Self-test: Is the "Electronics (HF)" course the right one for me?
The designation or course "Techniker HF Elektronik" or "Elektronik HF" was discontinued in 2020. The course is now offered under the name "Electrical Technician HF" / "Electrical Technician HF".
Analysis of the functions and activities of electrical engineers HF (formerly technicians HF electronics)
Note: Since fall 2022, the HF technician courses (formerly "Techniker HF Fachrichtung") have been given a separate framework curriculum and a new title for each specialization. For example, the course "Techniker HF Elektrotechnik" is now called "Elektrotechniker HF". In addition, the specializations "Electronics" and "Energy technology" have been abolished.
Who is the "Electronics HF" course suitable for?
- Young professionals in electronics who are looking for a professional career
- People who want to further their education in the field of electronics
What does the day-to-day work of electrical engineers HF (formerly technicians HF electronics) look like?
Electronics technicians HF (formerly technicians HF electronics) work in companies in the mechanical and apparatus engineering sector or in the energy, medical or building technology sector or in IT, telecommunications or measurement and control technology. They lead technical working groups for the development of analog and digital circuits, the construction of electronic devices or the construction of test equipment for production. They design and program microcomputer systems, develop and operate computer-aided test systems or maintain and service electronic devices and systems. As specialists with a broad basic education, they support technical sales, advise and train users or work in training and education.
Job descriptions in job advertisements for electrical engineers HF (formerly technicians HF electronics):
| Main tasks | Frequency in % |
|---|---|
| Project management and collaboration in development projects, technical management of development and project teams | 35 |
| Programming of control systems, control systems, microprocessors, software for simulations | 10 |
| Plan, carry out and document tests | 25 |
| Advice for customers, support and training for system users and system users | 15 |
| Creating and revising documentation, data sheets, diagrams and sales documents | 15 |
Typical requirements in job advertisements for electronics technicians (formerly HF electronics technicians):
- Basic technical training in electronics/electrical planning
- Further training in electronics, automation or electrical engineering (TS/HF/FH/HTL)
- Several years of professional experience
- Project and management experience
- Experience with machine programming, SAP, CAD
- Doer personality, commitment and organizational strength
- Service orientation and ability to work in a team
- German and good knowledge of English
Question 1:
Do the activities of HF electronics technicians (new: HF electrical technicians) meet my expectations?
Yes, if you like the most important activities, you can assume that you are on the right track thematically. The next question is whether the training meets your capabilities and needs.
If you have marked "Partly" or "No", you should check whether what you do not like is an essential part of the job profile or rather a possible specialization. For example, there are jobs that do not involve advising customers or supporting the sales department. However, if you do not like the core area of dealing with electrical and electronic circuits and systems, you should also find out about other courses at technical colleges.
Course description "Electronics HF"
The most important key points of the "Electronics HF" course are described here:
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Question 2:
Are you generally interested in this course?
If you are interested in this course but answered "partly" or "no" to question 1, you should try to find out whether there are other types of jobs that you could do with this training that you like better than the job profile described in question 1.
If you have already answered "Yes" to question 1, then this course seems to fit your expectations.
If you like the job description under question 1 and you have marked "No" here, you should try to analyze which contents of the course you would like and which you would not. And with what you find out, you can look at the following related courses to see if you can find something that better suits your interests:
Prerequisites for admission to the degree program:
- Vocational qualification with EFZ as: Electrician, electrical fitter, automation technician, electronics technician, electrical draughtsman, computer scientist, mediamatician, polymechanic, building technology planner, physics laboratory technician
- Or EFZ in another profession and corresponding professional experience in the field of electronics
- Professional activity of at least 50% in a field of electronics
Question 3:
Do I meet the requirements for admission to the degree program?
If you meet the requirements, you can proceed to the next step.
If you do not meet the requirements because you have an apprenticeship qualification but do not currently have a job in this field, there are two options: Check with the school management to find out by when you would need to have such a job in order to be able to register for the course. Or find out about full-time degree courses where this condition does not apply.
And if you do not meet the requirements because you have neither learned one of the relevant professions nor have any professional experience in this field, you should reconsider what your goal is and what prerequisites you have. For example, if you have a high school diploma, you could also study at a university or ETH. Or if you have a foreign qualification in electronics, find out from a school whether this would be recognized as equivalent.
Financing of further training
The semester fee depends on the school and your canton of residence. Your canton of residence may pay a substantial contribution (= cantonal contribution) towards the semester fees. In this case, the costs for semester fees, course materials, examination fees, etc. can total up to CHF 16,500. Without a cantonal contribution, they can rise to CHF 30,000.
The school fees are invoiced on a semester basis and must be paid before the start of the school year.
Question 4:
Are you able to raise a total of between CHF 16,500 and CHF 30,000 yourself within approx. 3 years?
If you have marked "Yes", this seems to be a good time for you to consider this course of study.
If you are not sure, first find out whether you would receive cantonal contributions and how much you would actually have to pay. And if you can't afford this either, ask your employer whether they would make a contribution. Or try to find someone in your private circle who could support this further education with a loan. Otherwise, there are banks and credit institutions that grant educational loans.
Expenditure on classroom teaching and training
The part-time course lasts 6-7 semesters and takes place on two evenings a week or on a weekday and Saturday morning or on Saturdays, depending on the model. There are a total of 12 to 16 lessons per week and, depending on your previous education, homework and studying for exams cost a further 6-8 hours per week.
Question 5:
Can I cope with the teaching workload and the amount of homework I have to do alongside my day-to-day work?
If you answered yes to this question, you seem to be one step closer to your goal.
If you have any concerns, you should take some time to take a closer look at how much time you actually have available for your studies. You may have to put a hobby on hold for the duration of your studies or see if you can reduce your workload to 80%. Or are there other commitments that you can give up or delegate during this time to gain a little more time?
Conclusion
Will I graduate?
Pre-diploma examinations are held in the 3rd and 4th semesters and diploma examinations in the 6th semester. The degree program concludes with a diploma thesis lasting several weeks.
Question 6:
Do I have the confidence to pass the diploma exams and write the diploma thesis?
If you are confident that you can pass this qualification, the most you can do is consider whether you would like to achieve even better results using suitable learning and working methods or whether you would like to achieve the same results with less effort.
If you have marked "Partially" or "No" because you have weaknesses in one of the training subjects, you should clarify with a training officer how serious this is for the entire course of training. Depending on this, you can remedy your gaps with preparatory courses or extra tuition and reach the required level. If you are rather insecure because you suffer from test anxiety, you should possibly seek external help to check whether this test anxiety could also be activated in certain stressful situations in the everyday working life of air traffic controllers.
Receive course or training documents from suitable schools immediately
Under {#CourseLink#} you will find an overview of schools that offer the "Electronics HF" course. You can request detailed documents with just one click and usually receive them directly by e-mail. You can also use the area search to find providers in your immediate vicinity.
Conclusion:
Before you want to complete the "Electronics HF" course, you should be convinced that you really enjoy project-oriented work in development and working with electronic components. The course description should also appeal to you. If you have answered these first two questions with a clear "yes", you can continue to look into this course. If you are unsure about these questions, you should consider which other further training courses are also an option for you.
If you do not meet the admission requirements because you have neither learned a relevant profession nor have the necessary professional experience, you should clarify once again whether this professional field is really right for you. And if you come to the conclusion that you really want to study in this field, you could take a look at the training courses for adults to become an EFZ computer scientist. This would be an opportunity to complete an apprenticeship in a relevant profession.
If you do not have an apprenticeship certificate, but have a high school diploma or an equivalent foreign qualification, find out about degree courses in electronics at a university of applied sciences or ETH.
The loss of income during full-time further training is not always easy to cope with. Spread over a good 3 years, you may have to raise several thousand francs extra. If you are unable to raise this on your own, you could try to obtain a loan from a private source. Some banks and credit institutions also offer educational loans. A good argument for financing further education is the relatively quick amortization of costs through wage increases. Do the following calculation: How much would a wage increase of 10% per year amount to? How many years would you need to recoup the costs of the course? How much more will you earn over your entire working life as a result of this pay rise? In most cases, this is a six-figure sum, which confirms that training or further education is the best personal investment there is.
The time required for training or further education should not be underestimated. Going out, vacations and spontaneous wellness weekends often fall by the wayside. However, this time usually passes relatively quickly. The prospect of better job opportunities and more pay should be motivation enough to get through this time. It often helps to organize yourself into study groups. It also makes sense to stick with it right from the start and schedule fixed study times. Good learning effects can be achieved by creating summaries and mind maps. Flashcard systems help with memorization. There are many tools and ideas to make learning easier. You can obtain the guide "The personal learning strategy" free of charge if you register with a school via Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch.
If you have doubts about whether you will pass the diploma examinations, you can be sure that every school has an interest in ensuring that as many of your students as possible pass the final examinations. Talk to your head teacher or course leader and ask about support options. But if you have the basic skills, it is generally possible to pass these exams with good motivation, perseverance and diligence. If you suffer from exam anxiety, good preparation, various practical tips, therapeutic treatments or, in severe cases, even medication can help. You can obtain the guide "Overcoming exam anxiety" if you register with a school via Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch. Here you will also findsuitable providerson the subject of test anxiety.
The benefits of further training are usually measured in terms of a higher salary, more challenging tasks or promotions. This presupposes that you make an effort to change your professional position accordingly and, if necessary, are able to assert your demands. If you have already experienced that this is not always so easy for you, you could also check whether personal job coaching could be of benefit to you in addition to further training.
Now it's up to you to decide. If in doubt, seek personal advice from a school or external advice center. If you enquire about course or training documents via www.ausbildung-weiterbildung.ch, you will receive a free educational or school consultation worth CHF 150.00 on request.
You can find a list of providers here: {#courseLink#}
We wish you all the best in your professional and private lives and a bright and exciting future!
The team of Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch
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