If you need an official German certificate in Switzerland, you have probably seen two names come up: the fide test and telc. They are both real, official exams, but they are not the same and you cannot swap one for the other. The short answer is this. The fide test covers levels A1 to B1 and is used mainly for Swiss residence permits and citizenship. A telc certificate is available from A1 up to C1, and is the one to take if you need a certificate for work, study, or professional registration, or if you need a level above B1. Which one you need depends on what the authority, employer, or school in front of you is asking for, so confirm the exact requirement with them before you book.
Below is what each exam is, how they differ, and how to prepare in Zürich.
What is the fide test?
The fide test is the Swiss language test recognised by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). Most people take it for a residence permit or for citizenship. It has two parts, a speaking part and a writing part. The speaking part lasts about 40 minutes and the writing part about 60 minutes.
You take the fide test in one of two level combinations, either A1-A2 or A2-B1. B1 is the highest level you can reach with it. If you need a certificate above B1, the fide test is not the right one, and you take a telc exam instead.
After the test, your language passport is sent to you by post, from fide. We do not mark the exams ourselves, so we cannot promise a date.
The full fide test costs CHF 250. If you only need one part, the speaking part costs CHF 170 and the writing part costs CHF 120.
What is a telc certificate?
A telc certificate is available across the levels, from A1 for beginners up to C1. Each exam has four parts: reading, listening, writing, and speaking.
There are also specialist telc exams for people who work in health. Nurses and care staff usually take telc Deutsch B1-B2 Pflege. Doctors usually take telc Deutsch B2-C1 Medizin. These certificates are often required to register and work in a Swiss healthcare role.
You choose your telc exam date from Monday to Friday. The fee depends on the level. As a guide, A1 and A2 cost CHF 185, B1 costs CHF 265, B2 costs CHF 325, and C1 costs CHF 375. The healthcare exam (B1-B2 Pflege) and the medicine exam (B2-C1 Medizin) each cost CHF 435. Some levels also offer a digital version. Fees can change, so confirm the current price when you book.
The main difference
The difference comes down to two things: the level ceiling and the purpose.
The fide test goes up to B1 and is built around Swiss migration needs, such as permits and citizenship. By contrast, telc goes up to C1 and covers general, academic, and professional needs, including the healthcare and medicine certificates.
So if your permit or citizenship application asks for the fide test, take the fide test. If you need a higher level, a professional certificate, or a specific telc certificate, take telc. If you are not sure, ask the authority or employer exactly which certificate and which level they accept, and take that. We can tell you what each exam involves, but the requirement itself is set by them, not by us.
How to prepare in Zürich
We are an official fide and telc exam centre in central Zürich, at Löwenstrasse 61, two minutes from the main station. That means you can prepare for your exam and sit it with us in the same place.
There are two ways to prepare with us.
One-to-one preparation is built around you and comes with a money-back guarantee. If you attend all the lessons we agree together, complete your homework, and sit the exam on the agreed day, and you do not pass, we refund your preparation fees. One-to-one fide preparation starts at a minimum of five lessons.
For the fide test, a group crash course is a faster, lower-cost option. It does not include the guarantee. (Crash courses are for the fide exam only.)
If you are a complete beginner, you take a language course first to reach the level you need, and then prepare for the exam. The exam tests a level you have already studied, so this order gives you the best chance of passing.
How to register
For the fide test, register at least 17 days before your chosen date. For telc, register ahead of time and we will confirm the deadline for your date. In both cases, your place is only confirmed once payment has been received, so book early to get the date you want.
Common questions
Does the fide test go above B1?
No. The fide test covers A1 to B1 only, taken as A1-A2 or A2-B1. B1 is the maximum. For a higher level, you take a telc exam.
Which exam do I need for my Swiss permit or citizenship?
Applications usually ask for the fide test, but requirements vary from case to case. Confirm the exact test and level with the authority handling your application, and take what they accept.
Which telc exam do nurses and doctors take?
Nurses and care staff usually take telc Deutsch B1-B2 Pflege. Doctors usually take telc Deutsch B2-C1 Medizin. Check the exact requirement with the body you are registering with.
How much does the fide test cost?
The full test costs CHF 250. The speaking part on its own costs CHF 170, and the writing part on its own costs CHF 120.
Is there a money-back guarantee?
Yes, on one-to-one preparation. If you attend all the lessons we agree, complete the homework, and sit the exam on the agreed day, and you do not pass, we refund your preparation fees. The fide crash course does not include the guarantee.
When will I get my fide result?
Your language passport is sent to you by post, from fide. We do not mark the exams ourselves, so we cannot promise a date.
Not sure which one you need?
If you are unsure which exam fits your situation, get in touch and we will talk it through with you. You can prepare for and sit both the fide test and telc exams with us at Löwenstrasse 61 in Zürich.