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The minimum requirements for admission to the courses of study at universities of teacher education, are regulated by the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK) in a number of legal documents.

Inter-Cantonal Agreement on the Recognition of Educational Qualifications of 18 February 1993
Regulations on the Recognition of University Degrees for Teaching Staff at Pre-school and Primary Level of 10 June 1999
Regulations on the Recognition of University Degrees for Teaching Staff at Lower Secondary Level of 26 August 1999
Regulations on the Recognition of Teaching Qualifications for Matura Schools of 4 June 1998
Regulations on the Recognition of Qualifications in Special Needs Education (Areas of Specialisation: Early Childhood Special Needs Education and Scholastic Special Needs Education) of 12 June 2008
Regulations on the Recognition of University Qualifications in Speech and Language Therapy and in Psychomotor Therapy of 3 November 2000
Various regulations in the field of specialised middle schools which govern the access to universities of teacher education with a specialised matura in the vocational field of education.

The compliance with these regulations is stated as a minimum requirement for recognition of the courses of study throughout Switzerland. The universities of teacher education can impose further requirements for access to courses of study, in addition to the minimum requirements.

Teaching for the pre-school and primary levels

Admission to the course of study requires a matura certificate, or a teaching qualification recognised by the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK), or a qualification from a university of applied sciences, or a federal vocational baccalaureate and the passing of an additional examination in accordance with the Passerelle Regulation (regulation on the recognition of vocational baccalaureate certificates for admission to cantonal universities and Federal Institutes of Technology).
Holders of a recognised specialised matura in the vocational field of education can also be directly admitted to the course of study.
If, before the course of study commences, candidates pass an additional examination as evidence of equivalence to a specialised matura in the vocational field of education, admission can also be granted to those who possess a recognised certificate from a specialised middle school or a certificate from a recognised 3-year diploma middle school or a recognised college of commerce, as well as to professionals who hold a federal vocational baccalaureate, or a qualification from a recognised vocational education and training course which lasted at least 3 years, with several years of professional experience.
If the course of study leads exclusively to a teaching qualification for the pre-school level, bearers of a certificate from a recognised 3-year diploma middle school (DMS) or a specialised middle school are also admitted.

Teaching for the lower secondary level

Admission to the course of study requires the following:

A matura certificate, or a teaching qualification for the primary level recognised by the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK), or a qualification from a university of applied sciences, or a federal vocational baccalaureate and the passing of an additional examination in accordance with the Passerelle Regulation.
Candidates with a specialised matura, a recognised certificate from a specialised middle school, a federal vocational baccalaureate or a qualification from a recognised vocational education and training course which lasted at least 3 years, as well as several years of professional experience, can be admitted to the course of study if they can prove that they have at least matura-level general knowledge by passing an additional examination before they begin to study (the examination subjects and level of the additional examination correspond to that of the additional examination as per the Passerelle Regulation for holders of a federal vocational baccalaureate).

Teaching for matura schools

The qualification for teaching at matura schools requires a Master's degree or an equivalent qualification from a university. The vocational education and training can also be commenced or completed during the Master course in a specific discipline of study.

Courses of study in special needs education: specialisation in early childhood special needs education and scholastic special needs education

Admission to the course of study requires a teaching qualification for normal classes or a qualification in speech and language therapy or psychomotor therapy (at least at Bachelor level) or a Bachelor's degree in a related field of study.
Those who have obtained a Bachelor's degree in an integrated course of study for the lower secondary level teaching qualification can also be admitted.
Depending on the selected area of specialisation, students who do not hold a teaching qualification for normal classes or a qualification in speech and language therapy or psychomotor therapy must perform additional theoretical and practical activities.

Courses of study in speech and language therapy and psychomotor therapy

In order to assess vocational aptitude, an admission process is conducted.

Candidates with a matura certificate, a recognised teaching qualification or a qualification from a university of applied sciences, as well as those who hold a federal vocational baccalaureate and have passed an additional examination as per the Passerelle Regulation, are admitted.
Candidates with a specialised matura, a specialised middle school certificate, a federal vocational baccalaureate, or a qualification from a recognised vocational education and training course which lasted at least 3 years and who have several years of professional experience can be admitted to the courses of study if they can prove that they have at least matura-level general knowledge by passing an additional examination before they begin to study.