Self-test ICT Platform Development Specialist (BP) (formerly ICT System and Network Technician): Is this course in platform development the right one for me?
Find out here whether a job as an ICT Platform Development Specialist (formerly ICT System and Network Technician) with a Federal PET Diploma is right for you and whether the "ICT Platform Development Specialist" professional examination is the right path for you.
What does the day-to-day work of ICT platform development specialists (formerly ICT system and network technicians) with a federal certificate (EFA) look like?
ICT platform development specialists (formerly system and network technicians) with an EFA are hardware experts: they analyze, plan, build and maintain ICT systems and networks in companies in all sectors. They are qualified to manage small teams in operations and can lead projects or sub-projects, depending on the size of the company or project.
Your main tasks are:
- Evaluation of existing ICT system and network infrastructures
- Planning, development and expansion of ICT system and network infrastructures, including budgeting
- Ensuring data security and data availability
- Identification, analysis and targeted rectification of faults
- Organization of user/employee support
Question 1:
Do the activities described meet your expectations? Would you like to work as an ICT Platform Development Specialist with a federal certificate?
Great!
If you don't like all the jobs, think about which ones interest you the most. Also take a look at job advertisements. Perhaps you will find some that only require the activities that suit you better. If so, you may be on the right track after all.
Or perhaps a different ICT training course would suit you better? For example:
If you don't like the activities, take a look at the numerous other training opportunities. OnEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a large selection.
Target group: Who is the professional examination for ICT Platform Development Specialist (formerly ICT System and Network Technician) with a federal certificate suitable for?
The "ICT Platform Development Specialist (BP)" course (formerly ICT System and Network Technician (BP)) is suitable:
- for computer scientists EFZ and electronics technicians EFZ with experience in ICT system and network technology who would like to advance in a software company or the ICT department of a company and take on management tasks;
- for ICT employees with several years of experience in system and network technology who have come to IT via another profession and would like to have their skills confirmed with a federally recognized qualification.
It is aimed at people with
- analytical skills
- Good system and process thinking
- technical skills
- the ability to develop, implement and evaluate projects
- good knowledge of English
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 either target group, the professional examination for the federal certificate is not the right path for you at the moment. Take a look at our freeGuide 3.1 "Initial and further training in IT" and 3.2 "Lateral entry into IT". You may come across further training courses that are aimed precisely at people like you.
- If you don't have these personal qualities, your chances of becoming successful and happy in ICT are not very good. Take a look atEducation-Further-Education.chwhere you will find numerous other training opportunities. You can also download theGuide 13.4 "Finding the right further training"download.
Requirements for admission to the professional examination "ICT Platform Development Specialist" (formerly ICT System and Network Technician)
To be admitted to the professional examination "ICT Platform Development Specialist with Federal Certificate" (formerly ICT System and Network Technician with Federal Certificate), you must meet one of the following requirements:
- EFZ as a computer scientist or electronics technician and at least 2 years of professional experience in the field of system or network technology
- EFZ in another profession (not computer science/electronics), graduation from a secondary school (Gymnasium) or equivalent qualification and at least 4 years of professional experience in the ICT field, of which at least 2 years in system or network technology
- (other previous education) at least 6 years of professional experience in the ICT field, of which at least 2 years in system or network technology
The cut-off date for proof of the required professional experience is the day on which the examination begins.
Please note: Some schools may be prepared to admit you to a course in preparation for the professional examination if you do not (yet) meet the criteria for admission to the federal examination. It is then up to you to ensure that you meet the necessary requirements at the time of the examination/examination registration.
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 in ICT or in the ICT area of platform development or system or network technology, please contact the sponsor of the federal examinations, the Swiss ICT Vocational Training Association, directly. Totheir websiteyou can check your requirements and chances of admission free of charge and without obligation.
If you have too little or no professional experience, look for suitable jobs on professional job boards or consider the following points: Perhaps you have friends or acquaintances who can help you get into the ICT field, or maybe you have the opportunity to volunteer in an association or otherwise work on IT projects to gain experience.
If you are not sure whether your professional experience will be recognized as professional experience in ICT or in the ICT area of platform development or system or network technology, please contact the sponsor of the federal examinations, the Swiss ICT Vocational Training Association, directly. Totheir websiteyou can check your requirements and chances of admission free of charge and without obligation.
If you have too little or no professional experience, look for suitable jobs on professional job boards or consider the following points: Perhaps you have friends or acquaintances who can help you get into the ICT field, or maybe you have the opportunity to volunteer in an association or otherwise work on IT projects to gain experience.
Subject matter and content of the training
The content of the courses offered by the various providers in preparation for the "ICT Platform Development Specialist" professional examination (formerly ICT system and network technician) is based on the specifications of ICT-Berufsbildung Schweiz, the sponsor of the professional examination. The course material is divided into 8 subject areas and a total of 16 modules:
- Network ManagementOperate location-based communication services, integrate mobile communication services, optimize networks
- Business EngineeringPerform evaluation of IT resources, define systems and specify requirements
- IT securityEnsure basic ICT protection, guarantee information security, implement network and system-specific security measures
- Service managementEnsure problem management in operations, organize service desk
- System managementDevelop archiving, backup and recovery concepts, design and implement visualization solutions
- IT Business Administration: Calculate and budget the cost of ICT services
- IT project management: Plan and monitor projects
- IT quality managementImplement release and update management, test and monitor operation of ICT infrastructure components
Question 4:
Are you interested in this content, would you like to acquire this knowledge?
Great!
If you are only partially interested in the subjects and topics covered by this certificate, take a look at other certificates in the ICT sector, e.g. the more business-oriented"Business IT specialist with federal FA".
If you are missing topics such as database, web and software engineering in the course materials, take a look at the further education program for"Technician HF Computer Science"to.
Apparently the typical tasks of a "platform developer" (previously: ICT system and network technician) with a federal certificate are not your world. Take a look at other further training courses instead. OnEducation-Further-Education.chyou will find a large selection.
Costs and financing of further training
The costs and the scope of services included vary slightly depending on the provider. On average, the following costs can be expected for the 2-4 semester courses:
- Course fees: approx. CHF 13,500-15,100; you will receive half of this back from the federal government on application after passing the federal examination.
- Fee for the professional examination: CHF 2,900 (as of 2021)
- Some providers charge additional costs for enrollment, simulation tests, etc.
Question 5:
Are you able to pre-finance approx. CHF 16,400-18,000 for course fees and the federal examination?
Great! Here's another tip: If you are able to pay the full amount in advance: Check with the school of your choice to see if they offer a special discount for paying in full upfront.
For information on financial support from the federal government, please contactthis link to the Swiss Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation.
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 educational loan. You will be able to repay some of the borrowed funds immediately after the professional examination with the federal contribution.
For information on financial support from the federal government, please contactthis link to the Swiss Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation.
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 educational loan. You will be able to repay some of the borrowed money immediately after the professional examination with the federal contribution.
For information on financial support from the federal government, please contactthis link to the Swiss Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation.
Duration of study, number of lessons and learning effort
The courses to prepare for the professional examination "ICT Platform Development Specialist (formerly ICT System and Network Technician) with federal certificate" are modular in structure and designed to be taken alongside work. Depending on the intensity, they last 2-4 semesters, but mostly 3 semesters.
There are various forms of teaching to choose from
- Classroom-only teaching with (for 3-semester courses) usually one teaching day (daytime, 1 afternoon + 1 evening, Saturdays) per week
- Combined classroom and online teaching (blended learning) with self-study units and regular teaching meetings in virtual and real rooms.
Depending on the duration of the course, the type of teaching and your learning habits, you should allow an additional 6-12 hours per week for preparation and follow-up work.
Question 6:
Can you find the time for lessons and self-study time?
Great!
If you don't have that much time, get in touch with the providers and clarify whether you can possibly complete the course over additional 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
How does the professional examination for "ICT Platform Development Specialist (formerly ICT System and Network Technician) with federal certificate" work?
The professional examination consists of four parts:
- General professional skills ICT (weighting 20%): written, 3 hours
- Planning the operation of ICT systems and networks (weighting 20%): written, 2 hours
- Setting up ICT systems and networks (weighting 40%): written, 4 hours
- Operating ICT systems and networks (weighting 20%): written, 3 hours
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:
"ICT Platform Development Specialist with federal certificate"
The recommended English translation is "ICT-Platform Development Specialist, Federal Diploma of Higher Education".
Question 7:
Do you have the confidence to pass the federal professional examination?
If you are unsure, we recommend that you contact aInformation eventto attend this course.
The program of most providers also includes the option of aSimulation test(e.g. with the exam questions from the previous year). Take this opportunity to practise and gain confidence and composure thanks to a realistic assessment of your abilities.
Arrange apersonal consultation appointmentwith the school of your choice or the sponsoring body of the Swiss ICT Vocational Training Examination (www.ict-berufsbildung.ch). Explain your interest and your concerns and see how your counterpart reacts to which points and what they recommend.
Ask the school management aboutSupport options.Also consider whether you would like other support, for example from learning therapists or kinesiologists, autogenic or mental training.
If you are not at all confident of passing the final examination, it is best to arrange a personal consultation appointment with a school or the sponsor of the Swiss ICT Vocational Education and Training examination (www.ict-berufsbildung.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 and take advantage of the simulation exams on offer.
Also consider whether you would like other support, for example from learning therapists or kinesiologists, autogenic or mental training.
No, the course for the federal certificate as a platform developer (previously: ICT system and network technician) does not suit you. What a pity? - Perhaps not, because there are 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. You will find a large selection of offers on Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch.
Platform developer (previously: ICT system and network technician) with a federal certificate is probably not the right further training 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: working as a platform developer (BP) (previously: ICT system and network technician BP) does not seem ideal for you. Or is it perhaps the form of training that doesn't appeal to 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.
Further training to become a platform developer (BP) (previously: ICT system and network technician (BP)) is not ideal for you - or is it?
If you are unsure, it is best to attend the information events organized by the providers. There you can find out more about further education and discuss your personal options and questions directly with the course directors and teaching staff present.
Directly to the schools:
This training seems to suit you well.
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:
This training 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: