National competence centres
 | Swiss Office for In-Service Training of Upper Secondary Teachers | |
| The WBZ CPS promotes and coordinates in-service training for teachers at the upper secondary level (general education) and supports upper secondary schools in their quality improvement activities. The WBZ is an EDK institution. | Berne | |
| | Swiss Service Centre for Vocational Training/Study and Careers Counselling | |
| The SDBB provides services in the field of vocational education and training/study and careers counselling (e.g. publishing). The centre publishes documents required for vocational education and training, drafts documents for the qualification procedures (e.g. end of apprenticeship exams) and coordinates in-service training for vocational education and training specialists. The SDBB is an EDK institution. | Berne | |
| | Swiss Coordination Centre for Research in Education | |
| The Centre is funded jointly by the Confederation and the EDK. It collates information concerning research in education throughout Switzerland and acts as an international contact office. | Aarau | |
| | Swiss Institute for Special Needs Education | |
| The tasks of this institute include collating documentation and information concerning special needs education programmes and advising the EDK and the cantons on all questions of therapeutic pedagogy. | Berne | |
| | Swiss Centre for Information Technologies in Education | |
| The centre provides services for the EDK and the Confederation (Federal Office for Professional Training and Technology) regarding the use of information technologies in schools. | Berne | |
| | Institute for external evaluation of upper secondary schools | |
| The IFES, an EDK institution, conducts evaluations for public and private professional schools and high schools in partnership with the University of Zurich. The institute is under the responsibility oft the Conference of the IFES affiliated cantons. Affiliation to the IFES is at the cantons discretion. | Zurich |