Self-test: Is the course "Automatikfachfrau / Automatikfachmann mit eidg. Fachausweis" what I had in mind?
Test here whether the job profile "Automation specialist with federal certificate" suits you and whether a part-time preparatory course is the right path for you.
What does the day-to-day work of an automation specialist with a federal certificate look like?
Automation specialists work wherever automated systems such as production systems, logistics systems or building services systems are developed, installed or retrofitted. They are involved in the development and planning of the systems and draw up specifications and planning documents as well as resource or cost plans. Smaller projects such as the installation and commissioning of customer-specific devices or the maintenance of industrial systems are carried out independently by an automation specialist. In large projects, the automation specialist takes on subtasks such as setting up the technical control equipment or programming the control systems. As employees in production plants, they are involved in the maintenance and quality assurance of the systems and help to detect and rectify faults.
The following areas of work are typical for automation specialists with a federal certificate:
- Construction, configuration, commissioning and testing of systems, production machines and prototypes
- Evaluation of components and devices for automation
- Plan, monitor and control automation projects including resource and cost plans, scheduling and collaboration with engineers
- Putting machines and systems into operation
- Programming PLC controls
- Configure electric, pneumatic and hydraulic drives
- Maintenance, troubleshooting, optimization, repair and maintenance work
- Carry out demanding service and maintenance work
- Troubleshooting across technologies
- Testing functionality and quality assurance
- Implementation of experimental setups
- Evaluation of measurement series
- Supporting internal departments and employees in technical matters
Employment as an automation specialist with a federal certificate is possible in the following sectors:
- Machinery industry
- Electrical industry
- Metal industry
- Food industry
- Chemical industry
- Pharmaceutical industry
- other industries in areas such as automation, production, manufacturing and control
Question 1:
Do the activities meet your expectations? Can you imagine working as an automation specialist?
If you like the actual job of an automation specialist, you are on the right track. The next question is then what type of training is right for you to acquire the relevant skills.
Even if you don't like all the tasks involved in being an automation specialist, it could still be the right job for you. In almost every job, there are also tasks that are less interesting. However, the tasks as an automation specialist with a federal certificate should arouse your interest and appeal to you.
Alternatively, you can look at descriptions of similar job profiles, as another degree may suit you better:
- ICT system and network technician (BP)
- Maintenance specialist (BP)
- Production specialist (BP)
- Project and workshop manager for switchgear construction (BP)
- Process specialist (BP)
- Telematics Project Manager (BP)
If you don't like the activities, you should find out which parts of the tasks you don't like so much. Is it the planning or the commissioning? Or the evaluation of measurement series as an automation specialist?
Depending on your answer, you could look in job advertisements to see if there are jobs with a different distribution of tasks. Or you can take inspiration from other similar jobs. If you are generally unsure about what you want to do, we can help you with ourAdvisorhelp you find your own calling.
Target group and skills: Who is the vocational examination for automation specialists with a federal certificate suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?
The automation specialist apprenticeship is aimed at professionals with a technical apprenticeship qualification who wish to continue their training in automation, or for career changers entering the technical field. Predestined are professions such as:
- Polymechanic
- Machine mechanic
- Design engineer
- Car mechanic
- Electrician
- Plant and apparatus engineer
- Automatic fitter
The following skills and characteristics are required for a successful job as an automation specialist:
- Technical understanding
- Interest in electronics and complex tasks
- Enjoy developing and trying things out
- Sense for complex systems and ability to abstract
- Good organizational skills
- Goal-oriented action and precise working methods
- Experimentation and perseverance
- Independence
- Ability to work in a team
- Sense of responsibility and reliability
- Knowledge of mathematics
- Leadership qualities
Question 2:
Do you belong to one of the target groups of the automation specialist training program?
If you belong to the target group and you have the necessary skills and characteristics, then the automation specialist course is still an option for you. The course still seems to meet your expectations.
- If you do not belong to any of the above-mentioned groups, you cannot apply directly for the federal certificate as an automation specialist. Entry opportunities in the field ofAutomationare numerous and may offer alternative educational opportunities that may interest you even more or suit you better.
- If you do not have the necessary skills and qualities for the job description of an automation specialist, you will probably not be good and satisfied in such a position. Look for alternative apprenticeships in the automation sector.
- If you are still unsure about your professional development, contact experienced people such as career advisors for targeted advice or coaching:
Requirements for admission to the vocational examination for automation specialists:
For admission to the final examination (federal professional examination) as an automation technician, the following prerequisites are required at the start of the examination:
- Federal certificate of proficiency in a technical profession or equivalent qualification and two years of practical experience in a field of application for automation specialists
or
- Federal certificate of proficiency in a non-technical profession or equivalent qualification and four years of practical experience, including three years in a field of application for automation specialists
or
- eight years of practical experience, including three years in a field of application for automation specialists
and
- Passed preliminary examinations in the subjects of electronics, hydraulics and pneumatics, electrical drive technology, control technology, measurement / control / regulation, technical project management. These examinations are part of the preparatory courses and are taken at the relevant school.
Some schools require sufficient prior knowledge of electrical engineering, control technology and the use of a PC or notebook, good written and spoken German (level C1). Depending on your previous knowledge, we recommend a preliminary course in electrical engineering, electronics, computer applications or a German language course.
You will be informed in writing at least two months before the start of the examination whether you meet the requirements for the professional examination for automation specialists - in the event of rejection, including reasons and information on legal remedies.
Question 3:
Do you have the required apprenticeship qualification and the necessary professional experience for the professional examination for automation specialists? And do you have the confidence to complete the additional courses required?
If you meet the requirements, you can start training as an automation specialist at the earliest possible date. You will then be admitted to the professional examination.
If you are not sure whether your professional experience is sufficient, clarify your chances directly with the sponsor of the professional examination, theVAMAssociation for BP for automation specialists in mechanical and apparatus engineering.
If you have too little or no professional experience for the professional examination for automation specialists, you have the following options:
- Search with the help of professional job boardsas followsfor suitable jobs.
- If you know someone who is employed in the automation industry, ask them for help with your job search.
If you are not sure whether you are eligible for admission to the professional examination after training as an automation technician by means of an equivalence test, please contact theExamination secretariator theSERIfor foreign degrees.
If you have not completed your basic vocational training, you can make up for it. How can you do this in ourAdvisor"The Swiss education system at a glance".
If you are unsure whether your qualifications and professional experience are sufficient, clarify your chances directly with the sponsor of the professional examination, theVAMAssociation for BP for automation specialists in mechanical and apparatus engineering.
If you have too little or no professional experience for the professional examination for automation specialists, you have the following options:
- Search with the help of professional job boardsas followsfor suitable jobs.
- If you know someone who is employed in the automation industry, ask them for help with your job search.
If you are not sure whether you are eligible for admission to the professional examination after training as an automation technician by means of an equivalence test, please contact theExamination secretariator theSERIfor foreign degrees.
If you have not completed your basic vocational training, you can make up for it. How can you do this in ourAdvisor"The Swiss education system at a glance".
Subject matter and content of the further training course for automation specialists:
The subject matter of the preparatory courses for the professional examination for the automation specialist certificate is based on the specifications of the sponsor of the federal examination, theVAMAssociation for BP for automation specialists in mechanical and apparatus engineering.
The course content of the automation specialist training is divided into the following topics or modules:
- Electronics
- Components
- Integrated modules
- Circuit technology
- Measurement technology
- Hydraulics and pneumatics
- Hydraulics basics
- Hydraulic components
- Hydraulic controls and circuits
- Pneumatics basics
- Pneumatic components
- Pneumatic controls and circuits
- Electrical drive technology
- Basic concepts of drive technology and dynamics
- Direct current (DC) motor on the power converter
- Asynchronous motor on the frequency inverter
- Control technology
- PLC basics
- PLC programming basics
- PLC programming in AWL or FBS
- PLC programming sequence control
- PLC program creation
- Safety aspects of control systems
- Measurement, control, regulation
- Basics
- Measurement of physical quantities (sensors), actuators (drives), effectors (grippers)
- Controls with discontinuous controllers, controls with continuous controllers
- Commissioning and settings of controls
- Practically relevant standard project
- Technical project management
- Basics
- Systems thinking
- Problem-solving cycle
- Project management
Question 4:
Are you interested in the content of the further training course for automation specialists and would you like to acquire knowledge in these subject areas?
Perfect, the content suits you perfectly. With the skills you have learned, you can score points on the job market and increase your salary prospects. You can now find out more about the structure and concept of the automation specialist apprenticeship from the training institutes.
If you are only partially interested in the content of the automation specialist apprenticeship, then this course is probably not the right one for you. Then take a look at other training and further education opportunities in theAutomation areathat suit you better due to the content taught.
Obviously the typical course content for an automation specialist with a federal certificate is not for you. Take a look at other further training courses instead. OnEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a wide range of options.
Costs and financing of further training for automation specialists:
The costs vary depending on the provider and duration of the training to become an automation specialist. On average, these amounts are to be expected for the training costs:
- Course fees:between CHF 14'800.- and CHF 18'000.-
After taking the exam, you will receive around 50% of this back from the federal government on application (regardless of the result)*. - Examination fees:CHF 1,200 (as at: 2023)
The examination fee is set by the body responsible for the professional examination. It is paid by the candidate after confirmation of admission to the automation specialist examination. - Extra costs:At some schools, the costs for enrolment fees, teaching materials, training documents, books, intensive exam training, simulation exams, school diplomas and interim qualifications, for example, are not included in the course fees. Please contact the provider of your choice directly to find out what additional costs you can expect for the automation specialist training course.
*Since 1.1.2018, preparatory courses for federal professional examinations, such as training to become an automation specialist, have been financially supported by the federal government. Graduates of these courses can therefore be reimbursed up to 50% (max. CHF 9,500) of the course costs paid after taking the federal examination. In cases of hardship, the federal contributions are also pre-financed in exceptional cases.
Question 5:
Are you able to pre-finance between CHF 14,800 and CHF 18,000 for the automation specialist course and CHF 1,200 for the exam, depending on the course and provider?
Great! Here's another tip: If you would be able to pay the entire amount for the Automatikfachmann / Automatikfachfrau training course in advance, many schools will grant you a discount.
- Information on financial support options from the employer, federal government, canton, foundations or through loans from the Education Promotion FoundationEducaSwissyou will receive in ourAdvisor"How to finance your further training properly".
- Information on financial support for temporary workers through "temptraining", the further training fund of the temporary employment sector, is available athere.
- Information and help on budget planning and budget preparation can be foundhere.
First ask the schools about the actual costs you would have to expect for the automation specialist training. Then find out from your employer whether they will contribute to the costs of the automation specialist training and ask your school about the possibility of paying in installments. Perhaps there is someone in your private circle who will support your further education project with a loan. There are also banks and credit institutions that grant educational loans.
- Information on financial support options from the employer, federal government, canton, foundations or through loans from the Education Promotion FoundationEducaSwissyou will receive in ourAdvisor"How to finance your further training properly".
- Information on financial support for temporary workers through "temptraining", the further training fund of the temporary employment sector, is available athere.
- Information and help on budget planning and budget preparation can be foundhere.
First ask the schools about the actual costs you would have to expect for the automation specialist course. Then find out from your employer whether they will contribute to the costs and ask your school about the possibility of paying in installments. Perhaps there is someone in your private circle who will support your further education project to become an automation specialist with a federal certificate with a loan. There are also banks and credit institutions that grant educational loans.
- Information on financial support options from the employer, federal government, canton, foundations or through loans from the Education Promotion FoundationEducaSwissyou will receive in ourAdvisor"How to finance your further training properly".
- Information on financial support for temporary workers through "temptraining", the further training fund of the temporary employment sector, is available athere.
- Information and help on budget planning and budget preparation can be foundhere.
Duration of study, number of lessons and learning effort for the automation specialist apprenticeship:
- The automation specialist training and further education course is modular (i.e. some of the skills are assessed in module examinations before the professional examination and are only tested across modules in the final examination) and lasts 4 semesters while working. It comprises around 650 lessons.
- Class times vary depending on the provider of the automation specialist training course. Classroom teaching usually takes place one evening a week or on Saturdays.
- Many schools now offer a mix of face-to-face and online teaching (online, hybrid teaching, blended learning) as well as self-study.
- Thanks to the extra-occupational concept of the further training course for automation specialists, you can immediately apply and deepen your knowledge in practice. Nevertheless, you should allow sufficient time for lesson preparation and follow-up as well as for self-study. Depending on your prior knowledge, working style and learning speed, we recommend that you allow at least 4 to 8 hours per week.
Note: Some schools offer so-called "taster lessons", which provide an insight into the lessons and the learning atmosphere. A suitable learning environment is important on the way to successfully completing an automation specialist qualification.
Question 6:
Can you cope with the time and effort required for classroom teaching and homework for the automation specialist training?
If you are confident that you can cope with the teaching time and learning effort, you should start training as an automation specialist. The most you can do is consider whether you can achieve even better results with suitable learning and working methods and a learning plan. Efficient learning methods pay off in any case.
If you don't have that much time to devote to training as an automation specialist, check with the providers whether you can complete the training over more than five years. Or can you find another way to free up time? Perhaps you can hand over certain tasks during the training period?
Degree, diploma and title Automatikfachleute:
The professional examination "Automatikfachmann mit eidg. Fachausweis / Automatikfachfrau mit eidg. Fachausweis" takes place annually, provided that the minimum number of candidates per language meet the admission requirements, otherwise every two years:
- in German language min. 25 persons
- in French language min. 8 persons
- in Italian language min. 3 persons
Candidates for the professional examination for automation specialists are notified at least 2 months before the start of the examination. The invitation includes the examination program (with details of the place and time of the examination as well as permitted aids) and the list of experts.
The professional examination for automation specialists comprises the following three parts:
- Automation in general (written, 1 hour, weighting 1)
- Technology (written, 3 hours, weighting 2)
- Project management (written, 1.5 hours, weighting 1)
Diploma and title "Automatikfachmann / Automatikfachfrau"
Graduates of the professional examination receive a federal certificate and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected title "Automation specialist with federal certificate" or "Automation specialist with federal certificate".
- In French: "Agent en automatique avec brevet fédéral", "Agente en automatique avec brevet fédéral"
- In Italian: "Specialista in automatica con attestato professionale federale"
- In English: "Automation Specialist, Federal Diploma of Higher Education" (Attention: This is only a recommendation/translation and not a protected title)
Question 7:
Do you have the confidence to pass the professional examination to become an automation specialist with a federal certificate?
Good, you are confident that you will successfully complete the professional examination following your training as an automation specialist. Think about where you can best ensure the transfer of practical experience. Which learning and working methods are most efficient for you?
If you are unsure about a successful conclusion, we recommend the following:
- oneInformation eventof the favored educational institute
- onepersonal consultation appointmentwith the school of your choice for further training as an automation specialist
- at theSchool managementAsk about support options
- oneInformationfrom the sponsor of the professional examinationVAMto dispel your concerns
- itselfSupportfromLearning therapistorCoachthroughautogenicormental trainingGet
You are very unsure whether you will be able to graduate as an automation specialist. You could take a look at which subjects you may have struggled with in the past. If these are subjects that will be repeated in this final examination, you should find out about possible preparatory courses, fill in any gaps in your knowledge with the help of private tutors or discuss with the school whether there is the possibility of internal tests or preparatory courses.
If you have intense exam anxiety, you could look for a different type of course that works more with learning achievements, mid-term exams or semester work. External help from learning therapists, kinesiologists, autogenic training providers or mental training providers can also be considered:
No, this course to become an automation specialist with a federal certificate in production does not suit you. What a pity? Perhaps not, because there are so many other options for further training. One or the other will certainly suit you much better.
Check which other further training courses are suitable for you. OnEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a large selection of offers.
The automation specialist with a federal certificate is probably not the right further training goal for you.
Are you surprised or disappointed? Perhaps take the test again and see where your ideas or possibilities deviate from the ideal job. Perhaps this will point you in the direction of more suitable further training.
Then see which other further training courses interest you. ToEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a large selection of offers.
This is a half-hearted result: working as an automation specialist doesn't seem ideal for you. Or is it perhaps the form of training that doesn't appeal to you or doesn't fit well in organizational terms?
See which other further training courses are suitable for you. OnEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a large selection of offers.
Training as an automation specialist is not ideal for you - or is it?
If you are unsure, it is best to attend the information events organized by the providers of automation specialists with a federal certificate. There you will learn a lot more about further training and can discuss your personal options and questions directly with the specialist representatives present.
Directly to the schools:
"Automation specialist with a federal certificate"
Training as an automation specialist seems to suit you.
As a next step, we recommend that you attend an information event at suitable schools and obtain details of the exact costs and dates.
Directly to the schools:
"Automation specialist with a federal certificate"
The automation specialist apprenticeship seems to be made for you!
The best thing to do now is to attend information events at the schools you are interested in and find out everything you need to know about the specific content, costs and dates.
Directly to the schools:
"Automation specialist with a federal certificate"
Linda, deine Weiterbildungsfinderin