A peek at what it’s like living Groundhog’s day.

Quick background: Wife, born in Switzerland, graduated high school here then went to USA and got bachelor’s degree there. Worked there for years, but we opted to raise our kid in Switzerland. Need to have education based social worker license since 2019. SBFI’s job is recognition, validation and accreditation foreign diplomas for Swiss employment. It’s about 30,000/yr difference for us. Now buckle up.

Wife files application with ENIC to have her foreign bachelor’s degree recognized in Switzerland so she can get a professional’s job. ENIC, says yes the foreign education does qualify her for work in Switzerland, but it’s SBFI that does the valuation for employment. So another application is sent this time to SBFI and a case Worker assigned. Case Worker looks at the education papers and asks for “X”. “X” is a document only found with EU+Schengen work educations. Wife sends employment history showing she worked in Switzerland back in 2017, in this field, with this education that ENIC has said was equivalent… Case Worker is adamant, she’s worked with Americans before, and she needs document “X”.

Wife comes back with ENIC said yes this counts for that, there is no “X” in the USA. She presents a letter from her previous employer who writes that there is no “X” in the USA and hiring qualifications are based on education alone. SBFI is adamant, wife needs EU document “X”.

To get “X” in Switzerland is a 4yr work education program (Praktikants) and there is 2yr accelerated program for employed adults managed by organization “Z”. So Wife consults with Organization “Z”, they look at Wife’s degree curriculum and agree that it is comparable to what they require for “X” and (importantly) there is no “X” for that work in the USA.

Now, this is taking months because this case Worker is only available by email apparently. They have a phone number, but won’t pick it up. Case Worker will make appointments to call, and then not call. The wife has tried contacting SBFI in general, but their phone hours are limited to two (yes two hours) per day, and several days of calling never got picked up. Write SBFI office about the all of this and it’s forwarded to case worker.

The last update for SBFI (contact impossible,”Z” says…) Gets back to Case worker and they write an email apologizing for the difficulties. They deflect responsibility saying they’ve been understaffed and incredibly busy. Ultimately though, even with all the information provided, she cannot recognize the degree and validate my wife for work without document “X”.

– – –
So, with “Z”, ENIC, and Wife’s work history in the USA+Switzerland (2015/17) in this field all saying criteria by “Z” is met… SBFI demands to see “X”. Tell Case worker that even “Z” says there’s no “X” in USA. Case Worker says she understands, but needs “X”. Provide letter from previous Employer to case Worker also stating there is no equivalent to “X” in the USA, and case Worker tells us that they’ve worked with Americans before, she needs “X”.

Been back and forth with the assigned case Worker on this since last August. There’s one more resource were going to check with, but I’m feeling like this is headed to a Lawyer soon. Cause it seems like SBFI’s interpretation of the law is that only people with “X” can be validated, and that their job isn’t to do what it says online that they are there to do, https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/sbfi/de/home/bildung/diploma.html

If this got you frustrated as well and you happen to have an idea on what type of Lawyer (no names/referrals, against rules) we should work with, that would help narrow our future search. No need to upvote, as I’m part venting and part documenting so anyone else searching can see they’re not alone.

—– Editorial zone —
Swapped SERI for ENIC the University entity responsible for unregulated professions.

“X” is like a license to practice, something the USA would have for Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers. Not non-medical social workers.

“Z” is the organization here that sets qualifications, arranges evaluations, and conducts observations of candidates resulting in them receiving “X”.

The Wife is working as an assistant as that is unregulated, it’s also 1/3 the pay.

7 comments

  1. Btw, kid just started Kindergarten and is loving it. So much more wholesome approach to educating young children here then the factory system in the USA.

  4. >Calling Saul

    I’d think “Arbeitsrecht/Droit du travail” (Labour Law) is the relevant legal field.

    >XYZ

    That being said, your alphabet soup is pretty difficult to follow, is it a field where having a particular certificate is required by law for employment? If not, what do potential employers say?

  6. Is it possible that this simply is an issue with your case worker who should have been fired years ago but stays since they are already understaffed?

  7. First, do not communication by phone but by letter.

    You have the option to communicate with somebody higher up in the chain: https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/sbfi/de/home/das-sbfi/organigramm-sbfi.html

    The issue: If you work in a regulated profession and you need your diploma recognized it is usually only possible if you have an EU or EFTA diploma/degree/certificate. Those from other countries are usually not as easily recognized. They are however easily recognized if an other EU/EFTA country recognized the education (indirect recognition). Hence, why might ask for “X” as that would make things simpler. (PS: Why not name document “X” ?)

    As a social worker you are unfortunately stuck with SERI/SBFI. For other professions there is usually an other organization (EDK, SRK, MEBEKO, etc.) which does the recognition.

    The [Art. 69a VPETO](https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2003/748/en#art_69_a) says:

    >1 SERI or a third party will recognise a foreign qualification as equivalent to a corresponding Swiss qualification for a regulated occupation or profession if the following criteria are met:
    >
    >**a. same level of training;**
    >
    >**b. same duration of training;**
    >
    >**c. comparable training content;**
    >
    >**d. the foreign training programme covers both theoretical and practical aspects or considerable work experience is involved.**
    >
    >2 If the foreign qualification authorises the holder to carry out the given occupation or profession in the country of issuance but the criteria in paragraph 1 above are not met, SERI or a third party, if necessary in cooperation with experts, shall decide on measures to be taken to compensate for the difference between the foreign qualification and the corresponding Swiss qualification (compensatory measures), namely in the form of an aptitude test or a special adaptation course. If comparison shows that the training obtained in the foreign country is largely similar to what the person would have obtained in Switzerland, then there is no need for such compensatory measures to be taken.
    >
    >3 The costs for compensatory measures are paid by the holder of the foreign qualification.

    a, b, c, and d must all be fulfilled, otherwise it cannot be recognized. See also: [https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/sbfi/en/home/education/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/recognition-procedure-on-establishment/legal-basis-for-the-recognition-of-foreign-qualifications.html](https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/sbfi/en/home/education/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/recognition-procedure-on-establishment/legal-basis-for-the-recognition-of-foreign-qualifications.html)

    If “X” is part of d, and mandatory in Switzerland, than you need “X” for recognition. (You did not say what “X” actually is)

    The requirements for an “dipl. Sozialpädagogin HF” can be found here: [https://www.becc.admin.ch/becc/public/bvz/beruf/show/18](https://www.becc.admin.ch/becc/public/bvz/beruf/show/18)

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