The examination regulations for the Federal Professional Examination "Nature and Environment Specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education" do not stipulate that candidates must have taken part in a preparatory course. However, participation is strongly recommended in order to acquire the necessary skills for later professional activity and to pass the Federal Professional Examination.

For admission to the Federal Professional Examination (FPE) for Nature and Environment Specialists with Federal Diploma of Higher Education, participants are expected to have completed a vocational apprenticeship with Federal VET Diploma, a recognized school-leaving certificate or an equivalent qualification and at least two years of professional experience in the environment and nature sector. A preparatory course for the FPE will be fully credited as professional experience. If you do not have any of the above-mentioned qualifications, you may still be admitted to the examination in exceptional cases if you have at least four years of the required professional experience. In addition, only those who pay the examination fee on time will be admitted to the examination.

Nature and environmental specialists can be found in the private sector, for example in engineering offices, consulting offices or in a wide variety of industrial companies, as well as in environmental and nature conservation organizations. As a nature and environmental specialist, you will also find employment with communal and cantonal environmental and nature conservation agencies.

The Federal Professional Examination for Nature and Environment Specialists is divided into four parts, consisting of the subjects "Ecosystems and Fundamentals of Ecology", "Nature Conservation, Environmental Protection and Society", a presentation and a final thesis. The first subject tests knowledge of general ecology, soil ecosystems and aquatic ecosystems, while the second subject tests knowledge of nature and landscape conservation, forestry and agriculture, environmental economics, public and corporate environmental protection and management systems, settlement areas, mobility and spatial and settlement planning, water protection, noise protection, soil protection, air pollution control, waste, material flow analysis, energy analysis, energy policy, ecotoxology and environmental impact assessments. It is best to request all important training documents directly from the schools and also obtain the examination requirements for the Federal Professional Examination for Nature and Environmental Specialists.

Continuing education, further training as a Nature and Environment Specialist with Federal Diploma of Higher Education lasts one year with a total of 54 course days, which are attended in blocks. The courses usually take place over two to three consecutive days, making this course a part-time continuing education, further training course.