National Qualifications Framework for Vocational and Professional Qualifications (NQF VPQ)

As a transparency tool, the NQF VPQ is intended to enhance the comparability and comprehension of Swiss vocational and professional qualifications within Europe. The NQF VPQ consists of 8 levels, to which all vocational and professional qualifications are assigned.

The NQF VPQ

Each qualification is referenced individually to the NQF VPQ on the basis of the skills that the holder of the corresponding qualification possesses. This means that not every qualification of a given type will be classified at the same level in the NQF VPQ. For example, professional qualifications awarded via an advanced federal professional examination are typically referenced at level 6. However, some are referenced at level 7, or even level 8.

SERI maintains a list of referenced qualifications, which is updated in February and August of each year.

In addition, the NQF level is listed in SERI's Official List of Vocational and Professional Qualifications (german) and is included in the certificate supplements and diploma supplements for the respective qualifications.

The following types of qualifications can be referenced to the NQF VPQ:

Vocational qualifications (upper-secondary level):

• Federal VET Certificate
• Federal VET Diploma

Professional qualifications (tertiary level):

• Federal Diploma of Higher Education issued via a federal professional examination
• Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education issued via an advanced federal professional examination
• Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education issued via a recognised study programme at a professional education institution

Higher education qualifications (Bachelor, Master and Doctorates) are referenced to the Qualifications Framework in Swiss Higher Education. Non-formal continuing education is not referenced to either NQF, as there are no nationally binding standardised guidelines.

It is always the professional organisation responsible for the given qualification that submits an NQF VPQ referencing request to SERI. For more information, please visit this link.

Without referencing to the NQF, no information regarding the level can be provided, and no certificate supplements or diploma supplements can be issued.

The Qualifications Framework in Swiss Higher Education (nqf.ch-HS)

Higher education degrees are part of a separate qualification framework. The Qualifications Framework in Swiss Higher Education (nqf.ch-HS) is based on a three-cycle system: Bachelor, Master and Doctorate. The nqf.ch-HS covers both formal study programmes at higher education institutions for all three cycles as well as non-formal advanced studies programmes offered by these institutions.

The EU has a separate Qualifications Framework in the European Higher Education Area (QF EHEA), which was developed as part of the Bologna Process. The QF EHEA is fully compatible with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF).

In the EU’s Council Recommendation of 22 May 2017 on the EQF, Bachelor's degrees are referenced at level 6, Master's degrees at level 7 and Doctorates at level 8.

Switzerland's Qualifications Framework in Higher Education (nqf.ch-HS) is thus indirectly correlated with the National Qualifications Framework for Vocational and Professional Qualifications (NQF VPQ). The EU’s EQF enables these two national qualification frameworks to be compared.

Certificate Supplements

Certificate supplements can be downloaded from SERI's Official List of Vocational and Professional Qualifications (german).

Certificate supplements are issued for upper-secondary level vocational qualifications. They contain information that enables employers in Switzerland and abroad to assess the professional skills of qualification holders.

Certificate supplements are based on the EU’s Europass template, which employers all over Europe are familiar with and understand. Certificate supplements are not personalised and are available in German, French, Italian and English.

Certificate supplements have no influence on recognition of a qualification, the title or on admission to further levels of education and training.

There are also similarly structured certificate supplements in English for the federal vocational baccalaureate. Since this qualification is not referenced to the NQF VPQ, no corresponding NQF reference level is indicated on these certificate supplements.

• Certificate Supplements Federal Vocational Baccalaureate

  ZIP2.89 MB16 July 2024

Diploma Supplements

Diploma supplements are issued for tertiary level professional qualifications. They contain information that enables employers in Switzerland and abroad to assess the professional skills of qualification holders.

Diploma supplements are based on the EU’s Europass template, which employers all over Europe are familiar with and understand. Diploma supplements are personalised (surname, first name and date of birth of qualification holder) and are issued in German, French, Italian and English.

Diploma supplements have no influence on recognition of a qualification, the title or on admission to further levels of education and training

• Samples for referenced qualifications can be downloaded from SERI’s Official List of Vocational and Professional Qualifications.
• Information about issuance of diploma supplements

The European Qualifications Framework (EQF)

The European Qualifications Framework (EQF) forms the basis for Switzerland's NQF VPQ as well as for the national qualifications frameworks of other European countries. It serves as a reference tool for all European countries and enables comparison of qualifications within Europe.

The EQF was developed by the European Union in 2008.

It is comprised of eight reference levels, each of which expresses learning outcomes on the basis of three descriptors: ‘Knowledge’, ‘Skills’ and ‘Competence’. With each level, qualification holders progressively take on greater responsibility and work more independently. Many European countries have used the EQF to develop their own NQFs. An up-to-date overview can be found on the EQF portal.

In order to enable comparison of qualifications referenced to different NQFs (i.e. because not all NQFs have the same number of reference levels), each NQF is referenced to the EQF. Here, European countries use pre-established criteria to determine which NQF reference level corresponds to which EQF reference level. This mapping of national qualification frameworks to the European one is facilitated by a document referred to as an EQF referencing report, which is presented to the EU’s EQF Advisory Group.

Switzerland successfully completed the process of referencing its NQF VPQ to the EQF when it presented its EQF Referencing Report in 2015. The eight levels of the NQF VPQ are perfectly aligned with all eight levels of the EQF. Therefore, the NQF VPQ reference level indicated in each certificate supplement (for upper-secondary level vocational qualifications) and diploma supplement (for tertiary-level professional qualifications) matches the corresponding level in the EQF.

• Swiss EQF-Referencing Report (English)

  PDF3.16 MB20 January 2016

Links

• Council Recommendation on EQF
• Learning Opportunities and Qualifications in Europe

NQF levels for Vocational and Professional Qualifications

The NQF VPQ consists of 8 levels:

• Level 1: Professionals fulfil basic requirements within a manageable and clearly structured area of activity. They carry out their tasks under direct supervision.
• Level 2: Professionals fulfil basic requirements in a specific field within a manageable and clearly structured area of activity. They carry out their tasks largely under direct supervision.
• Level 3: Professionals fulfil requirements in a specific field independently, within a work environment that remains manageable whilst at times structured more openly.
• Level 4: Professionals recognise and analyse broad tasks in a specific field within a complex, technical and evolving working context.
• Level 5: Professionals recognise and analyse broad technical tasks within a complex, technical and evolving work context.
• Level 6: Professionals recognise, analyse and evaluate broad tasks, problems and processes in a specific field within a broader working context. Requirements are characterised by increased complexity and frequent change.
• Level 7: Professionals handle novel, complex tasks and problems and manage processes independently within a strategy-oriented working context. Requirements are characterised by frequent and unpredictable change.
• Level 8: Professionals develop innovative solutions and processes or deliver research results in a complex field of activity. Requirements are characterised by novel, highly demanding problem.

Complete descriptions of the qualification levels can be found in the Annex to the Ordinance on the National Qualifications Framework for Vocational and Professional Qualifications (in German)