Basic year

This is a particular arrangement of the first year of the VET programme. The basic year provides learners with full-time classroom instruction at the VET school in order to relieve the burden on host companies. At the end of the first year, learners will spend more time at the host company. As the basic year represents a portion of the VET programme, the learners sign an apprenticeship contract from the outset. This apprenticeship contract remains valid for the entire duration of apprenticeship training unless a special dispensation is granted by the cantonal authority.

The basic year is not very widespread. It is used, for example, to train learners in the field of IT. Generally speaking, the host company pays for the costs of training during the basic year.