Self-test: Is the "Purchasing Manager with Federal Diploma" course the right one for me?
Test here whether a job as an expert in purchasing with a federal diploma suits you and whether a preparatory course for the federal higher professional examination "Purchasing Manager" (formerly Purchasing Manager, abolished in 2011) is the right path for you.
What does the day-to-day work of a purchasing manager with a federal diploma look like?
Purchasing managers are responsible for the strategic and operational procurement of material goods and services in the purchasing departments of companies in all sectors. To this end, they formulate procurement concepts and implement them in the company. They manage budgets, prepare key figures, optimize processes and monitor economic profitability.
As managers, they lead a department or division and coordinate activities with the other divisions. Purchasing managers know the procurement markets and are in regular contact with their most important suppliers. They maintain existing relationships, establish new procurement channels and conduct negotiations up to the point of drawing up framework agreements. Through regular analyses of political, economic and ecological world events, they recognize emerging changes at an early stage and ensure that procurement concepts are adapted accordingly.
(Note: The weighting of the individual task areas can vary greatly depending on the company and task profile).
Question 1:
Do the activities described meet your expectations? Would you like to work as a purchasing manager?
Great!
If you don't like all the jobs, think about which ones interest you the most. Also take a look at relevant job advertisements. You may find that there are only jobs that you are more suited to, in which case you are in the right place with this training.
Here is a list for inspiration:
If you don't like the activities, take a look at the numerous other further training opportunities. You will find a large selection on Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch.
Target group and skills: Who is the Higher Professional Examination for Purchasing Managers with a Federal Diploma suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?
The course and the higher professional examination for "Purchasing Manager with Federal Diploma" are suitable for
- Experienced purchasers and executives from industrial, commercial and service companies who are looking for a management position in the supply chain / purchasing area
- Managers who manage a purchasing department and want to expand their skills
- Prospective managers who want to expand their specific specialist knowledge
- Experienced supply chain employees who would like to further expand their career and salary opportunities with a federal diploma
Purchasing Managers should have the following personal qualities and skills:
- Analytical and strategic thinking skills
- Entrepreneurial and service-oriented approach, sense for numbers
- Excellent communication skills
- Sociability
- Winning appearance
- Negotiating skills
Question 2:
Do you belong to one of the target groups for this training course and do you have the necessary personal qualities?
Great!
- If you do not belong to any of the above-mentioned groups, you cannot apply for the federal diploma directly. In this case, take a look atfollowing page. You may come across further training courses here that are aimed precisely at people like you.
- If you do not have the necessary professional experience in purchasing, procurement, materials management or logistics, use professional job boards to search for suitable jobs.
- If you do not have the necessary personal qualities and skills, you will not be happy in this demanding management role. Look out for further training opportunities that offer a professional specialization that better suits your skills.
- If you are unsure whether you are well suited to such a role, it is best to discuss this with your line manager or career advisor. You can find suitable providers of career advice and career coaching here:
Prerequisites for admission to the Advanced Professional Examination for Purchasing Managers:
Persons who fulfill the following conditions by the time of the examination date or examination registration are admitted to the Advanced Professional Examination for Purchasing Managers:
- Federal certificate of proficiency (EFZ), high school diploma or equivalent and then at least five years of relevant professional experience in materials management, procurement, purchasing, logistics or a corresponding business area
Or
- Federal diploma (BP) and at least three years of relevant professional experience in materials management, procurement, purchasing, logistics or a corresponding business area
Or
- Diploma from a higher professional examination (HFP), diploma from a higher technical college (HF), university of applied sciences or university and at least two years of relevant professional experience in materials management, procurement, purchasing, logistics or a corresponding business area
You will find out whether you have been admitted to the higher specialist examination at least three months before the start of the examination with a written notification including reasons in the event of rejection.
Note: Some schools are prepared to admit you to a preparatory course for the Higher Professional Examination for Purchasing Managers if you do not (yet) meet the criteria for admission to the federal examination. It is your responsibility to ensure that you meet the necessary requirements at the time of the examination/examination registration. At some schools, it is also possible to attend the course without the intention of taking an examination. Admission requirements vary depending on the provider.
Question 3:
Do you meet the requirements for admission?
Great!
If you are not sure whether your professional experience will be recognized as professional experience for purchasing managers, clarify your chances directly with the sponsor of the examination regulations, theprocure.ch.
If you have little or no professional experience, you have the following options:
- Use professional job boards to search for suitable jobs where you can gain experience.Hereyou will find helpful information.
- If you know someone from your private or professional environment who is already working in one of the areas of materials management, procurement, purchasing or logistics, ask this person for tips and whether he/she would support you in your job search. He/she will certainly have the relevant contacts and connections.
If you are not sure whether your qualifications will be accepted for the higher professional examination (equivalence test), please contact theExamination secretariat.
SERI is responsible for assessing the equivalence of foreign qualifications for admission to the HFP.Hereyou will find more information.
If you are not sure whether your professional experience will be recognized as professional experience for purchasing managers, clarify your chances directly with the sponsor of the examination regulations, theprocure.ch.
If you have little or no professional experience, you have the following options:
- Use professional job boards to search for suitable jobs where you can gain experience.Hereyou will find helpful information.
- If you know someone from your private or professional environment who is already working in one of the areas of materials management, procurement, purchasing or logistics, ask this person for tips and whether he/she would support you in your job search. He/she will certainly have the relevant contacts and connections.
If you are not sure whether your qualifications will be accepted for the higher professional examination (equivalence test), please contact theExamination secretariat.
SERI is responsible for assessing the equivalence of foreign qualifications for admission to the HFP.Hereyou will find more information.
Subject matter and content of the training
The subject matter of the preparatory courses for the Higher Professional Examination for Purchasing Managers is based on the specifications of the sponsor of the federal examination, procure.ch.
The preparation courses impart knowledge in the following subject areas, which are also the examination subjects:
- Supply chain management (identifying the challenges facing the company, developing and implementing supply chain strategy and concepts)
- Supplier and risk management (recognizing megatrends and the effects of globalization on supplier management, recognizing the role and importance of suppliers for corporate success, developing a supplier portfolio, managing the supplier life cycle, developing a supplier strategy, identifying, evaluating and controlling risks in supplier management)
- Procurement controlling (demonstrating the influence of procurement on the company's success, designing and applying controlling for procurement, developing reporting for key procurement figures, etc.)
- Sustainable procurement (analyzing the company's situation and procurement for sustainability, developing a procurement strategy, defining measures for strategy implementation, measuring and reporting results)
- Digital procurement (understanding IT solutions, assessing their potential and outlining solutions, using IT in operational processes, evaluating IT in strategic processes, managing the use of IT and evaluating trends)
- Material / product group management (understanding the importance and objectives of material management (MGM), organizing, developing and managing MGM)
- Sourcing strategies (deriving sourcing strategies from the corporate strategy, developing sourcing strategies for material groups, applying sourcing strategies and evaluating results)
- Project management (strategic use of project management, application of multi-project management, etc.)
- Finance and accounting (assessment of the annual financial report, application of differentiated cost and performance accounting, preparation of procurement plans and budgets, etc.).
- International contract law (understanding the legal basis of international procurement, developing and applying important contract types, managing legal disruptions, etc.)
- Corporate management and leadership (development of entrepreneurial thinking and action, systematic handling of strategic problems, support and management of change processes, etc.)
- Economics (explaining market forces and their limits, understanding the mechanisms of stock exchanges and financial markets, assessing the opportunities and risks of globalization, evaluating the influence of digitalization, etc.).
- Conducting negotiations (understanding the importance of strategic negotiations, using appropriate communication in negotiations, preparing, planning and conducting negotiations, etc.)
Question 4:
Are you interested in this content, would you like to acquire knowledge in these subject areas?
Great! You can look forward to exciting and instructive hours in which you will broaden your knowledge horizon and skills - aspects that are in demand on the job market and increase your career and salary opportunities.
If you are only partially interested in the content of this federal diploma, take a look at other training and further education courses in the field of marketing. You may find a course that suits you better. You will find inspirationhere.
Obviously the typical subject areas of purchasing managers with a federal diploma are not your thing. 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
The costs vary depending on the provider (apart from the examination fee, which is set by the HFP sponsor). In general, the following costs must be expected for the 2-4 semester part-time purchasing manager training course:
- Course feesBetween CHF 14,880 and CHF 16,900, of which you will receive around 50% back from the federal government on application after the examination (regardless of the result).* Note: Procure members benefit from reduced course costs.Herefor more information.
- External examination feesCHF 2,900 (as at: March 2023) The examination fee is set by the sponsor of this course or higher professional examination. It is paid by the candidate after admission has been confirmed.
- Extra costsAt some schools, the costs for teaching materials, training documents and simulation exams, for example, are not included in the course fees. Additional costs must also be expected for any preliminary courses, such as in finance and accounting.
Please contact the provider of your choice directly to find out what additional costs you can expect.
*Since 1.1.2018, preparatory courses for federal professional examinations (BP) and higher professional examinations (HFP) have been financially supported by the federal government. Graduates of these courses will therefore be reimbursed up to 50% (max. CHF 9,500 for BP, max. CHF 10,500 for HFP) of the course costs paid upon application after taking the federal examination. In exceptional cases of hardship, the federal contributions will also be paid out in advance.
Question 5:
Are you able to pre-finance around CHF 17,780 - CHF 19,800 for the course and exam?
Great! Here's another tip: If you are able to pay the full amount in advance, ask the school of your choice whether they offer a special discount for full payment in advance.
Information on financial support options from the employer, federal government, canton, foundations or through loans from the Education Promotion FoundationEducaSwisscan be found in our guide "How to finance your further training properly".
Most schools allow you to pay the course costs in installments. Most schools charge a small surcharge for payment in installments.
Ask your employer whether they will contribute to the costs.
Perhaps there is someone in your private circle who will support your further education project with a loan. A bank or credit institution may also support you with an education loan. You will be able to repay some of the borrowed funds immediately after the Advanced Federal Diploma Examination with the federal contribution.
Information on financial support options from the employer, federal government, canton, foundations or through loans from the Education Promotion FoundationEducaSwisscan be found in our guide "How to finance your further training properly".
Information on financial support for temporary workers from "temptraining", the further training fund of the temporary employment sector, can be found athere.
Most schools allow you to pay the course costs in installments. Most schools charge a small surcharge for payment in installments.
Ask your employer whether they will contribute to the costs.
Perhaps there is someone in your private circle who will support your further education project with a loan. A bank or credit institution may also support you with an education loan. You will be able to repay some of the borrowed funds immediately after the Advanced Federal Diploma Examination with the federal contribution.
Information on financial support options from the employer, federal government, canton, foundations or through loans from the Education Promotion FoundationEducaSwisscan be found in our guide "How to finance your further training properly".
Information on financial support for temporary workers from "temptraining", the further training fund of the temporary employment sector, can be found athere.
Duration of study, number of lessons and learning effort
- The purchasing manager training course has a modular structure and lasts 2-4 semesters, depending on the provider.
- The course comprises approx. 308 lessons, which are attended at different times. These time variants are determined independently by the respective schools, so there may be differences (e.g. one or two evenings per week or one evening plus half a Saturday or a full day on Saturdays).
- Many schools offer a mix of face-to-face and online courses (online, hybrid teaching, blended learning) as well as self-study. You can therefore choose the format that allows you to combine further education with your family, career and free time in the best possible way.
- Thanks to the in-service training concept, you can apply and deepen the learning material in practice straight away. Nevertheless, you should allow sufficient time for preparation and follow-up of the lessons and for self-study - how much depends on your prior knowledge, working style and learning speed. We recommend that you allow at least 4-6 hours per week as a precaution.
Note: Some schools offer so-called "taster lessons". This gives you the opportunity to gain an insight into the lessons and the learning atmosphere. Important aspects on the way to a successful graduation. It is best to contact the school of your choice directly for a taster lesson.
Question 6:
Can you find the time for lessons and self-study?
Great!
Tip for self-study: Set yourself realistic daily or weekly targets and think about a small reward when you have achieved them. A good study strategy not only motivates you, but also protects you from chaotic, stressful study days and nights shortly before the exam.
If you do not have that much time, contact the providers and clarify whether you can possibly complete the course over more than four semesters.
If you still don't have enough time, check whether you can create space for yourself elsewhere. Perhaps someone close to you can take on certain tasks for you for the duration of your training?
Degree, diploma and title
The Higher Professional Examination for Purchasing Managers is held once a year if at least 12 candidates meet the admission requirements, otherwise at least every two years. The examination can be taken in one of the three official languages German, French or Italian.
Candidates are notified at least 28 calendar days before the start of the examination. The invitation includes the examination program (place and time of the examination) and the list of experts.
The higher professional examination comprises 13 examination parts (type of examination, time, weighting)
- Strategic Supply Chain Management and Quality Management (written, 90 minutes, weighted 1)
- Strategic supplier and risk management (written, 90 minutes, weighting 1)
- Sustainable procurement (written, 90 minutes, weighting 1)
- Material / product group management and sourcing strategies (written, 90 minutes, weighted 1)
- Procurement controlling (written, 90 minutes, weighting 1)
- Digital procurement (oral, 45 minutes, weighting 1)
- Management-oriented finance and accounting (written, 60 minutes, weighting 1)
- Applied Project Management (written, 60 minutes, weighting 1)
- International Contract Law (oral, 45 minutes, weighting 1)
- Applied Economics (written, 60 minutes, weighting 1)
- Corporate Management and Leadership (oral, 45 minutes, weighting 1)
- Negotiation (oral, 45 minutes, weighting 1)
- Diploma thesis (written, prepared in advance and oral, 45 minutes, weighting 3)
The diploma thesis is an individual piece of work that candidates work on independently. The topic for the thesis is chosen by the candidates themselves, but it should be a task or problem from their own professional environment (an internal company project is recommended). Furthermore, the chosen topic must come from the areas of procurement, purchasing or supply chain management and be related to several module topics. The thesis must also adhere to the guidelines on form and content; there is a specific document for this purpose in which all guidelines are listed.
The thesis is then presented orally to a panel of experts (duration: 20 minutes), after which the candidates answer questions from the experts (duration: 25 minutes).
Diploma and title
Successful graduates of the higher professional examination receive a federal diploma and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected title "Purchasing Manager with Federal Diploma".
In French: "Responsable Achats avec diplôme fédéral"
In Italian: "Responsabile degli acquisti von diploma federale"
In English (This is only a recommendation/translation and not a protected title): "Purchaising Manager, Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education"
Question 7:
Do you have the confidence to pass the Advanced Federal Diploma Examination?
Great!
Here are some general success factors on the way to a new training qualification:
- Regular attendance of lessons
- Actively contribute your questions, don't leave anything half-understood in the room!
- Interest in the topic and active participation in class
- Detailed preparation and follow-up of the lesson material at home
- Committed cooperation in group work, processing of case studies, etc.
- Participation in learning groups for regular exchange
- Intensive exam preparation: practise exam situations and gain exam experience, e.g. in simulation exams
If you are unsure, we recommend that you attend an information event on this course.
Arrange a personal consultation appointment with the school of your choice or the sponsor of the higher professional examination, theprocure.ch. Explain your interest and your concerns and see how your counterpart reacts to which points and what they recommend.
Ask the school management about support options. Also consider whether you would like other support, for example from learning therapists or coaches, autogenic or mental training.
Here are some general success factors on the way to a new training qualification:
- Regular attendance of lessons
- Actively contribute your questions, don't leave anything half-understood in the room!
- Interest in the topic and active participation in class
- Detailed preparation and follow-up of the lesson material at home
- Committed cooperation in group work, processing of case studies, etc.
- Participation in learning groups for regular exchange
- Intensive exam preparation: practise exam situations and gain exam experience, e.g. in simulation exams
If you are not at all confident that you can pass the final examination but would like to complete the course, it is best to arrange a personal consultation with a school or the body responsible for the higher professional examination, theprocure.ch. Explain your interest and your concerns and see how your counterpart reacts to which points and what they recommend.
Ask the school of your choice whether there are any support options for you.
Also consider whether you would like other support, for example from learning therapists or coaches, autogenic or mental training. You can find suitable offers here:
No, the course for the Federal Diploma in Purchasing Management (HFP) does not suit you. What a pity? - Perhaps not, because there are so many other options for further training. One or the other would 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.
Purchasing Manager (HFP) is probably not the right further education 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: the job of purchasing manager (HFP) does not seem ideal for you. Or maybe it's the form of training that doesn't suit you or isn't a good organizational fit?
See which other further training courses are suitable for you. OnEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a large selection of offers.
Purchasing manager training is not ideal for you - or is it?
If you are unsure, it is best to attend the providers' information events. There you can find out more about further training and discuss your personal options and questions directly with the specialist representatives present.
Directly to the schools:
"Purchasing Manager Training, Training / Purchasing Manager (HFP)"
This training 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:
"Purchasing Manager Training, Training / Purchasing Manager (HFP)"
This course 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:
"Purchasing Manager Training, Training / Purchasing Manager (HFP)"
Linda, deine Weiterbildungsfinderin