Dear grandpa
There is always a place for you on the swing by the balcony.
Do you have any questions?
Are you asking a personal question?
The portal bestatter.ch answers all your questions about funerals and funeral provisions.
Training
For the training of morticians in Switzerland is the Swiss. Association of funeral services SVB responsible. Members of the SVB benefit from preferential conditions.
An apprenticeship extends over two years and is an actual preparation for the exam. The intermediate examination is completed with the SVB certificate. Afterwards, the final examination can be taken voluntarily with the qualification “eidg. Professional Certificate.”
The tests, resp. the training courses as exam preparation is under the overall supervision of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). The basics are:
Examination regulations for the professional examination for morticians
Funeral director with federal certificate of proficiency
Federal Grants:
Cost sharing by SERI (State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation means that the federal government pays 50 percent of the course fees incurred if you take the federal examination after attending the course. Please refer to the documents for the information.
Exam Preparation:
The federal certificate of proficiency is acquired with two examinations
Two textbooks are used for exam preparation (textbook module 1)
(textbook module 2) and two preparatory courses module 1 and 2
The preparatory courses last 2 years.
The training is aimed at morticians with professional experience and is a specialized examination (i.e. not a basic training)
The procedure is as follows:
Preparatory course module 1 (2 days) with examination: funeral director with SVB certificate
Preparatory course module 2 + 3 (2 x 2 days) with examination: funeral director with federal certificate of competence
After the preparatory course Module 1, these subjects will be examined:
Order processing
Consultation and accompaniment
Care and laying out of the deceased
Transfer and transport
Farewell and funeral
Warehouse and infrastructure
After the preparatory course module 2, these subjects will be examined:
Order processing and organization
Consultation
Transfer and transport international
Accounting
Precaution
Law and business administration
Funeral director with federal certificate of proficiency
The title of the eidg. Subject test reads:
Funeral director with federal certificate of proficiency
Entrepreneure/Entrepreneur de pompes funèbres avec brevet fédéral
Impresaria/Impresario di onoranze funebri con attestato professionale federale
On examination will be admitted who:
has a federal certificate of proficiency or an equivalent qualification and can demonstrate at least three years of full-time activity in the funeral business or has a federal certificate of proficiency or an equivalent qualification and can demonstrate at least five years of full-time activity in a company with an affiliated funeral service and has the qualification “funeral director with SVB certificate” or equivalent confirmations. The degree must not be more than five years old for admission to the examination.
ausbildung@bestatter.ch
How many funeral services, funeral homes, funeral homes are there in Switzerland?
The Swiss Association of Funeral Services (SVB) currently has 176 members.
In addition, there are still some funeral homes that do not belong to the professional association.
Members of the Swiss Association of Funeral Services (SVB):
You can find all members of the Swiss Association of Funeral Services HERE.
What does the training for funeral directors look like?
The qualifications required for the examination are acquired in the form of modules. The modules last 2 years, part-time.
Audited subjects:
Preparation course module 1
Order processing / Counseling and accompaniment / Care and laying out of the deceased / Transfer and transport / Farewell and burial / Storage and infrastructure
Preparation course module 2
Order Processing and Organization / Consultation / International Transfer and Transport / Accounting / Pension Provision / Law and Business Administration
Graduation:
Funeral director with federal certificate Professional card
Training and professional examination:
Learn everything about the training and professional examination of the Swiss Association of Funeral Services (SVB) HERE.
HERE you will find the current course and examination dates of the Swiss Association of Funeral Services (SVB).
How do I find a job as a funeral director? Where can I apply?
In Switzerland, there are not very many jobs advertised as funeral director. If you meet the requirements for the job, then you may have a chance with a good spontaneous application.
Open positions:
HERE you can find the vacancies on our portal.
Send your spontaneous application to funeral homes in your area.
HERE you will find documents and information brochures of the Swiss Association of Funeral Services (SVB).
How does one become a funeral director in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, funeral directors become funeral directors through a second-chance education. This is preceded by a completed EFZ apprenticeship or equivalent qualification. Experience and knowledge from comparable work are advantageous – but also career changers can apply for a funeral service if you bring the following requirements:
Requirements:
– Basic vocational training (EFZ apprenticeship or equivalent qualification)
– A healthy relationship with the topic of dying and death
– Empathy, good manners and discretion
– Strong physical and mental resilience
– Independence and ability to work in a team
– Willingness to work weekends, nights, Sundays and holidays
– Fluency in writing and speaking in one or more local languages
– Pleasure in administrative work
– Driving license category B
– Impeccable reputation
Information and documents on the profession of funeral director:
HERE you will find documents and information brochures of the Swiss Association of Funeral Services (SVB).
Which tasks, activities, services belong to the profession of funeral director?
The offers and services of funeral homes are very extensive. In principle, funeral directors take care of all matters relating to the funeral on request – but in some places the funeral office of the municipality of residence is also the first point of contact in the event of death.
Tasks, activities, services of a funeral home:
Funeral directors …
… advise and accompany relatives in all questions and concerns about the funeral
… organize and coordinate funeral services in all matters
… respect religion and customs of the relatives
… decorate funeral rooms, churches, chapels, etc.
… work in close cooperation with parish offices, funeral orators, florists, stone sculptors, musicians, cleaning and clearance companies, etc.
… are responsible for the hygienic care of the dead, the dressing and coffering of the deceased as well as for demanding rescues, for example during police operations
… transfer deceased at home and abroad
… design and print funeral circulars, thank you notes and obituaries
… take care of official matters, procurement of documents and general administrative tasks
… inform relatives about upcoming insurance and death benefit claims, banking matters, sealing, contract terminations, etc.
… calculate the costs for the respective burial
… offer pension advice and contracts with appropriate documentation
Morticians, funeral homes in your area will be happy to provide you with information:
Ask a funeral home near you about local conditions HERE.
HERE you can find a funeral home in your area.
You were dissatisfied with the services provided by the funeral service you hired? Contact the ombudsman office of the Swiss Association of Funeral Services (SVB) HERE.
How many deceased persons are there in Switzerland?
All deaths of persons residing in Switzerland, including those that occurred abroad, are reported to the civil registration offices and reported to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) as part of the statistics on natural population movements (BEVNAT).
Deaths in recent years:
Year 2018: 67 088
Year 2019: 67 780
Year 2020: 76 001
Current data on deaths in Switzerland:
Find HERE at the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) all weekly updated data on deaths by age group, gender and region in Switzerland.
Is there an apprenticeship, vocational training for morticians?
In Switzerland, there is no professional apprenticeship EFZ for morticians. You can pursue this profession only on the second educational path. However, if you meet the following criteria, you can apply for the training and professional examination “Funeral director with SVB certificate” and “Funeral director with federal certificate”. Professional certificate” register.
Prerequisites:
– Federal certificate of proficiency or an equivalent qualification and at least three years of full-time work in the funeral trade
– Federal certificate of proficiency or equivalent qualification and at least five years of full-time work in a company with affiliated funeral services
Training and professional examination:
Learn everything about the training and professional examination of the Swiss Association of Funeral Services (SVB) HERE.
HERE you will find the current course and examination dates of the Swiss Association of Funeral Services (SVB).
I would like to get to know the profession of funeral director – can I “sniff around” in a company or do an internship?
If you are seriously interested in the profession of funeral director and have the necessary qualifications for the job, many funeral services will be happy to offer you an insight into their day-to-day work, whether in the form of a personal interview, taster days or an internship. There are also funeral homes which unfortunately cannot offer this – often due to a lack of free capacity.
Information and documents on the profession of funeral director:
Do you have the prerequisites for the profession of funeral director and would like to get a taste of a funeral home? Find funeral homes in your area HERE.
HERE you will find documents and information brochures of the Swiss Association of Funeral Services (SVB).
In the event of death, do we even need a funeral home, funeral service, funeral home?
Depending on the region, a funeral home or the burial office of the respective municipality of residence will take care of all matters arising in the event of death. Sometimes relatives want to organize things themselves, either for financial reasons or because this is an important part of the mourning process for some. In such cases, a funeral home or the respective funeral office will be there to help and advise you.
However, a funeral home with an appropriate hearse must ALWAYS be called for a coffin and body transport. Depending on the region, this is contacted directly by the relatives or by the respective burial office of the municipality of residence. If circumstances permit, relatives may usually accompany the burial and transfer if they wish.
Morticians, funeral homes in your area will be happy to provide you with information:
Ask a funeral home near you about local conditions HERE.
HERE you can find a funeral home in your area.
You were dissatisfied with the services provided by the funeral service you hired? Contact the ombudsman office of the Swiss Association of Funeral Services (SVB) HERE.