English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 55 Principles
(Art. 49 VPETA) 1 In collaboration with partners, vocational, educational and career guidance counsellors help individuals to prepare for, choose and shape their careers. 2 Guidance covers the provision of general information about existing education and training programmes as well as specific information and advice based on individual needs. 3 Personal advice is intended to enable persons seeking advice to make informed vocational, educational and career decisions based on their specific skills and aptitudes as well as on the needs of the labour market.
Art. 56 Minimum requirements for specialised training of guidance counsellors
(Art. 50 VPETA) 1 Specialised training of vocational, educational and career guidance counsellors shall be provided by a higher education institution or by an institution recognised by SERI. 2 Specialised training shall cover: a. 600 learning hours for learners who have already earned a tertiary-level higher education qualification and 1800 learning hours for all other learners; b. traineeships lasting a total of twelve weeks. 3 In order to teach, teachers must have a qualification in vocational, educational and career guidance awarded by a higher education institution or a federally recognised institution and must be able to certify their methodological and didactic skills. 4 For other types of degrees, SERI shall decide on a case-per-case basis.
Art. 57 Course content
(Art. 50 VPETA) 1 Specialised training for vocational, educational and career guidance counsellors shall cover the following areas: a. people as individuals: developmental, learning and personality psychology; b. people and society: sociological, legal and economic principles; c. people and work: education system, choice of occupation and studies, career studies, occupational psychology and labour market; d. working methods: counselling, diagnostics, preparing individuals for career choices, performance review, documentation and public relations; e. understanding of tasks: professional ethics, professional identity, quality improvement. 2 Training shall cover the essential aspects of providing orientation to young people, educational guidance, career guidance to adults as well as guidance to individuals with disabilities.
Art. 58 Access to qualification procedures and issuance of corresponding qualifications
(Art. 50 VPETA) 1 Education and training institutions shall decide whether candidates may gain access to qualification procedures. When doing so, these institutions shall also consider competences obtained outside their own education and training programmes. 2 Individuals who successfully complete qualification procedures shall be awarded a qualification from the education and training institution and shall have the right to use the title «certified vocational, educational and career guidance counsellor».