Certificate supplements

Certificate supplements are intended for holders of an upper-secondary level vocational qualification who wish to apply for a job abroad or with a foreign company based in Switzerland. Certificate supplements can be helpful as a translation tool for foreign companies, enabling them to assess your technical competences and determine what level your qualification holds in relation to similar qualifications in other countries.

Certificate supplements are information sheets that clarify vocational qualifications.

Certificate supplements are issued for the following vocational qualifications:

• Federal VET Diploma (3- and 4-year VET programme)
• Federal VET Certificate (2-year VET programme)

They contain information about the qualification and allow potential employers in Switzerland and abroad to assess the technical competences of qualification holders. Certificate supplements also show the level that the qualification holds within the Swiss National Qualifications Framework for Vocational and Professional Qualifications (NQF VPQ) and within the European Qualifications Framework (EQF).

They are available in German, French, Italian and English.

Certificate supplements can be downloaded free of charge from the SERI website here: www.sbfi.admin.ch/bvz (page not available in English). They are only valid when accompanied by the original qualification.

Individual qualifications will gradually be referenced to the NQF VPQ. The first certificate supplements will be available starting from January 2016. New certificate supplements will be added every six months (in January and July).