SME management specialist training: Experience and tips from the head of the school - Self-employment with a good business concept in the SME sector

Portrait-Foto Rolf Schmalz
Rolf Schmalz

Who are you and what do you do for a living?

My name is Rolf Schmalz. My background consists of various training and further education courses as well as professional experience in the service and capital goods sector. I am the owner and principal of Art of Formation Weiterbildung WBA. I also teach at my school myself.

Who is the target group for the SME Management Specialist course?

The target group for the SME Management Specialist course is primarily people from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who are self-employed or want to become self-employed.

Ausbildung Fachmann Unternehmensführung KMU

What are the admission requirements?

The admission requirements for the federal examination in the form of the professional examination for SME management with a federal certificate are an EFZ and three years of general professional experience.

What is the content of the continuing education course for SME management specialists?

The following learning content is taught in these subjects in the further training course for SME management specialists:

  • Law
  • Leadership and personnel management
  • Organization
  • Marketing and sales
  • Accounting
  • Corporate management

For example, the SME management specialist with a federal certificate can draw up a concept with the most important content for a company.

Ausbildung Fachfrau Unternehmensführung KMU

How long does the training take and how much does it cost?

The SME management specialist course with a federal certificate lasts three to four semesters. The training costs are around CHF 11,000. All costs are included in the WBA continuing education program - except for the federal examination fees. Half of the course costs are subsidized by the federal government. This means that anyone who takes the federal examination for SME management specialists and has paid the course fees out of their own pocket can claim back half of the costs.

How does the examination procedure work?

The SME Management Specialist course has a modular structure and three fields of activity are completed each semester. Each semester these are then completed with a module examination within the school. A diploma thesis must be prepared in advance for the subsequent federal professional examination.

Ausbildung Unternehmensführung

What kind of degree is it and what career opportunities does it offer?

The SME management specialist qualification with a federal certificate is a very good basis for future entrepreneurs, existing companies or to consolidate your job. There are suitable diploma courses in the areas of sales, marketing or business administration that can be added on. In contrast to technical business graduates, no prior technical training is required and the path to management is open to everyone - including career changers. Classic careers include management in family businesses or a path to self-employment.

What makes the WBA an innovative educational partner?

WBA Continuing Education is a very attractive provider of the SME Management Specialist course because we have very small classes and can therefore have a very strong influence on the entrepreneurial, strategic thinking of the participants. We have time to deal with individual examples that participants bring to the course. They can then use the knowledge gained in this way in their dissertations.

What is WBA's Unique Selling Proposition (USP)?

Continuing education WBA has several such USPs - unique areas that other educational institutes do not offer. On the one hand, we are a school that is organized entirely online. This ensures that all students can attend classes - even in the event of vacation absences or other absences. On the other hand, all expenses are included in our prices and there are no additional costs for the SME management specialist. We also do not offer any preliminary courses, as everything relevant is covered in the course or supplemented by additional lessons if necessary. We know our students by name on the SME Management Specialist course and respond to each person's individual needs.

Overview of providers Specialist in SME management