Right in the Middle of Things: A Behind-the-Scenes Look
Advancing Through Hands-on Continuing Education in Foreign Trade
As professionals in export, import, and customs, we also share our knowledge through vocational training. Our subject matter experts are active across Switzerland in seminars, diploma programs, or directly in higher vocational education. Thanks to solid training in adult education (Federal Certificate of Competence or equivalent), the didactic methods and competencies of our professionals are ensured at the highest level. This guarantees that classes are always an experience with real aha moments.
In collaboration with our cooperation partners, we have carefully put together a continuing education program to ensure that you:
During the program, you will be guided by lawyers, proven practitioners, experienced supply chain experts, and former employees of the Federal Customs Administration — in a highly practical way with ample room for specific questions through the jungle of international business operations.
K. Meier, Multiforsa AG:
«I never would have thought that foreign trade topics could be so exciting and that we as a company could uncover so many cost-saving opportunities. 1:1 actionable expert tips.»
Key Values:
- Less self-study — more guided learning with high interaction and in-depth professional exchange during classes
- The program covers a broad range of professional challenges. Examples from various industries are explored at live locations. This makes learning truly enjoyable.
- Nationally recognised school diploma with dual signature (Swiss Shippers Council SSC and Zollschule.ch)
- Personal, individual coaching
Aspiring Customs & Trade Professionals ideally have initial hands-on experience in export/import operations and wish to deepen their expertise. The program is also frequently attended by (specialist and management) professionals with a background in purchasing, sales, business administration, logistics, freight forwarding, supply chain management, finance or similar fields who want to better understand cross-departmental connections and export requirements to support strategic development.
The program does not focus on any particular industry and broadly covers professional challenges. Examples from numerous industries are explored.
In addition, the program emphasises personal coaching, personality development for assertiveness in customs matters, as well as three additional practice days where essential professional competencies are deepened and further foreign trade topics are addressed.
The program consists of 13 modules (including three practice days) plus an additional examination day where the learned content is once again reflected upon in a practical manner. In total, the program comprises 105 lessons. Classes take place on weekdays, one day per week with occasional breaks to process what has been learned. Typically, you will have your certificate within 3 months.
Objective: Strengthening competencies for everyday business, whether through intensive professional exchange, numerous practical examples, or targeted practice days. In addition to professional competencies, personal, social, and methodological competencies (soft skills) are also trained.
Personal Mentoring
Education is a personal mission for us and is pursued with great dedication. The program is accompanied by a certified mentor. As a sparring partner and foreign trade expert, she is available for personal subject-related questions and supports participants in linking learned content to practical application.
The learning objectives of the Customs and Trade Professional program encompass the understanding of customs and trade processes, the use of free trade agreements, compliance with regulatory guidelines, and the confident application of import and export procedures:
- Contract law in foreign trade, Incoterms 2020 and transport law
- Customs law, operative customs clearance import/export
- Saving customs duties by leveraging free trade agreements
- Export control of dual-use goods, sanctions, embargoes
- Tariff classification and customs duties
- EU customs clearance, EU VAT and Swiss VAT
- Market development and intercultural communication
- Supply chain management
- Transport law and transport operations
- Export financing, bank guarantees, letter of credit processing
- Practice Day I: Import and export processes — visit to freight forwarder
- Practice Day II: International framework conditions — visit to WTO/UN
- Practice Day III: Exam preparation and professional/personal competency development
The program is aimed at professionals who want to independently manage and optimise customs and trade processes. The target group particularly includes employees in the areas of purchasing, logistics, and foreign trade.
With us, you don’t just learn customs — you are guided by education professionals who, in addition to their subject expertise, have undergone certification as trainers. The program uses the ARIVA model, which guides participants through theoretical blocks, practical applications, reflection, and interactive learning units. The mix of theory and practice guarantees a direct transfer of learning into professional everyday life.
- Modular structure: Topics are delivered in module format, allowing flexible adaptation.
- Practical relevance: Strong integration of real-world examples and hands-on exercises, including on-site visits.
- Experience orientation: The integration of participants‘ professional experience takes centre stage. You learn through reflection and exchange with others.
- Action orientation: Direct insight into the application of knowledge in practical tasks ensures competency development.
- Cooperative learning: Through group work, on-site visits, and discussions, the learning process is designed to be social and collaborative, deepening the processing of what has been learned.
- Reflection: Reflection phases enable participants to think about their own professional practice and derive strategies for action.
- ARIVA model: Activation of prior knowledge, individual and cooperative work, reflection on the learning process, application in practice.
- Cognitive Apprenticeship: Support through modelling, guidance, and coaching to promote participants‘ independent action.
The course concludes with a voluntary diploma examination. Upon successful participation in all modules and the final examination, participants receive the diploma ‚Customs and Trade Professional‘ from Zollschule.ch and Swiss Shippers Council.
Customs & Trade Professionals…
- understand the impact of free trade agreements on Swiss exporters and draw conclusions for their own company’s balance sheet.
- are able to create the conditions for tax exemption in exports and implement them at the operational level.
- form their own opinion on world trade and current requirements in cross-border goods traffic, resulting problems, and can justify these in a differentiated manner.
- are able to assign suitable customs procedures for the import and export of goods for various business cases.
- identify, analyse, and explain Incoterms based on business processes and assign them specifically.
- understand and describe the necessary verification steps for export control of dual-use goods, sanctions, and embargoes professionally based on a representative example.
- apply the acquired expertise in determining the origin of goods in a practical case study.
- assess and consider the significance of customs tariff numbers and customs duties in a global context, differentiated by the global situation of a representative export company.
- comment on the opportunities and risks of the export activities of a representative company.
Upon request, the member price is also granted for private self-payers (no employer contribution). However, most employers cover a significant portion of the costs and/or time, as a guideline for the participant’s own company is developed. Cost participation from the RAV (Regional Employment Centre) is granted upon application.
The price includes comprehensive training materials, personal support, exclusive diploma examination. The diploma examination costs CHF 600. Our services are VAT-exempt educational services.
The next course starts in March 2026. The schedule is available for download here: Schedule CTP English Spring 2026
Personal support comes from the heart. We take sufficient time for your personal questions so that you choose the right program and can also differentiate further education offerings professionally and in terms of content. Contact us without obligation via our contact form.
We also have a business WhatsApp account (044 501 17 50).