Self-test timber construction foreman with federal certificate: Is this course suitable for me?

What does the day-to-day work of timber construction foremen with a federal certificate look like?

Timber construction foremen work in the workshop and on construction sites on new builds, conversions, renovations and demolitions. They implement timber construction projects with small teams of carpenters and apprentices. They are responsible for the quality, technical correctness and punctuality of the work and monitor safety, quality and construction progress on site. They act responsibly and with foresight and safeguard the interests of the company.

Timber construction foremen are the link between the construction site and the company. They pass on customer requirements or planning-relevant information arising from the work on site to their superiors (often timber construction foremen) at an early stage. They make clarifications on behalf of or together with their superiors and ensure optimum coordination with the other professionals.

Its main tasks include:

• Distribution of work in the team, guidance of employees and practical training of apprentices
• Quality assurance
• Coordination of construction site equipment
• Maintenance of devices and machines
• Setting up and monitoring occupational health and safety measures in accordance with regulations
• Creating reports (construction site, material, direction), measurements and dimensions
• Planning of materials and tools, coordination of transportation and logistics for the construction site assigned to them
• Calculation and production of complex components

Target group: For whom is the professional examination to become a timber construction foreman with a federal certificate suitable?

The "Timber construction foreman (BP)" training course is suitable:

• for carpenters EFZ who want to move up and take on their first management tasks in construction
• for carpenters EFZ who are interested in an HF course of study in wood technology ("Dipl. Techniker/in HF Holztechnik"), who would like to achieve initial creditable study achievements on this practical professional path and at the same time acquire the federal certificate as a first "milestone"

Personal requirements are:

• Sense of responsibility
• Good social and communication skills
• Leadership skills
• Physical resilience

Requirements for admission to the federal vocational examination for timber construction foremen (BP)

The following requirements apply for admission to the federal professional examination "Timber construction foreman with federal certificate":

• EFZ as a carpenter and at least 1 year of professional experience in timber construction since completing the apprenticeship. The cut-off date for proof of the required professional experience is the day on which the examination begins. Part-time training courses are fully credited towards the years of practical experience.
• Professionals with an EFZ from another profession in the woodworking industry (e.g. carpenter, parquet layer) with several years of experience in timber construction can apply for admission. The decision on admission lies with the Swiss Timber Construction Association (HBCH).
  
  

Some schools also require:

• a position as a carpenter with a workload of at least 50%
• own laptop (for CAD courses)

Subject matter and content of the training

The content of the courses in preparation for the professional examination "Timber Construction Foreman / Timber Construction Foreman" is based on the requirements of the federal examination regulations.

The learning material includes:

• Communication: basics of conversation, correspondence, marketing
• Corporate management: principles of employee management, apprentice training, labor law
• Technical arithmetic: mathematical basics (repetition), area and solid calculations, everyday tasks in timber construction
• Statics: basics, graphical and mathematical statics, determination of internal forces (normal force, shear force, moments), dimensioning
• Building physics: thermal insulation, moisture protection, sound insulation
• Materials science (wood, panels, auxiliary building materials) and fire protection
• Construction: building elements (doors, windows, etc.), staircase construction, floor coverings, conversion and renovation, temporary structures (scaffolding, walkways, waterproofing)
• Work planning, joinery, stripping and tearing
• Work preparation: work processes, planning documents, measurements, material and tool lists
• Measurement and repeat: order types, measurement regulations, repeat systems
• Construction management and occupational safety

You learn:

• how you manage employees, e.g. explain and distribute work, check workmanship and ensure practical training for apprentices
• how to manage a construction site, e.g. obtain and pass on information, write reports, take measurements, create measurements and monitor construction progress
• how to plan the material, e.g. create lists for aids, tools, fasteners and materials, organize material deliveries
• coordinating logistics, e.g. planning work assignments, organizing transport to the construction site and proper disposal
• carry out demanding timber construction work: e.g. calculating complex component dimensions, tearing, manufacturing and assembling complex components, carrying out conversions, renovations and demolitions
• Enforce occupational safety and environmental protection: e.g. check scaffolding and fall edges, check the use of personal protective equipment, ensure environmental protection on the construction site
• Implement quality standards, e.g. check dimensions, plans and quality of the work, ensure adherence to the schedule

Some schools also offer learning units on the introduction to CAD (computer-aided design) as part of the preparation course - sometimes as a fixed component of the preparation course, sometimes as additional options.

Costs and financing of further training

Costs incurred

• The courses to prepare for the professional examination to become a timber construction foreman with a federal certificate (BP) cost around CHF 6,000-14,000. Some providers include additional services (e.g. meals and accommodation, CAD introductory courses).
• Some providers charge additional costs for materials, teaching aids, internal examinations, etc.
• The fee for the federal examination is CHF 950 (as of 2021; these fees are not included in the course costs).

The Confederation provides financial support for higher vocational education and training. Graduates of the professional examination receive half of the course costs for further training back from the federal government upon application - regardless of whether they have passed or failed.

Duration of study, number of lessons and learning effort

The majority of courses to prepare for the professional examination "Timber construction foreman / timber construction foreperson with federal certificate" are designed for part-time work. Part-time preparatory courses last 2 semesters. In some cases, one-semester full-time courses or two-semester combinations of first full-time and then part-time courses are also offered.

• The part-time courses last 2 semesters and comprise around 550-650 lessons. Courses usually start in August or September.
• The in-service training courses take place one and a half days a week or two days every two weeks; depending on the school, there are also individual block courses lasting several days (e.g. introductory course, themed course on staircase construction).
• The amount of time required for learning and individual preparation and follow-up work depends on your learning habits, previous knowledge and experience. Some schools give a guideline of around 350 hours for self-study and project work. This corresponds to around 6-7 hours per week.
• The federal examination takes place once a year if at least 20 suitable candidates register; otherwise it will certainly take place every two years. The exam can be taken in German, French or Italian.

Degree, diploma and title

How does the professional examination to become a timber construction foreman with a federal certificate work?

The professional examination lasts a total of 13 hours and consists of three parts:

1. Personnel management and occupational safety(weighting 25%): written, 1.75 hours + oral 0.25 hours
   Proof of the ability to manage, plan and motivate employees in an appropriate, safety-oriented and accident-free manner.
2. Preparation(weighting 30%): written, 5 hours
   Proof of the ability to plan work processes, work assignments, logistics and materials, to create measurements and lists and to handle information.
3. Execution and supervision(weighting 45%): written, 6 hours
   Proof of the ability to carry out demanding, technically correct, timely and legally compliant timber construction work on the basis of planning principles, measurements, dimensions and calculations for the production of complex components.

Here are some general success factors on the way to a new training qualification:

• Interest in the topic and active participation in class
• Bring in your questions, don't leave anything half-understood in the room
• Regular preparation and follow-up of the lesson material
• Committed cooperation in group work, case studies, etc.
• Participation in learning groups for regular exchange
• Practicing exam situations, e.g. in simulation exams

Diploma and title

Those who pass the professional examination receive a federal certificate and may use the following recognized and protected title:

Timber construction foreman with federal certificate of competence

Chef d'équipe charpentier / cheffe d'équipe charpentière avec brevet fédéral

Caposquadra carpentiere / caposquadra carpentiera con attestato professionale federale

Foreman Carpenter / Forewoman Carpenter, Federal Diploma of Higher Education

The names of certificate holders are entered in a register kept by the Swiss Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI.