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The raising of teacher training to tertiary level, concluded in 1995, introduced a reform that addresses the new requirements of the teaching profession at the training stage as well. With this reform, 2 main goals were pursued: an increased professionalisation of teaching as well as the recognition of cantonal teaching qualifications throughout Switzerland.

The training of teaching staff for the pre-school level, primary level, lower secondary level, the matura schools and professions in the field of special needs education (early childhood special needs education, scholastic special needs education, speech and language therapy, and psychomotor therapy) is mainly carried out at universities of teacher education, but to a small extent at universities and at universities of applied sciences (for music and visual arts).

The education of VET / PET professionals, such as trainers at businesses or teachers at vocational schools and colleges of higher vocational education and training, is regulated within the framework of vocational education and training.

Core tasks

The main assignment of the universities of teacher education (which typologically belong to the universities of applied sciences but are governed differently) is as follows:

Teaching: education and continuing education are provided on an academic basis and are both professionally and practically oriented
Vocationally oriented research and development
Provision of services (counselling and other services)

Governance and general conditions

The 14 universities of teacher education typologically belong to the universities of applied sciences, but are the responsibility of the cantons and are subject to cantonal and inter-cantonal regulations. One or more cantons is / are the responsible body of a university of teacher education. A university of teacher education can have several locations.

The governance of teacher education primarily occurs on the basis of the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education's regulations on recognition of qualifications. This regulates the Swiss-wide recognition of diplomas and the quality control of education and qualifications. The recognition regulations include minimum requirements regarding the training objectives, training content, scope of study, terms of admission and university teachers' qualifications. The Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK) only recognises courses of study which comply with the specifications of the recognition regulations. The cantons are obliged to enable equal access to the job market for all holders of a recognised qualification. In the course of the reform of higher education, universities of teacher education are to be accredited in future, like the other universities (cantonal universities and Federal Institutes of Technology, universities of applied sciences); the recognition of qualifications on the part of the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK) is to continue.

Affiliated to the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK), the Swiss Council for Universities of Applied Sciences, which, as a strategic-political body, officiates inter-cantonal cooperation in all issues regarding universities of applied sciences, is also the governing body for the universities of teacher education. On behalf of the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK), the Swiss Conference of Rectors of Universities of Teacher Education (COHEP) is responsible for the subject-oriented coordination of the teacher education institutions. The Swiss Conference of Rectors of Universities of Teacher Education (COHEP) combines all rectors of universities of teacher education, as well as the rectors of other teacher education institutions.

Legal base

The universities of teacher education are regulated by the cantons in which they are based, in corresponding cantonal laws and regulations.
The Inter-Cantonal Agreement on Universities of Applied Sciences as of 2005 (established in 2003) also applies to the universities of teacher education. This agreement regulates inter-cantonal access to the universities of teacher education and the payments to be made by the students' cantons of residence to the cantons in which the students study.
On the basis of the 1993 Inter-Cantonal Agreement on the Recognition of Educational Qualifications, the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK) has issued various regulations on the recognition of teaching qualifications:
- 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
Regulations on the naming of qualifications and the Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in teacher education within the Bologna Reform (Titles Regulation).

Initial education

The universities of teacher education offer various qualifications based on certain school levels, as well as special needs education qualifications. The following courses of study are available:

Teaching for pre-school and / or primary level (Bachelor course); depending on the institution, study courses are available for the pre-school level, the primary level (for a particular level or for all primary school years), or combined study courses for both pre-school and primary levels
Teaching for the lower secondary level (Master course)
Teaching for matura schools (educational-science-based and subject-related didactics during or after a Bachelor / Master course in a specific discipline of study)
Study courses in special needs education: specialisation in early childhood special needs education and scholastic special needs education (Master course)
Speech and language therapy and psychomotor therapy (Bachelor course).

VET / PET professionals

Vocational trainers at businesses, as well as teaching staff who provide basic vocational education and training, higher vocational education and training, and vocationally oriented continuing education, are generally professionals who have completed additional educational and methodological-didactic training, which is regulated by the Federal Law on Vocational Education and Training and by the framework curricula for VET / PET professionals as defined by the Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology (OPET). These courses of study can be completed at the Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (SFIVET) or at other educational institutions, whether public (e.g. universities or universities of teacher education) or private, whereby it is necessary that the courses of study are recognised by the Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology (OPET) – and in some cases by the canton. In addition to federal certificates and diplomas, a Master of Science in Vocational Education and Training can also be attained.