Funding for preparatory courses for Swiss federal examinations
in Switzerland

To maximise your chances of obtaining a refund :

• Keep all your supporting documents (invoices, certificates, proof of payment)
• Check that the course you are taking is recognised
• Anticipate your registration to the federal examination
• Prepare your file upstream to avoid delays

Good organisation is the key to taking full advantage of this scheme and securing your investment in training.

Certain situations require special attention:

• If your employer pays for all or part of the training
• If you are following several courses at the same time
• If you do not sit the federal examination

In such cases, your right to reimbursement may be affected. It is therefore essential to check the conditions carefully beforehand.

In the canton of Vaud, funding is based on a combination of two levels:

• the Federal reimbursement (SEFRI) after the exam
• from additional cantonal aid, under certain conditions

The cantonal scheme can supplement federal funding to support people in employment in the canton who finance their own training. In some cases, part of the training and/or examination fees may be covered.

In Geneva, the principle remains the same: the main funding comes from the Confederation via SEFRI.

In addition, people living or working in the canton can, under certain conditions, benefit from specific assistance such as cantonal continuing education schemes. These grants are generally awarded on the basis of income, professional situation and the type of training taken.

Yes, in many cases, aid can be accumulated, including :

• federal funding (SEFRI)
• cantonal grants (Vaud or Geneva)
• employer participation
• sectoral or joint funds

However, this accumulation is subject to certain restrictions:
the total amount of aid may not exceed the actual cost of the training.

It is therefore essential to plan ahead to maximise the funding available, while complying with the rules on coordination between schemes.