No. There are various entry options for further training to become a platform developer with a federal certificate (formerly ICT system and network technician). If you want to take this professional examination, you need

• either an IT-EFZ or an EFZ as an electronics technician and at least two years of professional experience in ICT systems technology or network technology
• or an EFZ in another profession or a qualification from a higher general education school (Matura) and at least four years of professional experience in the ICT field, of which at least two years in ICT systems technology or network technology/platform development
• or at least six years of professional experience in the ICT field, including at least two years in ICT systems engineering or network technology or platform development.

The following admission requirements apply to the Federal Professional Examination for Platform Developers with a Federal PET Diploma (formerly ICT System and Network Technician):

• Certificate of proficiency (Federal VET Diploma) as a computer scientist or electronics technician and at least 2 years of professional experience in the field of ICT system and network technology.

or

• Certificate of proficiency (Federal VET Diploma) in another profession, a higher general school education or an equivalent qualification and at least 4 years of professional experience in the field of information and communication technologies, including at least 2 years in ICT system or network technology.

or

• At least 6 years of professional experience in the field of ICT (information and communication technology), including at least 2 years in the field of ICT system or network technology.

The required professional experience must have been acquired in ICT platform development or ICT system or network technology by the day the examination begins at the latest.

The State Secretariat for Education, Research, and Innovation SERI decides on the equivalence of foreign qualifications and diplomas.

Graduates of the IT vocational examination in platform development - previously known as system and network technology - are able to:

• Develop, evaluate, build and maintain ICT platforms, system and network infrastructures
• analyze and resolve problems in the event of malfunctions
• lead a small team
• ensure the data security, data availability and data processing security of the ICT system and network infrastructure.

ICT system and network technicians (now platform developers) with a federal certificate evaluate, create, maintain and operate ICT system and network infrastructures, are responsible for the planning and implementation of projects and for the analysis, identification and rectification of service or system faults and problems.

Successful graduates of the professional examination in ICT systems and network technology or as a platform developer with a federal certificate who are planning the next step in their career and aspire to a managerial position in the IT sector have various options, e.g. the higher professional examination "ICT manager with a federal diploma", a course of study at a higher technical college, e.g. "diploma in business informatics HF" or "diploma in business informatics HF".For example, the higher professional examination to become an "ICT manager with a federal diploma", a course of study at a higher technical college, e.g. to become a "qualified business IT specialist HF" or a "qualified computer scientist HF" and finally a Bachelor of Science (FH) in computer science or business IT.

Yes, since 2017 the federal government has been contributing to the costs of preparatory courses for the federal professional examination for platform developers with a federal certificate (formerly ICT system and network technician) upon application, up to 50% (max. CHF 9,500)!