Self-test Biomedical analyst (HF): Is this course the right one for me?

What does the day-to-day work of biomedical analysts HF look like?

Biomedical analysts are important specialists in medical laboratories in hospitals, research institutes and the pharmaceutical industry. They ensure that body cells, stool samples, blood or other body fluids are correctly taken and analyzed. Their most important tasks are

• Informing and advising patients before taking samples
• Receipt of samples, proper preparation and storage
• Analysis of blood samples, e.g. to determine blood groups or to search for antibodies to pathogens
• Collection and analysis of bone marrow, e.g. for the extraction of stem cells for therapy
• Search for infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites to determine the cause of diseases
• Examination of tissue samples under the microscope, e.g. to determine whether the tissue is benign or malignant after a tumor has been removed
• Molecular biological examinations of a person's genetic material, e.g. to check for the presence of a hereditary disease
• Examination of sperm for fertility tests
• Fast and appropriate transmission of the results to the ordering doctors or hospitals
• Professional exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration with doctors, scientists, nursing staff and other specialists

Target groups

The "Biomedical Analyst HF" degree courses are aimed at people with an interest in scientific and medical contexts who wish to train for qualified work in a medical laboratory.

Can you think analytically? Do you enjoy working with high-tech equipment and are you also good with your hands? Then you already meet some of the most important basic requirements for working in a laboratory. If you are also able to concentrate for long periods of time, work very carefully and have a strong sense of responsibility, you should definitely take a closer look at degree courses in biomedical analysis.

Requirements for admission to the Biomedical Analyst HF / Biomedical Analyst HF degree programs

The general requirements are set out in the framework curriculum. Details of the admission requirements and the admission procedure are set out in writing by the PET colleges themselves. The following requirements generally apply for admission to a "Biomedical Analyst HF" degree program:

General school requirement:

One of the following Swiss educational qualifications is required for admission:

• High school diploma, vocational baccalaureate or specialized baccalaureate (preferably in the field of health)
• If you have completed an apprenticeship with an EFZ; if you have an EFZ in a health or medical profession (e.g. medical practice assistant, biology laboratory technician, druggist or healthcare assistant), some training providers may waive one year of study.
• other equivalent educational qualifications

You will also need:

• Good grades in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics
• Good oral and written German language skills
• good knowledge of English.

Passing the aptitude test:

Depending on the training provider, the aptitude assessment may take the form of an entrance examination or an interview. The aptitude assessment can consist of several steps, for example

• Completing and passing an aptitude test such as Multicheck Competence Analysis Health HF
• 2-day qualifying internship in a hospital or private laboratory
• Submission of a portfolio / dossier (consisting of application form, school and work references, Multicheck evaluation, CV, letter of motivation, external assessment of the internship company)
• Half-hour aptitude interview with two experts

Some time after the admissions interview, you will receive written notification of whether you have passed the admissions procedure and have been accepted onto the Biomedical Analysis HF degree program.

Subject matter and content of the training

The course has a strong scientific focus and teaches the basics for professional laboratory work that meets all safety requirements:

Natural science subjects:

• Anatomy / Pathology
• Biology / Molecular Biology
• Chemistry / Biochemistry
• Immunology
• Mathematics / Statistics
• Physics

Biomedical subject areas:

• Hematology incl. hemostasis
• Immunohematology / Transfusion Medicine
• Clinical chemistry and clinical immunology
• Microbiology (bacteriology, virology, mycology, parasitology)
• Histology and cytology

Work in the laboratory:

• Laboratory technology and laboratory informatics
• Preanalytics
• Communication and collaboration
• Technical English
• Hygiene and occupational safety
• Quality management
• Ethics, law and economics in healthcare
• Organization
• Scientific work

Costs and financing of further training to become a biomedical analyst HF

Half of the training to become a qualified biomedical analyst HF takes place at the school and half in a training company.

• TheTuition feesamount to CHF 0 (yes, that's right: zero) to 1,000 per semester for students from Switzerland and Liechtenstein with a cantonal contribution, i.e. a total of CHF 0-4,000 for students with an EFZ as a laboratory technician specializing in biology or CHF 0-6,000 without relevant previous education. Cantonal contributions are paid to students who have lived in the canton where the college is located for at least 2 years. Without a cantonal contribution, the tuition fee is around CHF 10,000 per semester.
• Depending on the HFFurther costsfor travel expenses, literature, project and study weeks.
• During the entire three-year training period, your training company will provide you with aMonthly compensation. This salary amounts to a total of CHF 36,000-48,000.

Duration of study, number of school hours and learning effort

• The degree course in biomedical analysis lasts three years and can only be completed as a full-time course at a higher technical college. Students are employed by a training company for the entire period.
• The duration of study for students with a relevant qualification (EFZ laboratory technician specializing in biology) is at least 2 years and comprises at least 3,600 learning hours; for students without a relevant qualification it lasts at least 3 years and comprises at least 5,400 learning hours.
• The course consists of around 50% classroom teaching and around 50% practical work in the company.
• The training is divided into several phases, in which school, practical exercises and work in the internship company alternate. At school, you will learn the theoretical basics of biomedical analysis. During the practical exercises, you will learn how to work under professional supervision. During the practical assignments, you will work under the supervision of training supervisors in your training company (a healthcare institution). Proof of competence must be provided throughout the course.
• At the end of the program, you will take written and oral examinations and write a diploma thesis in which you demonstrate that you are able to work independently, critically and systematically on a topic in biomedical analysis.

Degree, diploma and title

The qualification procedure consists of several parts:

• Internship qualifications
• Examination in each of the five subject areas
• Practice-oriented diploma or project work
• Examination interview

Conditions for the award of the diploma:

• Passing all final practical qualifications
• Sufficient grade average in the 5 examinations, no more than one examination may be failed
• Satisfactory assessment of the practice-oriented diploma or project work
• Successfully completed examination interview

Those who meet the requirements receive the diploma and may use the following recognized and protected title:

• qualified biomedical analyst HF / qualified biomedical analyst HF
• technicienne en analyses biomédicales diplômée ES / technicien en analyses biomédicales diplômé ES
• tecnica in analisi biomediche dipl. SSS / tecnico in analisi biomediche dipl. SSS
• Recommended title English: Registered Biomedical Scientist, Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education