Self-test: Is the course "Interior design planner with federal certificate (BP)" the right one for me?
Test here whether the job profile "Interior design planner with federal certificate" (formerly: interior design consultant BP) suits you and whether a part-time preparatory course is the right path for you.
What does the day-to-day work of an interior designer with a federal certificate look like?
As a furnishing planner, you are responsible for advising and supporting customers in furniture and furnishing stores, interior decoration stores or in carpentry and interior design companies. Employees often take on a managerial role with responsibility for budgets and turnover in sales and are responsible for demanding furnishing orders. In the specialist store, they are jointly responsible for the sales-promoting design of the sales areas and presentation of the goods. In direct customer contact, you will explain the properties and possible uses of certain materials and processing methods to your customers. Using perspective hand sketches, they help customers to imagine certain furniture in their living environment and develop design ideas. A furnishing planner has a trained eye for rooms, proportions, colors, styles and a psychological feel for the needs and concerns of customers. If necessary, the planners also visit their customers at home to show them the effect of certain materials and colors on site. On behalf of clients or interior designers, they develop complete furnishing concepts, prepare the planning documents and calculate the quotation. Depending on the sector and area of work, they are responsible for warehousing, checking incoming goods and checking that goods are correctly labeled.
The following areas of work are typical for interior designers with a federal certificate:
- At the point of sale
- Customer advice
- Follow-up of customer visits
- Supervision of the exhibition / sales area
- In the field
- Customer visits
- Advice and handling of the entire order
- In the support of corporate clients
- Developing complete furnishing solutions
- Create and present concepts
- Preparing offers and negotiating contracts
- Customer acquisition and support
- Planning and organization of customer events and promotions
- Administration, bookkeeping, orders, goods control
Question 1:
Do the activities meet your expectations? Can you imagine working in interior design?
If you like the actual job of an interior designer, then 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 of the tasks involved in being a furnishing planner, 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 interior designer 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:
- Housing consultant (certified)
- Flooring consultant (BP)
- Color and Fashion Style Consultant (BP)
- Color Designer (BP)
- Craft designer (BP)
- Interior decorator (BP)
- Home textile designer (BP)
If you don't like the activities, find out which parts of the tasks you don't like so much. Is it the work at the point of sale? Or the work in the field as a furnishing planner?
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 professional examination for interior design planners with a federal certificate suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?
The interior design planner training course is aimed at the following people:
- Professionals in the fields of furniture, interior decoration, interior design
- Trained interior decorators, home textile designers, carpenters, draughtsmen and women
- Housing consultants who wish to acquire a higher qualification with a federal certificate
- People with professional experience in furniture sales and furnishing advice
The following skills and characteristics are required for a successful job as an interior design planner:
- Interest in planning work and structural engineering
- An eye for good design and aesthetics
- Creative and design skills
- Spatial imagination
- Good color sense and imagination
- Observation skills and spatial imagination
- well-groomed appearance
- good manners
- Enjoy sales and consulting
- Service and customer orientation
- Oral and written communication skills
- Resilience and negotiating skills
Question 2:
Do you belong to one of the target groups of the interior design planner training course?
If you belong to the target group and you have the necessary skills and characteristics, then the interior design planner 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 directly apply for the federal certificate as a furnishing planner. Entry opportunities in the field ofInterior designare 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 interior design planner, you will probably not be good and satisfied in such a position. Look for alternative training courses in interior design.
- 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 professional examination in interior design:
For admission to the final examination (federal professional examination) as a furnishing planner, the following prerequisites are required at the start of the examination:
- a federal certificate of proficiency as an interior decorator EFZ (formerly interior decorator), home textile designer EFZ, floor parquet layer EFZ, carpenter EFZ, draftsman EFZ (specializing in architecture or interior design), industrial upholsterer EFZ, retail specialist EFZ (furniture or carpet and floor coverings sector), commercial clerk EFZ or equivalent training
and
- At least 3 years of professional experience in the interior design or furniture sales sectors
or
- Other federally recognized upper secondary level qualification or equivalent qualification and at least 4 years of professional experience in the interior design or furniture sales sectors
You will be informed in writing at least four months before the start of the examination whether you meet the requirements for the professional examination for interior design planners - 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 in interior design? And do you have the confidence to complete the additional courses required?
If you meet the requirements, you can start the interior design planner training course 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, theOdA Housing.
If you have too little or no professional experience for the professional examination for interior design planners, 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 interior decorating 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 completing the interior design planner training course 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, theOdA Housing. Take a look at the "Home Consultant" training course. This is a possible intermediate qualification on the way to becoming a furnishing planner.
If you have too little or no professional experience for the professional examination for interior design planners, 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 interior decorating 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 completing the interior design planner training course 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".
Learning material and contents of the interior design planner training course:
The subject matter of the preparatory courses for the professional examination for the interior design planner certificate is based on the specifications of the sponsor of the federal examination, theOdA Housing.
The learning content of the interior design planner training is divided into the following topics:
- Design
- Interior design (projects) Lighting design
- Technical drawing with CAD
- Sketching and sales sketches
- Color theory
- Style application
- Business administration
- Legal knowledge
- Computer science BüKo in application
- Accounting
- German (correspondence and specialist work)
- National economy
- Consulting
- Consulting technology
- Advice on curtains
- Flooring advice
- Furniture advice
- Bedding advice
- Advice on oriental carpets
- Advice on wall coverings
- Advice on quotations
- Furnishing knowledge
- Excursion to companies
- Upholstered furniture
- Curtain technology
- Measurement of rooms & objects Window design
- Basics of lighting technology / lighting materials science (leather, glass, metal, stone)
- Consulting presentation / sales documents Consulting order processing
- Working and learning techniques Course organization
- Final project and repetition
Question 4:
Are you interested in the contents of the interior design planner training course 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 interior design planner training course from the training institutes.
If you are only partially interested in the contents of the interior design planner further training course, then this course is probably not the right one for you. Then take a look at other training and further education opportunities in theInterior designthat suit you better due to the content taught.
Obviously, the typical course content for an interior design planner 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 in facility planning:
The costs vary depending on the provider and duration of the interior design planner training course. On average, these amounts are to be expected for the training costs:
- Course fees:about CHF 13'000
After taking the exam, you will receive around 50% of this back from the federal government on application (regardless of the result)*.
Each participant receives a contribution of CHF 1,000 from the AVE BBF and employees of member companies are also entitled to a contribution of CHF 4,000 from the further training fund. - Examination fees:CHF 3,000 (as at: 2021)
The examination fee is set by the body responsible for the professional examination. It is paid by the candidate once admission to the interior design planner examination has been confirmed. - Extra costs:At some schools, the costs for enrolment fees, teaching materials, training documents, books, intensive exam training, simulation exams, school diplomas and intermediate diplomas 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 interior design planner training course.
- Acquisition of additional qualifications:For additional qualifications such as housing consultant (certified), you must expect extra costs for the preparation and examination.
*Since 1.1.2018, preparatory courses for federal professional examinations such as the interior design planner training course 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 around CHF 13,000 for the interior design course and CHF 3,000 for the federal examination?
Very good! Here's a tip: If you are able to pay the full amount for the interior design course in advance, many schools will give 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 interior design course. Then find out from your employer whether they will contribute to the cost of the interior designer course 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 interior design planner 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 as an interior designer 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 interior design planner training:
- The interior design planner training, further education is classically structured (i.e. professional examination includes all competencies to be assessed) and lasts 3 to 4 semesters. It comprises around 550 lessons.
- The teaching times vary depending on the provider of the further training course. Classroom teaching usually takes place in two-week blocks. Students must complete their own projects between the teaching units.
- 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 interior design planner further education course, you can apply and deepen the learning material in practice straight away. Nevertheless, you should allow sufficient time for lesson preparation and follow-up as well as for self-study. Depending on your previous knowledge, working style and learning speed, we recommend that you allow the same amount of time for the additional workload as the regular teaching time.
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 a successful degree in interior design.
Question 6:
Can you cope with the time and effort required for classroom teaching and homework for the interior design course?
If you are confident that you can cope with the teaching hours and the learning effort, you should start an interior designer apprenticeship. 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 the interior design course, check with the providers whether you can complete the course over more than five years. Or can you make room for yourself in other ways? Perhaps you can hand over certain tasks during the training period?
Degree, diploma and title in interior design:
The professional examination "Interior design planner with federal certificate" is held annually in German, French and Italian, provided that the minimum number of 12 candidates meet the admission requirements, otherwise every two years.
Candidates for the professional examination for interior design planners are notified at least 6 weeks 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 interior design planners comprises the following four parts:
- Development of an installation solution (weighting 4)
- Situation analysis and creation of a set-up solution (practical, 28 hours)
- Presentation of a furnishing solution (oral, 15 min)
- Develop and visualize a solution
- Sell solution
- Processing orders and managing projects
- Technical discussion on the furnishing solution (oral, 30 min)
- Sell solution
- Processing orders and managing projects
- Professional knowledge (written, 120 min., weighting 1)
- Sell furnishing solution
- Processing orders and managing projects
- Consultation and sales talk (oral, 45 min., weighting 2)
- Advise customers on furnishing solutions
- Selling furnishing solutions
- Processing of action situations in marketing, business organization and finance (written, 150 min, weighting 1)
- Plan and implement sales promotion measures
- Supporting operational processes
Diploma and title "Interior design planner"
Graduates of the professional examination receive a federal professional certificate and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected title "Interior Designers with a Federal Professional Certificate" or "Interior Designers with a Federal Professional Certificate".
- In French: "Spécialiste d'aménagement intérieur avec brevet fédéral"
- In Italian: "Progettista d'interni con attestato professionale federale"
- In English: "Interior Designer 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 a furnishing planner with a federal certificate?
Good, you are confident that you will successfully complete the professional examination following the interior design planner training course. Think about where you can best ensure practical transfer. 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 the interior design planner training course
- at theSchool managementAsk about support options
- oneInformationfrom the sponsor of the professional examinationOdA Housingto dispel your concerns
- itselfSupportfromLearning therapistorCoachthroughautogenicormental trainingGet
You are very unsure whether you will be able to graduate as an interior designer. 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 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 for interior design planners with a federal certificate in production does not suit you. What a pity? Maybe 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.
Interior design planner with a federal certificate 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.
The interior design planner apprenticeship 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 interior designers 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:
"Interior design planner with a federal certificate"
The interior design planner apprenticeship 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:
"Interior design planner with a federal certificate"
The interior design planner further 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:
"Interior design planner with a federal certificate"
The interior designer 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:
"Interior design planner with a federal certificate"
Linda, deine Weiterbildungsfinderin