Woodworker with Federal VET Diploma, specialising in woodturning
Woodturners make toys, bowls, egg cups, candlesticks, jewellery, lamp bases, small items of furniture and recorders. They specialise in products with curves or bent or curved shapes. To produce larger series, they set up automatic machinery and work using industrial methods. Sometimes, however, they also do handicraft work.
Detailed description / apprenticeships available (in German)
Trade association (in German)
Training plan, ordinance and supporting measures (in German)
Profile of a Swiss woodworker (in German)
Video about the profession (in German)

Wood sculptor with Federal VET Diploma
Wood sculptors carve a variety of products. These are often one-off pieces, but occasionally they make smaller or larger series too. They produce figures of animals or people, figures for Christmas cribs, items for souvenir shops, ornaments, coats of arms, reliefs, period furniture carvings, inscriptions, utensils, and other decorative and artistic items such as frames, wooden bowls and sculptures. They also often undertake restoration work in churches and on other old carvings. They usually receive an order directly from the customer, and handle the whole process themselves from start to finish. They design the piece, make a model if necessary, procure the wood and other materials needed and finish the work. The rough form is made with the help of machines, but the details are mostly added by hand. Projects vary between pure handicraft work and sometimes even art.
Detailed description / apprenticeships available (in German)
Trade association (in German)
Training plan, ordinance and supporting measures (in German)
Profile of a Swiss wood sculptor (in German)
Video about the profession (in German)

Basket and wickerwork designer with Federal VET Diploma
Basket and wickerwork designers weave together pliable wicker twigs to produce woven objects, such as furnishings or decorative items, woven parts for larger items (seats for chairs, etc.) or privacy screens for gardens. They mostly deal with one-off orders, but sometimes they make items in smaller and larger series too. They work with natural materials such as rattan, willow, rushes and cords, but they also make wickerwork from synthetic materials. Their tasks include repairing and restoring wickerwork and rattan furniture. Basket and wickerwork designers work in their own studios. They also often offer courses, either at their studios or at a training or learning centre. They may also work as workshop managers in workshops or homes for people with disabilities.
Detailed description / apprenticeships available (in German)
Trade association (in German)
Training plan, ordinances and supporting measures (in German)
Profile of a Swiss basket and wickerwork designer (in German)
Video about the profession (in German) 

Woodworker with Federal VET Diploma, specialising in white cooperage
White coopers use native wood varieties to make equipment traditionally associated with alpine dairies, such as butter churns, milk buckets, milking chairs, and other vessels and containers for carrying milk. They also make and carve individual modern wooden items for kitchens and homes, along with gifts for awards or sporting events.
Detailed description / apprenticeships available (in German)
Training plan, ordinance and supporting measures
Profile of a Swiss white cooper
Video about the profession (in German)

Barrel maker with Federal VET Diploma
Barrel makers produce and repair various wooden vessels for agriculture and wine production, especially round and oval barrels in a wide range of capacities for vinification. To do this, they require a high level of expertise in the composition of different wood types so they can match them optimally to the wine that needs to be stored. They usually carry out maintenance and repair work on the barrels on site in the cellars themselves. Barrel makers are also knowledgeable about how wine grapes are pressed and wines are cultivated. They work in a workshop or at a wine-pressing or wine-trading company.
Detailed description / apprenticeships available (in German)
Training plan, ordinance and supporting measures (in German)
Profile of a Swiss barrel maker
Video about the profession (in German)

School-based training
School-based training is provided in block courses at the Schule für Holzbildhauerei Brienz (Brienz School of Wood Sculpture).

Continuing education and training
Schule für Gestaltung Bern und Biel (Bern and Biel School of Design), HF Produktdesign (Professional Education Institution for Product Design) (in German)
Handicraft design (in German)

Downloadable PDFs
Professional profiles (in German)
Leaflet (in German)