Skills assessment in French-speaking Switzerland: what it costs and who pays

How much does a skills assessment cost in French-speaking Switzerland?

There is no single rate. The price depends on who carries out the assessment (public service or private provider), on its length and on your situation. Here is what we were able to verify on official pages on 6 October 2026.

Cantonal rates change: ask the office for the current rate before you commit. In the canton of Bern, people registered with the regional employment centre, disability insurance or social services must ask that body whether it covers the costs. For Vaud, Geneva, Fribourg, Neuchâtel and the Jura, we found no published amount for a long assessment.

Free skills assessment: what are the options?

viamia, from age 40

viamia is a free individual consultation offered by the Swiss cantons. It is for people over 40 who are not otherwise entitled to a similar offer from unemployment insurance, disability insurance or social assistance. In the canton of Vaud, you must also live in the canton and turn 40 in the current year at the latest. The detail is on our page viamia or Ryze Shift.

The cantonal career guidance offices

Every canton has a guidance office that also sees adults. According to orientation.ch, these services help you take stock of your professional situation, build a project and understand your further training options. The addresses by canton are on our page career assessment in French-speaking Switzerland.

The Ryze Shift assessment

The Ryze Shift assessment is done on your phone, with no account, at your own pace. It starts from the real tasks of your week and measures your command of AI in 8 scenarios. At the end, you receive a report with numbers. A Shift advisor can call you back to read it with you: this debrief is included.

Skills assessment and unemployment: what does Swiss unemployment insurance fund?

If you are unemployed in Switzerland, unemployment insurance can fund labour market measures. The portal work.swiss lists them: further training and retraining courses, training placements, training allowances, induction allowances, support for self-employment, among others.

• Who decides: the regional employment centre decides whether taking part in a labour market measure is appropriate and indicated (work.swiss).
• Basic condition: being entitled to unemployment benefit. People at risk of unemployment can also take part under certain conditions.
• Deadline: for a course or a placement, the request is made to the regional employment centre at least 10 days before the start.

In practice: do not pay anything out of your own pocket hoping for a refund. Present your project to your adviser at the employment centre first. Each case is examined individually, and we cannot tell you what your centre will accept.

Who else can pay: employer, Confederation, canton

For people in employment in Switzerland, orientation.ch cites three sources of funding: yourself, the Confederation and the cantons, and your employer.

• Your employer. If the project is linked to your work, they can cover part of the costs and grant you time. Some sectors have training funds.
• The Confederation. For a Swiss federal professional examination (brevet fédéral) or advanced federal examination (diplôme fédéral), SERI reimburses 50% of the eligible course fees, up to CHF 9,500 for a professional examination and CHF 10,500 for an advanced professional examination. The request is made after the examination, whatever the result.
• Your canton. Some cantons grant scholarships or loans for further training. For a validation of prior learning, the canton generally bears the costs or contributes to them; access to the portfolio tool costs 90 francs in the cantons that use it.
• Taxes. Training costs with a professional purpose can often be deducted. Keep your proof of payment and check your case with your tax office.

What Ryze Shift costs, step by step

1. The assessment: free. On your phone, with a report with numbers at the end.
2. The debrief: included. A Shift advisor calls you and reads your report with you.
3. Your plan: included. The path chosen, the skills to acquire, the 30-day plan.
4. Making it happen: your choice. The 14-day sprint costs CHF 390. Project coaching is tailored, with a price set after the free call. The Ryze Worlds community is free to get started.

Ryze Shift is a private offer. As the assessment is free, the question of funding only arises for what follows. If you are registered with a regional employment centre and want paid coaching, ask your adviser’s opinion before you commit. If you are unsure which direction to take, also read our guide career change at 40 and 50.