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Regulated Professions

Regulated occupations of professions are subject to legal restrictions and requirements. as such, they can only be carried out by holders of specific qualifications (e.g. degree, certificate, proficiency credentials) or titles. In such cases, official recognition of a foreign qualification must be obtained from the appropriate agency. 

Professions in the following fields of work are regulated: 

Health care

Medical Professions 

  • Physician 
  • Veterinarian 
  • Dentist 
  • Pharmacist 

Recognition of foreign diplomas: Federal Office of Public Health FOPH 

Psychology 

Recognition of foreign diplomas: Federal Office of Public Health FOPH 

Chiropractic 

Admission to the federal examination/recognition of foreign diplomas from EU/EFTA states: Federal Office of Public Health FOPH

Osteopathy 

Admission to the intercantonal examination/recognition of foreign diplomas from EU/EFTA states: Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Health GDK/CDS

Paramedical Health Care Professions 

  • Dental hygienist 
  • Occupational therapist 
  • Dietician 
  • Midwife 
  • Medical radiology technician 
  • Medical laboratory technician 
  • Medical theatre technician 
  • Orthoptist 
  • Nurse 
  • Physiotherapist 
  • Podiatrist 
  • Rescue team medical orderly 

Recognition of foreign diplomas: Swiss Red Cross 

Teaching professions

Teaching Professions 

  • Teacher training
    • Pre-school and primary school level
    • Secondary school level I
    • Secondary school level II 
  • Special educator 
  • Early years special education 
  • Speech therapist 
  • Psychomotility therapist 

Recognition of foreign diplomas: Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK/CDIP) 

Vocational School Teacher 

Recognition of foreign diplomas: State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) 

Law

Lawyer

Recognition of foreign diplomas: Cantonal Court of Law

Social Work

  • Early childhood educator 
  • Education welfare worker 
  • Social worker 
  • Sociocultural animator 

Recognition of foreign diplomas: State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) 

Technical Professions

Architect and Civil Engineer 

Some cantons (Vaud, Genève, Lucerne, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Ticino) regulate these occupations and require a diploma in order to exercise them. In others, the profession is not connected to specific requirements.

In the cantons which do not regulate these professions, recognition of qualifications is not required in order to work. In the cantons where they are regulated, the applicant must be registered in the cantonal register by the competent cantonal body before exercising the profession.

Recognition of foreign diplomas:  

Licensed Cadastral Surveyor  

Recognition of foreign diplomas: Swiss Federal Commission for Cadastral Surveyors