and personal level, to become integrated into society, and particularly into working life, that provides them with the skills they need, the willingness to work in a flexible manner and the ability to succeed in working life; b. a VPET system that enables companies to become more competitive; c. a balancing of education and training opportunities in social and regional terms, true gender equality, the elimination of discrimination against people with disabilities as well as equal opportunities and integration for foreign nationals; d. the ability of learners to transfer from one course of study and/or educational approach to another within the VET and professional education sectors as well as between the VET and professional education sectors and other sectors of the education system (permeability); e. greater tran
let. c — Amended by Annex No 2 of the FA of 16 Dec. 2016 (Integration), in force since 1 Jan. 2019 (AS 2017 6521, 2018 3171; BBl 2013 2397, 2016 2821).
Art. 4 Development of the VPET system
1 In order to develop the VPET system, the Confederation shall lend support to studies, pilot projects, VPET research and the creation of viable structures in new VPET areas. 2 The Confederation shall also become involved in such activities whenever this is needed to further the development of the VPET system. 3 If necessary, and following consultation with the Cantons and professional organisations concerned, the Federal Council may temporarily deviate from the provisions of this Act for pilot projects. 4 The quality and independence of VPET research must be guaranteed by qualified research institutes.
Art. 5 Information, documentation and teaching materials
The Confederation shall promote: a. the provision of information and documentation of interest to Switzerland as a whole or to individual linguistic regions within Switzerland; b. the creation of teaching materials intended for linguistic minorities.
Art. 6 Understanding and exchange between linguistic communities
1 The Confederation may promote VPET initiatives that favour greater understanding and exchange between linguistic communities. 2 Specifically, it may promote: a. individual multilingualism, in particular by establishing requirements as far as the language of instruction and language training of teachers are concerned; b. initiatives taken by the Cantons, professional organisations and companies to send teachers and learners to other linguistic regions.
Art. 7 Promoting disadvantaged regions and groups
The Confederation may promote VPET initiatives intended to help disadvantaged regions and groups.
Art. 8 Improving quality
1 Education and training providers within the VPET system shall be responsible for ensuring the constant improvement of quality. 2 The Confederation shall promote quality improvement, establish quality standards and monitor compliance.
Art. 9 Encouraging permeability within the education system
1 Regulations on the VET and professional education sectors shall ensure the greatest possible permeability both within the VET and professional education sectors as well as between the VET and professional education sectors and other sectors of the education system. 2 The professional or non-professional experience or technical or general skills gained outside usual formal education and training pathways shall also be recognised and/or validated where appropriate.
Art. 10 Rights of learners to be consulted
Host companies and VET schools shall ensure that the rights of learners to be consulted are respected.
Art. 11 Private providers
1 The measures contained in this Act must not create unfair distortions of competition affecting private providers on the education market. 2 Public providers competing with unsubsidised private providers must charge market prices for their job-related CET courses.