An apprenticeship in a healthcare profession, for example as a healthcare specialist Federal VET Diploma, medical device technologist Federal VET Diploma or practice assistant Federal VET Diploma is an advantage, but not essential. A three-year vocational apprenticeship with Federal VET Diploma, a DMS or FMS degree or a high school diploma completed in Switzerland are considered admission requirements for the CHE surgical technician course. Foreign applicants should contact the relevant College of Higher Education directly using the contact form.

Training to become a technical operations specialist is not carried out on a part-time basis, but exclusively as full-time training. The duration of training is three years.

In addition to the comprehensive theoretical training to become a technical surgical specialist, students also receive in-depth practical training. During the course, they complete at least three internships in different specialist areas, such as gynecology, orthopedics, cardiac surgery, urology,...

After successfully completing their training, a technical surgical specialist is awarded the federally recognized title of "Certified Specialist in Surgical Technology CHE" or "Certified Specialist in Surgical Technology CHE".

In order to be able to start the CHE training course to become a technical operations specialist, applicants must go through an admission procedure, which can be different for each College of Higher Education (CHE). At the College of Higher Education for Health and Social Services Aarau (HFGS), for example, applicants first submit their application documents, which, after a positive assessment, lead to a written paper that tests spelling, self-awareness, expression, etc., among other things. Those who successfully pass this part are allowed to complete a two-day internship in an internship hospital and then take part in an aptitude interview. The admission procedure at the Careum Education Center is also extensive. It includes an aptitude test that checks intellectual aptitude, a two to five-day aptitude internship in an operating department, a dossier submission and an aptitude interview. Detailed information on the CHE surgical technology aptitude test can be obtained from the individual College of Higher Education.