Pre-Primary and/or Primary education
The teacher training program for the pre-primary and/or primary level gives students the skills they need in everyday situations to be able to understand and further the individual requirements of children, correctly evaluate the learning behavior of children, support their socialization, work together with other teachers, school administrators, officials and parents, and to plan and develop lessons within the framework of the school’s curriculum while taking interdisciplinary points of view into consideration.
A teacher training program for the pre-primary and/or primary level ends with a Bachelor’s degree, at a minimum (cf. EDK degree title regulations, in German). According to the Regulations on the Recognition of University Degrees for Teacher at the Pre-Primary and/or Primary School Level (in German) from the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK) at least 180 ECTS credits are necessary for graduation. A full-time course of studies takes six semesters or three years (including practice teaching).
Graduates of the teacher training program for the pre-primary and/or primary level receive a “Teaching Certificate for the Pre-Primary and/or Primary Level” and the academic title of Bachelor of Arts in Pre-Primary and/or Primary Education.
The following institutions offer these programs: PHBern, PH VS, PH FHNW, PHGR, PH FR, FAPSE, PHTG, HEP Vaud, SUPSI-DFA, PHZ, HEP-BEJUNE, PHSH, PHSG, and PH Zürich (cf. Overview of study programs).
According to the EDK regulations, the following minimum qualifications must be fulfilled for acceptance in a teacher training program for pre-primary and/or primary education: a Maturity Certificate from a Gymnasium, a teaching certificate recognized by the EDK, or a university degree. Generally, candidates with a Specialized Maturity Certificate with Pedagogical Orientation are also admitted directly to the educational programs for teachers at the pre-primary and/or primary level. Applicants with a Professional Maturity Certificate or a vocational college (DMS) or trade college (HMS) certificate, or those who have completed an apprenticeship will be accepted if they can demonstrate that their knowledge corresponds to the requirements for a Specialized Maturity Certificate with Pedagogical Orientation (approximately equal length of schooling and vocational practice).
Please visit the homepage of one of the universities of teacher education for detailed information about application requirements.
