General information on the certificates of competence

What treatments require a certificate of competence? What certificates of competence are there?

From 1 June 2024, the treatments using non-ionising radiation or sound listed in the O‑NIRSA are only to be carried out by persons who have acquired an appropriate certificate of competence.

As shown in Table 1, there are seven different certificates of competence; these are expected to be available from April 2022. The training programmes, examination content and examination regulations for the various certificates have been developed by an administrative body comprising six professional associations.

A certificate of competence confirms that the holder has acquired the necessary qualifications and is entitled to carry out the treatments specified.

Treatments and designation of certificate of competence

Treatments	Designation of certificate of competence (CC)
Laser acupuncture	CC laser acupuncture
Laser hair removal	CC laser hair removal
Hair removal using intense pulsed light (IPL)	CC hair removal using intense pulsed light (IPL)
Laser removal of permanent make-up and tattoos This excludes treatments on eyelids or close to the eyes (up to 10 mm), which may only be carried out by physicians or by practice personnel directly instructed by them.	CC permanent make-up and tattoo removal
Treatment of acne, wrinkles, scars, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and stretch marks, as well as rosacea, birthmarks and spider naevi measuring less than or equal to 3 mm This excludes treatments of spider naevi and birthmarks on eyelids or close to the eyes (up to 10 mm), which may only be carried out by physicians or by practice personnel directly instructed by them.	CC skin and pigmentation
Treatment of cellulite and subcutaneous fat	CC cellulite and subcutaneous fat
Treatment of fungal nail infections	CC fungal nail infections

Table 1. List of certificates of competence and the associated treatments

Administrative body

• Association Suisse des Esthéticiennes avec Certificat Fédéral de Capacité (ASE CFC)
• Association Suisse des Esthéticiennes Propriétaires d'Instituts de beauté (ASEPIB)
• TCM Fachverband Schweiz (TCM-FVS)
• Schweizerische Gesellschaft für medizinische Kosmetik (SGMK)
• Schweizerischer Podologen-Verband (SPV/OPS)
• Verband schweizerischer Berufstätowierer (VST)

Documents

2019-06-03_BAG Bulletin (PDF, 879 kB, 22.08.2019)

Cosmetic treatments using non-ionising radiation and sound (PDF, 3 MB, 18.12.2023)

list of examination centres (PDF, 66 kB, 28.03.2024)

ePortal NIRSA

Legislation

Verordnung des EDI über die Sachkundenachweise für Behandlungen zu kosmetischen Zwecken mit nichtionisierender Strahlung und Schall

814.711 Verordnung zum Bundesgesetz über den Schutz vor Gefährdungen durch nichtionisierende Strahlung und Schall (V-NISSG)

814.71 Bundesgesetz über den Schutz vor Gefährdungen durch nichtionisierende Strahlung und Schall (NISSG)

Last modification 18.12.2023