Vocational school (BMS) – Requirements & entrance exam

Have you decided to pursue basic vocational training (apprenticeship) but still want to work toward a maturity diploma? Then BMS is the right choice for you.

What is the BMS (Berufsmittelschule)?

The BMS, or vocational secondary school, supplements basic vocational training and, upon completion, qualifies students to study at a university of applied sciences (FH). It can be taken and completed either alongside an apprenticeship (BM1) or after completing basic vocational training (BM2).

Advantages of the BMS

You can still obtain a maturity diploma during your apprenticeship. This will enable you to study at a university of applied sciences later on. Compared to the Gymnasium, however, you will learn a profession and can earn money in this profession during your apprenticeship and while studying. If you still want to go to university, you can complete a bridge program after your apprenticeship and BMS, which will grant you access to university.

Areas of the BMS

The BMS can be taken in four different areas:

• Technology & Architecture
• Services
• Design and art
• Health and social services

Admission for the BMS

To be admitted to the BMS, you must pass a central entrance exam (ZAP3) for the vocational baccalaureate school. The ZAP is identical in all four different areas.

Exam subjects of the BMS entrance exam

The examination covers the following subjects:

Requirements for the BMS

You can register for ZAP3 for BM1,

• Those who are attending or have attended the 3rd secondary class in Department A;
• Those who are attending or have attended the 3rd secondary class in Department B and submit a written recommendation from their class teacher;

for the BM2,

• Those who hold a Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ);
• Those who are in the last or penultimate year of a three- or four-year vocational apprenticeship.

Approval without complete documents

Candidates will be admitted to the entrance examination even if they do not yet have the following documents. However, copies of these documents must be submitted by the start of the training program at the latest:

• BM1: Apprenticeship contract for a three- or four-year apprenticeship
• BM2: Federal Certificate of Competence (EFZ)

Consideration of advance payments

Previous achievements will only be taken into account in the entrance examination if

• If the candidates are in the 3rd grade of a public Zurich secondary school A that does not have different levels of requirements
• If candidates are attending the third grade of a public Zurich secondary school A that offers different levels of difficulty, all subjects offered at different levels of difficulty must be taken at the highest level of difficulty.

In all other cases, only the exam grade counts for admission to the vocational baccalaureate school. The preliminary grade is composed of the grades from the first semester of the third secondary class. The subjects mathematics, German, French, English, and science and technology are each weighted equally at one-fifth. It is important to note that the preliminary grade is not rounded.

Sources

• Information on the BMS (vocational secondary school) (Januar 2025)
• Admission requirements for the BMS (Vocational Secondary School) (Januar 2025)