Waffenhandel Fachkundeprüfung nachweisen

As part of the licensing procedure for commercial arms trading, you must provide proof of the relevant specialist knowledge. To do this, you take a specialist knowledge examination at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).

If you buy or sell firearms or ammunition on a commercial basis or independently as part of a business venture, accept or seek out orders, transfer them to others or act as an intermediary in acquiring, selling or transferring them, you require a firearms dealer's license. You can prove that you have the necessary specialist knowledge by passing a specialist knowledge examination before the examination board of your federal state, unless you have the qualification required by the Weapons Act (as a gunsmith entered in the Register of Craftsmen).

As a rule, a chamber of industry and commerce (IHK) in your federal state is responsible for conducting the firearms specialist examination and managing the examination board for proof of specialist knowledge in the firearms trade. The examination board is generally responsible for the entire federal state.

In the specialist knowledge examination before the examination board, you demonstrate your knowledge

• about firearms and ammunition of all kinds, if you have applied for a comprehensive firearms trading license, or
• on the types of firearms and ammunition for which you have applied for a permit to trade.

Usually, the examination is conducted by order of the authority to which you applied for the firearms permit and cannot be applied for separately.

In the theoretical part of the examination, you must demonstrate knowledge of the regulations governing the trade in firearms and ammunition, the acquisition and carrying of firearms, as well as the basic features of the other regulations governing firearms.

In the practical part of the examination, you must demonstrate safe handling of the tested categories of weapons. This includes, among other things, the disassembly and assembly, the naming of essential parts and the description of the mode of operation.

In order to successfully pass the specialized knowledge examination for the trade in weapons and ammunition, you need not only theoretical, but also practical knowledge. Therefore, extensive preparation is recommended.

If you have applied for a permit to trade in ammunition, you will be tested on the handling of common ammunition and its use in the associated firearm.

• Identity card
• Proof of payment of the fees
• If applicable, notification from the authority responsible for the trading permit that the examination is to take place

Participation in the examination is subject to a fee. The amount of the fees is laid down in the schedule of fees of the IHK Südthüringen.

Normally, you apply for a permit to trade in weapons and are then registered for examination via the relevant licensing authority. With some chambers of industry and commerce you can or must register yourself.

• You will usually receive notification from the authority responsible for the trade permit that the examination is to take place
• Your registration is confirmed by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and you receive an invitation to the examination date.
• You take the exam on site at the IHK
• You will receive a certificate from the IHK confirming that you have successfully passed the examination.

With the proof of the specialized knowledge you can continue the permission procedure for the weapon trade.

• Expertise examinations take place irregularly, therefore the duration between notification of the authority and examination may vary
• The certificate is usually available immediately or a few days after passing the oral part of the exam

The examination is taken orally. As a rule, it should last at least 30 minutes, but not exceed 60 minutes. The examinations are conducted as individual examinations.

The examination board will inform you of the result of your examination immediately. If it is positive, you will receive an examination certificate. You must send a copy of this examination certificate to the authority processing your application.

If you do not pass the examination, you will be notified accordingly. The board of examiners is entitled to issue a notice of non-passing with a blocking period until the next repeat examination.

The certificate of proficiency is valid for an unlimited period and nationwide.

• For detailed information on how to lodge an appeal, please refer to the decision on failing the examination.
• Administrative court action

• In order to obtain a permit to trade in firearms, proof of the relevant specialist knowledge must be provided.
• The proof of expertise must be provided by an examination before a competent examination board at a chamber of industry and commerce (IHK).
• In order to conduct the examination, the authority responsible for the licensing procedure usually sends the applicant's data to the IHK.
• Costs are incurred.
• Responsible: IHK South Thuringia

Contact the office responsible for conducting the weapons qualification examination or the management of the examination board in your federal state. This is usually a Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).

In the Free State of Thuringia, the South Thuringia Chamber of Industry and Commerce has been commissioned to conduct the specialist knowledge examinations.

Thuringian State Administration Office

• Forms: usually you can get all the necessary forms from the authority issuing arms trade permit, in some cases also directly from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
• Online procedure possible: no
• Written form requirement: no
• Personal appearance required: yes