A cool apprenticeship as a refrigeration system fitter Are you enthusiastic about technology, technically skilled and able to work under pressure, are you interested in maths and physics, do you enjoy working independently, alone and in a team, are you well organised and have good manners?
Your job
Shops, butcheries, bakeries, or restaurants cannot function without refrigeration systems. Cooling systems are also essential for ice rinks, food or chemical industries, hospitals, research laboratories, and data centers. In residential and commercial buildings, air conditioning systems provide a comfortable climate.
- You install cooling and air conditioning systems for stores, computer rooms, hospitals, industries, gastronomy, and households.
- You follow technical drawings when assembling refrigeration systems.
- You create piping systems made from steel or copper.
- You assemble compressors, electric motors, fans, pumps, heat exchangers, and fittings, as well as electrical control cabinets, regulating devices, and safety equipment.
- You test the tightness and functionality of the refrigeration systems after installation.
- You apply a deep vacuum to the entire system before filling it with refrigerant.
- You perform pressure and temperature measurements during commissioning and document the results.
- You build air conditioning systems that provide fresh air and stable temperatures in offices, sales areas, and production halls. The heat emitted by the units can be used in heat recovery systems for heating buildings.
- You also work with heat pump systems.
- You maintain and repair refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
- You possess knowledge in electrical, measurement, control, and regulation technology.
- You use computers for system monitoring and performance control.
- You are often on the move, working on construction sites or in service roles.
- You also provide on-call service, as climate and cooling systems need to operate around the clock.
Your training
Duration:
4 years
Focus Areas
- Commercial refrigeration systems
- Industrial refrigeration systems
- Heat pump systems
- Climate-refrigeration systems
Training in Professional Practice
In a company specializing in refrigeration, climate control, or heat pump technology
Academic Education
1 day per week at the vocational school
Professional Subjects
Manufacturing piping systems and assembling components; building, maintaining, and disposing of refrigeration systems; ensuring work safety, health protection, environmental protection, value preservation, and maintenance
Inter-company Courses
Practical learning and practicing of professional fundamentals. Vocational Baccalaureate: Students with excellent academic performance may attend the vocational baccalaureate school during the basic training period.
Qualification
Federal Certificate of Proficiency "Refrigeration System Technician EFZ"
Your future
Refrigeration jobs are jobs of the future. Specialists are rare and the refrigeration market is growing. Every year, around 100 refrigeration specialists complete their vocational training in Switzerland. Refrigeration specialists have exceptionally good career prospects. Refrigeration system fitters are in high demand on the labour market and earn good salaries. It is not uncommon for young, committed specialists to take on project and personnel responsibility in companies and quickly make a career within the company. Technology in the refrigeration industry is constantly evolving. A wide range of training programmes help you to keep up to date with the latest technical developments and to acquire other useful skills, be it with an additional apprenticeship, in project management, engineering or operations management, at higher technical colleges, universities of applied sciences or at university.
Promotion opportunities & further training
The refrigeration system fitter can develop into an installation or service manager. The refrigeration system planner can develop into a project manager.
Additional apprenticeship as a refrigeration system fitter or refrigeration system planner (2 years), chief fitter (part-time, 2 years), technical school (part-time, 3 ½ years), engineering school (3 years).