Alternatives to training as a manager of social and socio-medical organizations include further education courses at Universities of Applied Sciences in the field of business administration for social organizations:

• CAS Business Administration in Social Services (UAS)
• CAS Leadership and Management in Social and Health Care (UAS)
• CAS Leading Teams (UAS)
• DAS Managing projects and leading teams (UAS, UTE)
• CAS Social Management (UAS)
• MAS in Management of Social Services (UAS)

The courses at schools are preparatory courses that prepare you for the federal examinations, in this case for the qualification of Head of Social and Socio-Medical Organizations (HFP) (formerly Head of Institutions in the Social and Socio-Medical Sector/Heimleiter). The continuing education course itself is not federally recognized, only the qualification you receive when you pass the final examination. In order to be able to take the exam, you must be able to provide evidence of the competencies of the individual modules that you complete and pass during the course. The course is therefore essential for the Higher Professional Examination (HFP). You will only be admitted to the federal PET examination once you have completed these modules or have a certificate of equivalence.

As soon as the call for applications for the Advanced Federal Diploma Examination (HFP) for the Head of Social and Socio-Medical Organizations (formerly Head of Institution Training/Home Manager Training) has been published at least five months before the start of the examination and you have registered by the deadline, a decision will be made on your admission. If you are admitted to the examination and the examination is held, you will receive an invitation at least four weeks before the start of the examination.

The final examination comprises three parts.

1. Diploma project (written, prepared in advance)
2. Case study with technical discussion (oral)
3. Simulated management situation with technical discussion (oral)

The certificates of competence that you acquire in the modules during your training to become a certified institution manager in the social and socio-medical field are mandatory for registration for the final examination. These are: Leading yourself, leading others, planning and ensuring team organization, setting goals and ensuring quality, developing leadership, shaping human resources; managing marketing and communication, developing organization and quality, managing finances and ensuring infrastructure, helping to shape strategies.

Admission to the final examination is granted to those who fulfill the following requirements:

• Professional examination for team leaders in social and socio-medical organizations with a federal certificate, tertiary degree or equivalent qualification in social and health care and at least 3 years of professional experience in social and socio-medical organizations

Or

• Tertiary degree or equivalent qualification and at least three years of professional experience in social and socio-medical organizations and required industry knowledge

Or

• EFZ in social and health care or equivalent qualification and at least 5 years of professional experience in social or socio-medical organizations

Or

• Federal certificate of proficiency in another field or equivalent qualification and at least 5 years of professional experience in social or socio-medical organizations and the required industry knowledge

And

• Three years of management experience in the social or healthcare sector at least at team management level and proof of management of an entire division of an organization in the social or healthcare sector

As well as

• Federal certificate as a team leader in social and socio-medical organizations or proof of competence in modules* 1, 2, 3 and double module 4/5 as well as modules 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or the corresponding certificates of equivalence

Training to become a care home manager was discontinued in September 2011 and replaced by training to become an institution manager in the social and socio-medical sector.

This training has now also been discontinued as of February 2023 and replaced by training to become a manager of social and socio-medical organizations.

If you do not pass the final examination to become a manager of social and socio-medical organizations (HFP) (formerly head of an institution in the social and socio-medical sector/head of a care home) the first time, you have the opportunity to retake it up to two times. However, you only have to retake the parts of the examination that you did not pass, not the entire final examination.