Plumbing courses in Switzerland?!!!!!

Noyes · #1 31.10.2020, 00:49

I'm new in Switzerland and I'm looking for a school where I can get qualifications as a plumber near Zurich or St Gallen.
Any good suggestions?!!

JackieH · #2 31.10.2020, 11:50

Plumbers and other artisans acquire their qualifications via a 4 year apprenticeship. There are course for home plumbing- but not for qualifications.

MusicChick · #3 31.10.2020, 11:52

	Quote:	Noyes
	I'm new in Switzerland and I'm looking for a school where I can get qualifications as a plumber near Zurich or St Gallen. Any good suggestions?!!

How is your German? You could do the apprenticeship program but it is in the local language.

JackieH · #4 31.10.2020, 11:58

and you have to find one first, and have your certificate of education first- in the local language. So I am sorry to say, not easy at all (same for electricians, carpenters, etc, etc, etc).

st2lemans · #5 31.10.2020, 12:03

	Quote:	JackieH
	Plumbers and other artisans acquire their qualifications via a 4 year apprenticeship. There are course for home plumbing- but not for qualifications.

2, 3, or 4 years.

And need to go to school in the local language as well.

Tom

Tom1234 · #6 31.10.2020, 12:10

Apparently well worth doing - in Switzerland you can charge 776 CHF for forty minutes work.

Where can I sign up?

olygirl · #7 31.10.2020, 13:49

This is a case for....

KTipp or Kassensturz!

doropfiz · #8 31.10.2020, 17:21

	Quote:	Noyes
	I'm new in Switzerland and I'm looking for a school where I can get qualifications as a plumber near Zurich or St Gallen. Any good suggestions?!!

Welcome!

Do you mean learning from scratch? In that case, the above posters are correct.

To do an apprenticeship you definitely need to be fairly fluent in the local language. It involves full-time training, 5 days a week, typically 1 or 2 days at school all day, and the other 3 days working all day for the employer, for 3 or 4 years, with tests along the way, and a big project at school, at the end, and a big theoretical and practical exam.

During this time, an apprentice typically earns, per month, something like Fr. 900, going up by year, up till about Fr. 1'200 or Fr. 1'500. Those salaries are so low because they are typically for school-leavers with no working experience, and who need a lot of training and supervision from the employer. Even so, such apprenticeships are open to non-youth, too. No matter your age, it's really only an option if you are independently wealthy, have sufficient savings or a side-line business that doesn't take up much of your time, or have someone (perhaps parents, partner, siblings) who would support you while you do such training.

Or do you mean that you already have a plumber's certification from another country? In that case, perhaps it is possible to have your foreign qualification recognised in Switzerland. For that, too, you'd definitely need a fairly good command of the local Swiss language, in your case, German.

Here is the Swiss organisation of plumbers, who ought to be able to tell you whether that is possible.
https://www.vssh.ch/ueber-uns/

Noyes · #9 31.10.2020, 18:43

	Quote:	doropfiz
	Welcome! Do you mean learning from scratch? In that case, the above posters are correct. To do an apprenticeship you definitely need to be fairly fluent in the local language. It involves full-time training, 5 days a week, typically 1 or 2 days at school all day, and the other 3 days working all day for the employer, for 3 or 4 years, with tests along the way, and a big project at school, at the end, and a big theoretical and practical exam. During this time, an apprentice typically earns, per month, something like Fr. 900, going up by year, up till about Fr. 1'200 or Fr. 1'500. Those salaries are so low because they are typically for school-leavers with no working experience, and who need a lot of training and supervision from the employer. Even so, such apprenticeships are open to non-youth, too. No matter your age, it's really only an option if you are independently wealthy, have sufficient savings or a side-line business that doesn't take up much of your time, or have someone (perhaps parents, partner, siblings) who would support you while you do such training. Or do you mean that you already have a plumber's certification from another country? In that case, perhaps it is possible to have your foreign qualification recognised in Switzerland. For that, too, you'd definitely need a fairly good command of the local Swiss language, in your case, German. Here is the Swiss organisation of plumbers, who ought to be able to tell you whether that is possible. https://www.vssh.ch/ueber-uns/

Yes I meant learning from scratch. And as I see it's a very long way. Thank you for all the info.

	Quote:	JackieH
	and you have to find one first, and have your certificate of education first- in the local language. So I am sorry to say, not easy at all (same for electricians, carpenters, etc, etc, etc).

I thought it a bit easier

. Thanks for the info

Anjela · #10 01.11.2020, 00:14

	Quote:	doropfiz
	Welcome! Do you mean learning from scratch? In that case, the above posters are correct. To do an apprenticeship you definitely need to be fairly fluent in the local language. It involves full-time training, 5 days a week, typically 1 or 2 days at school all day, and the other 3 days working all day for the employer, for 3 or 4 years, with tests along the way, and a big project at school, at the end, and a big theoretical and practical exam. During this time, an apprentice typically earns, per month, something like Fr. 900, going up by year, up till about Fr. 1'200 or Fr. 1'500. Those salaries are so low because they are typically for school-leavers with no working experience, and who need a lot of training and supervision from the employer. Even so, such apprenticeships are open to non-youth, too. No matter your age, it's really only an option if you are independently wealthy, have sufficient savings or a side-line business that doesn't take up much of your time, or have someone (perhaps parents, partner, siblings) who would support you while you do such training.* Or do you mean that you already have a plumber's certification from another country? In that case, perhaps it is possible to have your foreign qualification recognised in Switzerland. For that, too, you'd definitely need a fairly good command of the local Swiss language, in your case, German. Here is the Swiss organisation of plumbers, who ought to be able to tell you whether that is possible. https://www.vssh.ch/ueber-uns/

* Just one addition, it is also possible to be supported by the swiss unemployment system and do an apprenticeship, there is a special fund for this which tops up the apprenticeship salary to the basic level you'd normally receive from the RAV.
It's quite rare, and usually reserved for older people who are retraining; I know someone who has just finished a 4-year apprenticeship under this scheme.

JackieH · #11 01.11.2020, 00:31

That is great Anjela- probably not so easy for someone who is new to Switzerland, does not have CFC and perhaps does not speak local language.

Anjela · #12 01.11.2020, 01:08

	Quote:	JackieH
	That is great Anjela- probably not so easy for someone who is new to Switzerland, does not have CFC and perhaps does not speak local language.

Indeed, it's not a solution for the OP, but it might be useful for others to know that it is possible to get such support without having wealthy parents, well-off siblings, or savings.

A previous CFC isn't necessary, although being fluent in the local language is. And finding an employer willing to take you on of course!

MusicChick · #13 01.11.2020, 08:37

	Quote:	Anjela
	Indeed, it's not a solution for the OP, but it might be useful for others to know that it is possible to get such support without having wealthy parents, well-off siblings, or savings. A previous CFC isn't necessary, although being fluent in the local language is. And finding an employer willing to take you on of course!

Maybe OP as a student could qualify for some unemployment language support and help with CFC, when done with his studies. I think your info could still be relevant to him, there are specific resources for young people. The competence in a local language is the most important, though. And finding a certified plumbing company willing to take him on board and train an apprentice.

swisscanmom · #14 01.11.2020, 12:19

I found this site for you that has all the information on the education in plumbing and related professions:
https://suissetec.ch/de/grundbildung.html

You do need a minimum of German, but you could possibly do a 2year apprenticeship (Eidgenössisches Berufsattest) in a related profession with less language skills. There is an e-mail address given, maybe you could contact them directly?