Recognition of your diploma by the Swiss Red Cross (Anerkennung)
Before you can start working in Switzerland, the process begins with the Precheck from the Swiss Red Cross (SRC). This is the first step toward official recognition of your diploma. It’s not yet a full approval, but it gives you clarity on whether your education is likely to be recognized.
It’s smart to complete this step as early as possible—ideally while you’re still exploring job opportunities. That way, you’ll know where you stand, can gather any missing documents in time, and plan your language course accordingly.
To work in Switzerland, it is important to start with the recognition (“Anerkennung / reconnaissance”) of your degree.
Summary of recognition process
It’s important that you start the first step (the Precheck) of the recognition of your diploma quickly. This is important because in many cases, you need (partial) recognition to commence your job. If you begin this process in a timely manner, the chances of obtaining your partial recognition on time are greater. The Precheck assessment may take 2-8 weeks, so make sure to upload and submit all the necessary documents correctly. After receiving a positive Precheck, you will need to fill out an ‘Antragsformular‘ and send it back. Subsequently, you will receive mail at your home address with the new requirements for partial recognition. After gathering and submitting the requested documents, the evaluation will take at least 3-4 months. If it is approved, you will receive partial recognition. Following this, you will have time to obtain your B2 language certificate.
For the recognition, you need among other things a CCPS (Certificate of Current Professional Status). After requesting this document from the responsible organisation in your country, it will take approximately 4-8 weeks before you receive it. Do this on time so that you do not experience any delay.
It takes up to 6 months to get partial recognition, do you want to start sooner in Switzerland? Then please ask us for advice.
Further information on both the recognition and the CCPS can be found later in this document.
Improve German / French
- Read more info on learning a language
- Examples of common German sentences in healthcare settings
- Enroll in a language course if necessary
Precheck
⚠️If your original documents are not in English, German, French, or Italian, you need to have some of them translated by a sworn translator. The stamps on the documents have to be translated too!
⚠️The latest information on diploma recognition, the associated costs and how to apply for it can be found here. If you have further specific questions about your case, you can ask your contact person at PhysioMatch or call the Swiss Red Cross at the phone-number below.
- Schweizerisches Rotes Kreuz Hotline: +41 58 400 44 84 (Monday to Friday, 8 to 12 AM.)
⚠️Note: The documents to be uploaded vary by country and type of diploma and may therefore differ from the info below. Always follow the information on the Precheck website . Below is an example of the documents to upload if you have a Bachelor of Physiotherapy.
Only upload the documents requested in the pink fields.
Checklist
- Upload following documents on www.precheck.ch/account/register
- CV in English, German or French
- Photo of your passport
- Diploma
- Translated diploma (info)
- CCPS / Screenshot registration quality register
- Submit all documents and send a screenshot to PhysioMatch
2 – 8 weeks after sending the complete file, you will receive a form called “Precheck Positiv” which means that the Precheck has been approved. As soon as you receive this form, enter your current address on the form. If you already have an accommodation in Switzerland, you can fill in this address if your name is already on the letterbox. Otherwise mail will not arrive in Switzerland!
- Positive Precheck received
- Fill in your current address in ‘Antragsformular’ form and send it back to the Swiss Red Cross by e-mail.
You will then be sent a questionnaire by post and a list of documents to be returned by post. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully!
We made a translation of this list, for your convenience.
CCPS applications
Registration in a healthcare register is essential to ensure that you can legally use your professional title, which is protected by law. The evidence that you are listed on the register and authorized to practice your profession is referred to as the Certificate of Current Professional Status (CCPS). To obtain this CCPS document, you can request it from the local health authority or health register, and it should not be more than 3 months old for both the PreCheck and official recognition processes. A copy or print screen of your registration may suffice for the PreCheck, but if you already possess the CCPS, we recommend using it. You will need it for the next step (the partial recogntion).
For partial or full recognition, the local health authority or health register should send the CCPS document directly to the Swiss Red Cross. If you are not yet registered in the country where you are currently working or where you completed your studies, you can bypass this requirement by applying for a “Certificate of Non-Registration.” This process also takes 4 to 8 weeks.
- The organisation for which you apply for the CCPS is the Swiss Red Cross:
Schweizerisches Rotes Kreuz
Gesundheitsberufe
Werkstrasse 18
3084 Wabern
Email: [email protected]
For all information on the CCPS, please visit this website.
Translations of the Precheck website
- Create an account at www.precheck.ch
- Click on KONTO ERSTELLEN
- Fill in your data at Kontaktdaten and Personen- und Abschlussdaten (if you need help with this, please let us know!)
- Please upload the following documents to Dokumente. Only the pink fields are mandatory.
- The following file formats are permitted: .jpg,.jpeg,.png,.tiff, .pdf,.JPG, .JPEG,.PNG,.TIFF,.PDF
| Dokumente zur Person | Note |
  | Lebenslauf (CV) Upload your CV in English, German, French or Italian here. |
  | Pass/ID (Passport or ID card) Upload a scan or photo of your passport or ID card here |
  | Pass/ID (Passport or ID card) Upload a scan or photo of your second passport or ID card (if any) here |
  | Nachweis Namensänderung (Proof of name change) If your name on your diploma is different from your name in your passport, for example, because you are married, you can upload a proof here. Both names must be recognizable on this document. |
  | Vollmacht Drittadressat (Power of attorney third party) Here you can upload a power of attorney if you request the Precheck for someone else. |
| Dokumente zum Abschluss | Note |
  | Diplom (Degree) Upload your degree here |
  | Diplom (Degree) Upload here an additional diploma, for example from a Master’s degree |
  | Übersetzung (translation) Upload here a translation of your diploma in English, German, French or Italian. You can request a translation from the university college or have it translated by a sworn translator. |
  | Übersetzung (translation) Upload a translation of your diploma in English, German, French or Italian. You can request a translation from the university college or have it translated by a sworn translator. |
  | Ausbildungsbestätigung Please upload here your course list incl. time commitment (ECTS) & in case of translation the English version |
  | Ausbildungsbestätigung Please upload here your course list incl. time commitment (ECTS) & in case of translation the English version |
  | Übersetzung Ausbildungsbestätigung Upload here a translation of your subject list incl. time commitment (ECTS) & in case of Übersetzung the English version |
  | Übersetzung Ausbildungsbestätigung Upload here a translation of your subject list incl. time commitment (ECTS) & in case of Übersetzung the English version |
  | Vorbildung Upload your diploma from your previous education here |
  | Übersetzung Vorbildung Upload a translation of your diploma from your previous education here |
  | Arbeitszeugnisse Upload employment references or confirmations in the original language here. Details such as position, employment, and duration of the employment relationship must be clear. Contracts are not accepted. |
  | Übersetzung Arbeitszeugnisse Upload a translation of employer references here |
  | Nachweis Weiterbildungen Please upload your most recent proof of continuing education here |
  | Übersetzung Nachweis Weiterbildungen Please upload here the translation of the most recent proof of continuing education |
  | Sprachnachweis If you already have a B2 certificate you can upload it here |
  | Übersetzung (translation) Here you can find the translation of the B2 certificate if the original is in Dutch. |
  | Certificate of Current professional status Upload here a CCPS (Certificate of Current professional status) from the BIG register |
  | Berufsausübungsbewilligung Upload here a CCPS (Certificate of Current professional status) from the BIG register or a screenshot of your registration with the BIG register if you do not yet have a CCPS. |
  | Übersetzung (translation) Upload your English CCPS here again |
  | Bestätigung (confirmation) This confirms that you have filled in everything truthfully. |
Prüfung (check)
With this you send your application for the Precheck.