What is the duration of an apprenticeship in Canton Schaffhausen?

Apprenticeship lasts 2 years for a Federal Professional Certificate (AFP) or 3-4 years for a Federal Professional Certificate (CPF), depending on the chosen industry. During this period, the apprentice alternates days of work in the company with days of vocational school according to the dual model. In Canton Schaffhausen, as in the other 25 cantons, the duration and requirements are uniform at the federal level according to the Vocational Training Act.

How much does an apprentice earn in Schaffhausen?

Salaries vary significantly by canton, sector and year of training. In Canton Schaffhausen there is no uniform federal minimum wage — collective agreements set the amounts by sector. Usually, salaries increase progressively: the first year is the lowest paid, the third and fourth years the highest. An apprentice in the industrial sector typically earns more than one in catering. See SECO for updated official data for Canton Schaffhausen.

What happens after obtaining the apprenticeship certificate?

After obtaining the federal professional certificate (AFP) or the federal certificate (CPF), the apprentice can continue in different directions: continue at the host company, seek employment in another company, enroll in a professional university school (SUPSI) if they have the professional maturity, or undertake further apprenticeship in a different sector. The certificate is nationally recognised and allows access to the Swiss labour market.

What rights does an apprentice have during the internship?

The apprentice is entitled to daily and weekly rest in accordance with the Federal Labor Law (maximum 45 hours per week), minimum holidays of 4-5 weeks depending on age, occupational health and safety protection (SUVA), and leave for vocational school attendance without loss of salary. The traineeship contract, filed with the cantonal authority, protects the economic and procedural rights of the trainee.

How do you look for an internship in Canton Schaffhausen?

There are several channels: consult online portals such as job.ch and yousty.ch (filtered by Schaffhausen), directly contact local companies in the chosen sector, contact the cantonal vocational training office for advice and lists of qualified companies, and participate in apprenticeship salons organized by the canton. Applications for apprenticeships starting in September must be submitted between January and May of the previous year.

Apprenticeship: practical guide in the Schaffhausen Canton (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 24 August 2026

Apprentice working with mentor in professional workshop during Swiss vocational training

How to find an internship position, apprentice salaries, contracts and professional maturity in the Swiss system.

Context

In a nutshell

The Swiss apprenticeship lasts 2-4 years with alternation between company and vocational school
Salaries vary by canton and sector, progressively increasing during the training course
At the end you get the Federal Professional Certificate (AFP) or the Federal Certificate (CPF)

Key facts

What: Dual vocational training regulated by the Federal Law on Vocational Training (LFPr)
Where: Applied in the Schaffhausen Canton and all 26 Swiss cantons
Duration: 2 years for AFP, 3-4 years for CPF
Who: Managed by cantons and companies, federally supervised by SECO
Degree issued: Certificate of Vocational Training (AFP) or Federal Certificate (CPF)

Apprenticeship is the most common training path for young Swiss people. In Canton Schaffhausen, as in the other 25 cantons, it works according to the dual system: young people alternate days of work in the company with days of lessons at a vocational school. This model guarantees the simultaneous acquisition of practical skills and theoretical knowledge in the classroom.

The duration varies depending on the sector and the level of certification. A federal professional certificate (AFP) takes 2 years, while a federal certificate (CPF) takes 3 or 4 years. Upon completion, the apprentice takes federal exams and attains the nationally recognized degree.

The dual model and the role of the cantons

Canton Schaffhausen, like all Swiss cantons,

Operational details

Apprentice Salaries and Remuneration

One of the most frequently asked questions is: how much does an apprentice earn? In the Swiss system, salaries vary significantly by canton, sector and year of training. In Canton Schaffhausen, as in the other cantons, there is no uniform federal minimum wage for apprentices — each canton negotiates collective agreements in the various sectors (industry, commerce, crafts, catering, health, education).

Salaries increase from year to year: the first year is the lowest paid, the third and fourth years are the highest. An apprentice in the industrial sector typically earns more than one in the hotel sector. SECO periodically publishes official statistics on the subject, available on the website of the federal agency and on that of the cantonal administration of Schaffhausen.

Rights and duties during apprenticeship

During the apprenticeship, the apprentice benefits from specific protections established by the Federal Law on Vocational Training:

Rest: Right to daily and weekly rest in accordance with the Federal Labor Law (maximum 45 hours of work per week for most sectors)
Holidays: Minimum annual holiday of at least 4 weeks for those under 20, standard 4 weeks for others (variable according to collective agreement)
Safety: Protection of health and safety at work (supervision of SUVA, the federal body that manages insurance

Useful tools to protect your net income

To reduce FX leakage, compare CHF-EUR exchange options and banks for cross-border workers.

Key points

How to find an internship in the Canton of Schaffhausen

Finding an internship is a delicate step that requires planning and persistence. In the Canton of Schaffhausen, young people interested can follow a well-tried procedure.

Step 1: Identify the sector and profession

Switzerland recognizes over 250 professions for which it is possible to attend an apprenticeship. Before starting the search, it is essential to choose a consistent sector with your interests (industry, commerce, craftsmanship, catering, healthcare, education, computer science) and your abilities. The SECO and the cantons publish online the complete list of available professions with detailed descriptions of tasks and access requirements.

Step 2: Consult specialized job portals

Online platforms such as job.ch and yousty.ch collect apprenticeship announcements from companies throughout Switzerland, including the Canton of Schaffhausen. It is possible to filter by canton, sector, start year, and level (AFP or CPF). Many Schaffhausen companies publish their posts with fixed application deadlines, usually 6-9 months before the start of the apprenticeship in September.

Step 3: Contact companies directly

Not all companies publish their announcements online. It is possible to send spontaneous applications to companies in the Canton of Schaffhausen in the chosen sector, attaching a CV and school references. A personalized letter that highlights the motivation towards the specific sector increases the chances of receiving a positive response.

Step 4: Contact the cantonal office for vocational training

…

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the duration of an apprenticeship in Canton Schaffhausen?: Apprenticeship lasts 2 years for a Federal Professional Certificate (AFP) or 3-4 years for a Federal Professional Certificate (CPF), depending on the chosen industry. During this period, the apprentice alternates days of work in the company with days of vocational school according to the dual model. In Canton Schaffhausen, as in the other 25 cantons, the duration and requirements are uniform at the federal level according to the Vocational Training Act.
How much does an apprentice earn in Schaffhausen?: Salaries vary significantly by canton, sector and year of training. In Canton Schaffhausen there is no uniform federal minimum wage — collective agreements set the amounts by sector. Usually, salaries increase progressively: the first year is the lowest paid, the third and fourth years the highest. An apprentice in the industrial sector typically earns more than one in catering. See SECO for updated official data for Canton Schaffhausen.
What happens after obtaining the apprenticeship certificate?: After obtaining the federal professional certificate (AFP) or the federal certificate (CPF), the apprentice can continue in different directions: continue at the host company, seek employment in another company, enroll in a professional university school (SUPSI) if they have the professional maturity, or undertake further apprenticeship in a different sector. The certificate is nationally recognised and allows access to the Swiss labour market.
What rights does an apprentice have during the internship?: The apprentice is entitled to daily and weekly rest in accordance with the Federal Labor Law (maximum 45 hours per week), minimum holidays of 4-5 weeks depending on age, occupational health and safety protection (SUVA), and leave for vocational school attendance without loss of salary. The traineeship contract, filed with the cantonal authority, protects the economic and procedural rights of the trainee.
How do you look for an internship in Canton Schaffhausen?: There are several channels: consult online portals such as job.ch and yousty.ch (filtered by Schaffhausen), directly contact local companies in the chosen sector, contact the cantonal vocational training office for advice and lists of qualified companies, and participate in apprenticeship salons organized by the canton. Applications for apprenticeships starting in September must be submitted between January and May of the previous year.