Beantragung einer Ausübungsberechtigung für Gesellen oder Gesellinnen und Facharbeiter oder Facharbeiterinnen mit qualifizierter Berufserfahrung

After successfully passing your journeyman's or final examination and providing proof of qualified professional experience, you can be entered in the register of tradesmen and women as the owner or manager of a business in many trades requiring a license.

Anyone who has passed a journeyman's examination in the respective trade or a final examination in a recognized training occupation and has acquired relevant professional experience can be entered in the register of craftsmen as the owner or manager of a business in most trades requiring a license. The professional qualification must have been acquired in the trade to be practiced. For certain trades, it is sufficient if the professional qualification was acquired in a related trade, which can be found in the ordinance on related trades.

In addition to a journeyman's or final examination, proof of relevant professional experience is also required, which must have been acquired after the training. At least six years of professional experience is required, of which at least four years must have been in a managerial position. A managerial position can be assumed if the person concerned has been given independent decision-making powers in a company or a significant part of a company, which must be documented by job references, job descriptions or in another suitable manner.

Chimney sweeps and healthcare trades (opticians, audiologists, orthopaedic technicians, orthopaedic shoemakers, dental technicians) are not eligible for a license to practice.

• Application for a license to practice
• Proof of acquired professional qualifications (journeyman's certificate, certificate of completion)
• Proof of at least six years of professional experience, including at least four years in a managerial position. Proof of a managerial position in a company or a significant part of a company can be provided, for example, by job references and job descriptions.

The following requirements must be met:

• You must be able to provide evidence of a journeyman's examination or a comparable final examination in the craft to be practiced
• You have worked in the trade for at least six years after the journeyman's examination
• Of the six years, you have held a managerial position in a company or a significant part of a company for at least four years. A managerial position involves independent decision-making powers, which can be proven by job references or job advertisements. You have business management, commercial and legal knowledge

The specific fee can be found in the Chamber of Crafts' schedule of fees, which is available on the Chamber's website.

You must submit your application for a license to practice electronically via the online procedure or in writing to your local Chamber of Skilled Crafts. Online applications are also available via administrative portals. The following procedural steps are involved:

1. Application

• Go to the website of your local Chamber of Skilled Crafts and download the application forms for a license to practice. You are also welcome to contact your Chamber of Skilled Crafts directly and have the required documents sent to you
• Complete the forms in full and send them to your local Chamber of Skilled Crafts together with the required documents
• Alternatively, you can apply online via administrative portals

1. Carrying out the administrative procedure for issuing a license to practice

The procedure for issuing a license to practice is used to check whether the following criteria are met:

• The journeyman's examination or a comparable final examination in the craft to be practised or a related craft requiring a license has been passed
• Proof of professional experience of at least six years in the trade applied for, including at least four years in a managerial position

1. Decision on application

If the legal requirements are met, you will be granted a license to practice.

1. Craft roll entry

On the basis of a granted license to practice, you can be entered in the trade register. Together with the notification of registration, the company receives the so-called craftsman's card (§ 10 Para. 2 HwO).

• Entry in the register of skilled craftsmen with authorization to practice ("old journeyman regulation")
• Without a corresponding qualification (e.g. master craftsman's examination, etc.) in the craft requiring a license, entry in the register of craftsmen can be made on the basis of an authorization to practice if a journeyman's or final examination in this craft has been passed and corresponding qualified professional experience (six years as a journeyman, four years of which in a managerial position) can be proven
• The application for a license to practice and further information can be obtained from the local Chamber of Skilled Crafts in whose district the commercial establishment is located