Hello everyone,
I am American with a swiss fiance. My fiance and I are planning on moving to Switzerland next year. I am a licensed Hair Stylist here in the US and wanted to know if my US certification will be recognized in Switzerland or would I have to start over?

-King regards

Welcome to the Forum.

There is a hairdresser verein/association but I have no idea what it's called. Here's a post from an older thread with a few links to beauty schools that might help.

Do you speak the local language well enough to understand your clients?

You will need to take and pass the exam, which requires the local language, written and practical.

My daughter did the opposite, and moved to LA for 4 years, and had to pass the exam there (took two tries due to the fact that they combine hairdressing and barber there, and she wasn't up on the barber bit), but at least she speaks English so no problem.

Tom

The Swiss hair stylist association is called "Coiffure Suisse". More information is at this link (available in Geman, French, Italian):


https://www.coiffuresuisse.ch/


Employees of Swiss hair salons are covered by a General Work Contract (GAV) which is valid across Switzerland and is mandatory. This is the Coiffure Suisse association's write-up on the GAV (French):


https://coiffuresuisse.ch/fr/news-me...ue-gav-ist-da/



A GAV is called "contrat de travail collectif" in French.


Please note that it is possible to work as an employee in a Swiss hair salon under three categories of the GAV:


1. Hairstylist CFC/EFZ (Certificat fédéral de capacité)
2. Hairstylist AFP/ EBZ (Attestation fédérale de formation professionnelle)
3. Hairstylist without recognized training (collaborateurs non qualifiés)


There are courses that assist hair stylists without recognized qualifications to obtain a hair stylist diploma. This is an example (but there are likely others):


https://swiss-beauty-academy.ch/coif...erholungskurs/


Good luck with your move to Switzerland!

Coiffeur/Hair dresser is not a regulated profession in Switzerland.
https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/sbfi/en/ho...ofessions.html

Anyone which gets hold of scissors can cut hair and charge money for it. Accordingly no diploma needed, nor the need for a official diploma recognition.

It is possible to work independent by renting a chair in a hair salon. Be aware about your obligation.

If you believe my husband's hairdresser, OP may find it challenging to get a job with nothing but scissors and English, even renting a chair. Apparently the Coiffure Suisse is pretty influential and many salons won't hire you or let you rent a chair if you aren't "properly" qualified and a member. After all, their reputation as an association is on the line. Or something.

I think you need a PhD in Coiffeur-ology to work as a hairdresser in Switzerland.

Thank you so much! I will check those links out. Also, I am taking French classes at the moment. I still have so much to learn. As bad as I would like to jump in and start working right away; I will not be able to until I improve in the language of course.

Thank you for this info. I will continue to look into this. My fiance has been doing research as well and claims I will not have start over but I need to know for sure of course.

-Kind regards <3

Thank you for this info! <3


Thank you for this info, will check it out!


Merci beaucoup, will check the links out. Greatly appreciated <3


Hello, I've heard of this. The only problem is I only see German writing regarding the test. My fiance speaks french and I am only learning french being that I will be residing in a small french speaking village called Tavannes. But my sister in law is German , maybe I should ask for her help as well. Thank you so much! You are all so helping and kind.