How to become a florist in Switzerland: training, daily life and busy seasons

To become a florist in Switzerland, the main route is a three-year apprenticeship leading to the federal certificate (EFZ in German-speaking Switzerland, CFC in French-speaking Switzerland). A shorter two-year apprenticeship (EBA / AFP) suits more practically oriented learners. Both combine work in a florist’s shop with vocational school and practical courses. Experienced florists can then go on to higher federal qualifications or specialise in weddings, events or funeral work.

This article explains the training routes, the skills needed, what a typical day looks like and why some seasons are so intense. Training details can change, so always confirm current information with your cantonal career guidance office.

Florist training in Switzerland at a glance

The apprenticeship (EFZ / CFC)

Like most Swiss vocational training, florist training follows the dual system:

• In the company (a florist’s shop, garden centre or event florist): most of the week, learning by doing alongside experienced florists.
• At vocational school: generally one or two days a week, covering plant knowledge, design, colour theory, customer advice, materials and business basics.
• Inter-company courses: practical blocks organised by the profession to teach techniques systematically.

At the end, a qualification procedure (final exams, practical and theoretical) leads to the federal certificate. Learners with strong school results can also aim for the vocational baccalaureate, which opens the door to universities of applied sciences.

The two-year EBA / AFP

The shorter apprenticeship focuses on core practical skills: preparing flowers, simple bouquets and arrangements, care of plants, sales support. Graduates can work as florists and, with good results, often move on to the EFZ / CFC in a shortened programme.

Finding an apprenticeship

• Look for apprenticeship vacancies on the official cantonal and national listings and at local florists.
• Ask for a trial day (a “stage” or “Schnupperlehre”): most shops expect one before offering a place.
• Prepare a short portfolio if you already enjoy arranging flowers.

The skills a florist needs

• Creativity and a sense of colour, proportions and style.
• Manual skill: binding a hand-tied bouquet quickly and cleanly takes practice.
• Plant knowledge: hundreds of species, their seasons, care and vase life.
• Physical stamina: standing all day, carrying buckets of water, early starts.
• Tolerance for cold and damp: flowers are kept cool, and hands are often in water.
• Customer service: listening, advising, and handling emotional moments such as funeral orders with tact.
• Organisation: managing orders, deliveries and peak days.

Good to know: a severe pollen or plant allergy can make the job very difficult. Some flowers (such as alstroemeria, tulips or primulas) can also irritate the skin of people who handle them every day.

A typical day in a florist’s shop

Every shop is different, but a typical day might look like this:

1. Early morning: receiving deliveries from wholesalers or growers, or buying at a wholesale market.
2. Conditioning: unpacking, cleaning stems, removing lower leaves, recutting and putting flowers in fresh water to hydrate.
3. Morning: preparing orders for the day: bouquets, arrangements, funeral pieces, deliveries.
4. Midday: serving walk-in customers, giving advice, taking phone and online orders.
5. Afternoon: finishing deliveries, decorating the window, caring for plants, preparing events.
6. End of day: cleaning buckets and tools, checking stock, planning tomorrow’s orders.

Saturday is often one of the busiest days of the week. Many florists also work at weddings and events at weekends.

Peak seasons: a florist’s calendar

In 2027, Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday, and Mother’s Day is on 9 May; our flower-giving calendar lists the key dates and explains why most florists don’t deliver on Sundays.

Where florists work

• Independent florist shops, the classic route.
• Garden centres and the flower departments of larger retailers.
• Event and wedding florists, often freelance.
• Online florists with their own workshop, which compose bouquets for delivery.
• Funeral florists working closely with funeral homes.
• Hotels and corporate clients, for regular decoration.

Some florists eventually open their own shop, teach apprentices or specialise in a niche (dried flowers, sustainable floristry, large installations).

Trends shaping the profession

• Local and seasonal flowers: growing interest in flowers grown in Switzerland. See our article on where cut flowers come from.
• Foam-free floristry: moving away from plastic floral foam.
• Dried and preserved flowers: a year-round product; see our guide to dried and preserved flowers.
• Online orders and subscriptions: more florists sell online and offer regular deliveries; see our flower subscription guide.

What florists learn in training

Swiss florist training covers far more than making pretty bouquets. Typical areas include:

Pros and cons of the profession

What florists often love:

• Working with natural materials and seasons.
• Creativity every day, with immediate results.
• Being part of people’s important moments: births, weddings, farewells.
• A tangible craft that machines can’t replace.

What can be tough:

• Early mornings, Saturdays and very long days before Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Christmas.
• Cold rooms, wet hands and physical work.
• Perishable stock: wasted flowers are lost money.
• Emotional orders, especially funerals.

Talk to working florists before you commit; most are happy to share both sides of the job.

Florist or flower designer: what’s the difference?

In everyday language, both terms describe someone who creates bouquets and arrangements. In Switzerland, florist (Florist/in EFZ, fleuriste CFC) with the EFZ / CFC suffix is the federally recognised qualification earned through the apprenticeship and final exams. “Flower designer” or “floral artist” is often used by event specialists or self-taught creatives and is not a regulated title in itself. If you are hiring a florist for a wedding or event, it is worth asking about their training and seeing a portfolio of past work.

Thinking of a career change?

Many people come to floristry as a second career. If you’re curious:

• spend a trial day in a shop, ideally in a busy period, to see the real pace;
• take an evening or weekend course to test your interest;
• contact your cantonal career guidance office (Berufsberatung / orientation professionnelle) for current routes for adults.

And if you simply want to understand the craft better as a customer, our florist’s glossary of bouquet types and our language of flowers dictionary explain the vocabulary florists use every day. Our guide on how to make flowers last longer shares the conditioning tricks of the trade.