What are the activities of an ICT Application Development Specialist (formerly ICT Application Developer)?

An ICT application developer (formerly computer scientist, new since August 2023: ICT Application Development Specialist) is responsible for the development and maintenance of applications (application software) for information and communication technology. This includes project implementation and ensuring IT security - either in-house (software development department of an ICT service provider) or externally for other companies, depending on the position. ICT application development specialists are specialists in the planning, development, delivery and ongoing operation of applications. ICT application developers take on an important responsibility in the coordination between different stakeholders and the technical implementation of applications as well as leading agile teams. The area of responsibility covers the entire development process from the creation of the conceptual design to the implementation of the application or parts thereof.

The following activities are common as an ICT Application Development Specialist with a federal certificate (formerly ICT Application Developer):

• Implementation of application projects as ICT Application Development Specialist
  • Clarification of business needs for a complete application or parts thereof (for customer or own company)
  • Definition of the resulting system requirements and creation of a catalog of criteria specifically for this purpose
  • Choice of IT resources and services tailored to the identified needs
  • Creating models for data, functions and objects
  • Defining the necessary methods for software development
  • Determination of necessary methods for software maintenance
  • Obtain and check offers from IT service providers and place orders if necessary
  • Survey and structuring of the personnel and operating resources required to implement the projects
  • Developing software applications and interfaces
  • Setting up development and test environments
• Maintaining development and test environments
• Implementing software applications and interfaces
• Creating documentation for the software lifecycle
• Updating the documentation for the software lifecycle
• Analyzing software errors
• Solving software errors
• Creating concepts for software improvements as an ICT Application Development Specialist
• Implementing information security measures and training employees in this regard
• Analyzing problems in the area of business processes
• Supporting the integration tests of software applications and interfaces
• Ensuring the maintenance of software applications and interfaces
• Analyzing change requests
• Accompanying software improvements into productive use

With the revised ICT Application Development Specialist examination regulations (valid from 30.8.2023), four different specializations have been introduced, allowing for a corresponding deepening of skills and thus specialization:

• "Frontend":Their aim is to develop user-friendly, perfectly integrated client and web applications with clear data management and optimized loading speed.
• "Mobile:They develop and implement mobile applications that meet requirements and data protection requirements and access native interfaces and device sensors.
• "Backend":You plan new backend applications and maintain, adapt and monitor existing ones. Your goal is to enable the storage, backup and access of data.
• "Data Engineering":You will develop conceptual, logical and physical data models and transform data. In this way, you will ensure the secure, efficient and effective processing of large volumes of data.

Target group and skills: Who is the ICT Application Development Specialist (formerly ICT Application Developer) training course with professional examination suitable for? What qualities and skills are required?

The ICT application developer training program with subsequent professional examination ICT Application Development Specialist is aimed at the following people:

• Software developers at ICT service providers or ICT user companies such as:
  • Application developers
  • Database specialists
  • ICT test engineers
  • ICT test managers
  • Application managers
  • Project managers
• Professionals who work in IT or in the IT environment and are aiming for a higher and federal qualification
• Project managers in ICT development projects

The following skills and personal qualities are required for a successful job as an ICT Application Development Specialist (formerly ICT Application Developer) with a federal certificate:

• Precise working method
• Computer skills
• Interest in computer science
• Technical skills
• Communication skills
• Ability to work in a team
• Logical thinking, analytical thinking
• Expressiveness, imagination
• Quick comprehension, ability to combine
• Independence, perseverance
• Experimentation, openness
• Joy of learning
• Confident manner and ability to develop, implement and review projects

Requirements for admission to the professional examination as an ICT Application Development Specialist (formerly ICT Application Developer):

You will be admitted to the ICT Application Development Specialist professional examination if you meet the following requirements:

• A federal certificate of proficiency as a computer scientist EFZ and at least two years of professional experience in the field of application development

or

• another federal certificate of proficiency (EFZ) in the professional field of IT and communication technology and at least three years of professional experience in the field of application development

or

• another federal certificate of proficiency (EFZ) or the following qualifications and at least four years of professional experience in the field of application development:
  • a high school diploma
  • a specialized baccalaureate
  • a vocational baccalaureate
  • or an equivalent qualification

You will find out whether you have been admitted to the ICT Application Development Specialist professional examination for ICT Application Developers at least three months before the start of the examination with a written notification including reasons and information on legal remedies in the event of rejection.

Note: The number of years of professional experience must first be available when registering for the examination or starting the examination for ICT Application Development Specialist. At some schools it is therefore possible to start the preparatory course for the professional examination for ICT application developers even if you do not (yet) meet the requirements. It is then your responsibility to ensure that you meet the necessary requirements by the required date.

Transitional provision: Candidates who have not passed the examination based on the previous examination regulations of February 21, 2012 ICT Application Developer will be given the opportunity to retake the examination for the first or second time by the end of 2024.

Subject matter and content of the ICT Application Development Specialist course (formerly ICT Application Developer):

The subject matter of the preparatory courses for the professional examination for the ICT Application Development Specialist certificate (formerly ICT Application Developer) is based on the requirements of the sponsor of the federal examination, theICT Vocational Training Switzerland.

The content of the ICT Application Development Specialist course is taught in modules. The following application developer topics are covered and ICT application development specialist skills are taught:

Application Engineeringfor ICT Application Development Specialist (formerly ICT Application Developer)

• Module 500: Designing software architecture
  Develops the software architecture for the development or extension of a complex, multi-layered and distributed application on the basis of business requirements.
• Module 501: Initializing software development
  Defines the process model, the technology stack, the tools and the quality specifications for a planned software development.
• Module 503: Specifying and designing front ends for complex applications
  Specifies the requirements for a front end based on the specifications, selects suitable services, frameworks and libraries and develops the specifications for implementation.
• Module 504: Designing and implementing front ends for complex applications
  Designs and implements a frontend with specified technologies and ensures functionality and fulfillment of requirements through testing.
• Module 505: Designing and implementing persistence in complex applications
  Conceives and designs the persistence of data in a complex application, implements the data model on a data storage system, implements the read and write accesses and ensures the fulfillment of the requirements through tests.
• Module 506: Designing and implementing business logic in complex applications
  Designs and implements the business logic of complex applications and ensures the fulfillment of requirements through testing.
• Module 507: Designing and implementing programming interfaces
  Conceives, designs and implements comprehensible, extensible and secure programming interfaces (API) and ensures the fulfillment of requirements through testing.
• Module 508: Specifying and designing the development of a mobile app
  Specifies the requirements for a mobile app based on the specifications, evaluates the technology and develops the specifications for implementation.
• Module 509: Designing and implementing a mobile app
  Designs and implements the data management, business logic and user interface of a mobile app in the specified technology, ensures fulfillment of the requirements through testing and publishes the app on the intended platforms.
• Module 510: Designing user interfaces for complex applications
  Designs a complex user interface with a user-centered approach and ensures optimal usability of the user interface.

Business Engineeringfor ICT Application Development Specialist (formerly ICT Application Developer)

• Module 687: Delimiting systems and defining requirements
  Elicits the performance of a system, describes the system context and the interfaces and specifies the requirements in a structured catalog of requirements.

Business Managementfor ICT Application Development Specialist (formerly ICT Application Developer)

• Module 646: Observing and evaluating innovations and trends
  Continuously monitors innovations and trends, assesses their potential for their own organization, compares the potential benefits with the cost of integration and develops a roadmap for the introduction of a technology.

Data Managementfor ICT Application Development Specialist (formerly ICT Application Developer)

• Module 511: Developing and implementing data models for complex use cases
  Designs the data model for a complex use case, develops a reasoned proposal for the choice of technology in the given context and implements the data model on the chosen technology.
• Module 512: Designing and implementing a data pipeline
  Designs a data pipeline for extracting, transforming and transferring data from different source systems into a data repository, selects technologies and tools for implementation, implements the data pipeline and ensures its operation.

Project Managementfor ICT Application Development Specialist (formerly ICT Application Developer)

• Module 698: Leading and empowering teams
  Assembles suitable teams for specific projects, leads the teams in operational business through appropriate and situational leadership behavior and ensures the further development of the team and communication with stakeholders.

Security/Risk Managementfor ICT Application Development Specialist (formerly ICT Application Developer)

• Module 502: Ensuring security in the operation of applications
  Ensures information security in the operation of applications through suitable and effective measures.

Service Managementfor ICT Application Development Specialist (formerly ICT Application Developer)

• Module 513: Designing and providing data infrastructures
  Elicits the requirements for a data infrastructure, designs and evaluates a suitable system and technology architecture and puts the data infrastructure into operation.
• Module 695: Defining and implementing delivery processes
  Defines the necessary processes and methods for the collaboration of all teams in the lifecycle of an ICT platform and implements a pipeline for the continuous integration and delivery of software and hardware artifacts.

Application developer courses - costs and financing:

The costs listed for a preparatory course for the ICT Application Development Specialist vocational examination for ICT application developers vary greatly in some cases. This is because the schools set the course costs themselves.

The examination fee, on the other hand, is set by the organizing body of the federal examination. It is binding for all candidates.

You can expect the following costs for the ICT application developer training with the ICT application development specialist professional examination:

• Course fees/course costs:between CHF 13,200 and CHF 19,600. Thanks to subject funding from the federal government, you will receive around 50% back from the federal government after the examination (regardless of the result).*
• Examination fees:CHF 2,900 (as at 2013)
  The examination fee is set by the body responsible for the professional examination. It is paid by the candidate after confirmed admission to the ICT Application Development Specialist examination (formerly: ICT Application Developer examination).
• Extra costs:At some schools, the costs for enrolment fees, teaching materials, training documents, books, intensive exam training, simulation exams, school diplomas and interim qualifications, for example, are not included in the course fees. Please contact the provider of your choice directly to find out what additional costs you can expect for the course.

*Since 1.1.2018, preparatory courses for federal professional examinations such as the ICT Application Development Specialist training course have been financially supported by the federal government. Graduates of these courses can therefore be reimbursed up to 50% (max. CHF 9,500) of the course costs paid for the ICT Application Development Specialist course after taking the federal examination. In cases of hardship, the federal contributions are also pre-financed in exceptional cases.

Duration of study, number of teaching hours, teaching times and learning effort for the ICT Application Development Specialist (formerly Application Developer) course:

• Duration of study:The ICT application developer (new: ICT application development specialist) training course is classically structured (i.e. the professional examination covers all the skills to be assessed) and lasts two to three semesters.
• Number of lessons:The ICT Application Development Specialist vocational examination for ICT application developers comprises around 460 lessons.
• Lesson times:Lesson times vary depending on the provider of the ICT application developer course. The lessons usually take place on a full day, two evenings per week or one evening per week and on Saturdays, sometimes only on Saturdays (supplemented with e-learning). Please note: The course dates or timetables for the ICT Application Development Specialist further education course are put together independently by the school. There may therefore be differences from provider to provider
• Learning effort:Thanks to the in-service training concept, you can apply and deepen the learning material in practice straight away. Nevertheless, you should allow sufficient time for lesson preparation and follow-up as well as for self-study. Depending on your prior knowledge, working style and learning speed, we recommend that you allow another six hours per week for the additional workload.

Note: Some schools offer so-called "taster lessons", which provide an insight into the lessons and the learning atmosphere. A suitable learning environment is important on the way to successful completion of the ICT Application Development Specialist course.

Degree, diploma and title:

The professional examination ICT Application Development Specialist (formerly: ICT Application Developer with a federal certificate) takes place annually, provided that at least 25 candidates meet the admission requirements, or at least every two years. The federal examination can be taken in the three official languages German, French and Italian.

Candidates for the ICT Application Development Specialist professional examination will be notified at least four weeks before the start of the examination. The invitation includes the examination program (with details of the place and time of the examination as well as permitted aids) and the list of experts.

The ICT Application Development Specialist professional examination for ICT application developers lasts a total of seven hours and comprises four examination parts and the associated professional competencies, which are structured as follows:

1. Individual practical development work (IPE) - 60% weighting
   • Project work in writing, prepared in advance
     Candidates develop an application based on a real question or problem from their professional context. A job description with the requirements to be fulfilled is drawn up in advance. The work must be documented in a comprehensible manner. The assignment description, development work and documentation may be written in an official language or in English.
   • Oral presentation of the IPE and technical discussion, lasts 60 minutes
     Candidates present their project work in the form of a system demo. In it, they demonstrate the functionality of the application with the implemented features and functions. This is followed by a technical discussion on various aspects of the development work and related topics. Candidates are required to justify their approach in a comprehensible manner and answer follow-up questions. The presentation and the technical discussion can be held in an official language or in English.
2. Development and architecture - 240 minutes total, 20% weighting
   • Written case study
   • Mini cases in writing
   • Using practical situations, candidates demonstrate that they are able to deal with complex problems relating to the design and implementation of software architectures in a requirements-oriented and efficient manner.
3. Professional leadership and innovation -20% weighting
   • Critical Incidents oral, lasts 60 minutes
     This part of the examination focuses on difficult or problematic work situations in the context of the management tasks and innovations of ICT Application Development Specialists.

Transitional provision for old professional examination ICT application developer

Candidates who have not passed the examination based on the previous examination regulations of February 21, 2012 ICT Application Developer will be given the opportunity to take a 1st or 2nd repetition with the following content by the end of 2024:

1. General professional competence ICT (professional field) - written, 3 hours, single weighting
2. Planning and analyzing ICT applications - written, 3 hours, single weighting
3. Designing and implementing ICT applications - written, 4 hours, double weighting
4. Testing ICT applications - written, 2 hours, single weighting

Diploma and title

Graduates of the professional examination receive a federal certificate and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected title "ICT application development specialist with federal certificate" - until 30.8.2023 "ICT application developer with federal certificate" or "ICT application developer with federal certificate".

• In French: "ICT-Application Development Specialist avec brevet fédéral" - before: "Informaticien en développement d'applications TIC avec brevet fédéral", "Informaticienne en développement d'applications TIC avec brevet fédéral"
• In Italian: "ICT-Application Development Specialist con attestato professionale federale" - before: "Informatico in sviluppo delle applicazioni TIC con attestato professionale federale", "Informatica in sviluppo delle applicazioni TIC con attestato professionale federale"
• In English: "ICT-Application Development Specialist, Federal Diploma of Higher Education" (Attention: This is only a recommendation/translation and not a protected title)