Examination Professional suitability of road passenger transport operators Implementation

To set up a road passenger transport business, you need to demonstrate your professional competence.

To open a company that transports passengers by road, you must prove your professional suitability.

If you would like to set up a bus, taxi or private hire business, you need a licence from the competent authority. One of the requirements is your professional competence, which you usually prove by means of an examination. In Germany, you take the examination at your local Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK).

Depending on the type of your enterprise, you take the examination either for taxi and private hire businesses or for bus operation.

In the examination, you must prove that you have the required legal and business knowledge, knowledge of technical standards and applicable regulations, and knowledge of road safety. The guidelines for the preparation of the exam contained in the link in the 'further information' section provide an overview (in German) of the required knowledge.

It is advisable to prepare in depth for the exam, for instance by attending a preparational course or through intense self-study.

However, these are not legal requirements for registering for the examination.

The examination consists of two written parts and possibly an oral part. The result is decided by an examination board.

You must achieve at least 50 percent of the total marks in both of the written parts to be entered for the oral exam. If you also achieve at least 50 percent of the total marks in the oral exam, and your overall score is at least 60 percent of the grand total of marks, you have passed the exam. If you have achieved at least 50 percent of the available marks in both of the written parts and have already achieved at least 60 percent of the grand total of available marks, you are exempted from the oral examination.

In certain cases, a transitional arrangement may allow for your professional competence to be certified without sitting the exam. If you have successfully completed a recognised course of vocational training in the passenger transport sector which began before 4 December 2011, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry will issue a certificate to you upon request without the need to sit the exam.

If you held a managing position in a bus transport company for ten years or more before 2009, you can also be issued a certificate of professional competence without needing to take the exam. Please refer to the information linked in the 'further information' section.

The required professional competence for taxi and private hire transportation can be certified without an examination if you provide evidence that you have worked for at least three years in a relevant company.

If you want to open a bus, cab or hire car company, you need a permit from the relevant authority. One requirement is your professional aptitude, which you usually prove by passing an examination. In Germany, you take the exam at your local Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).

Depending on the type of your company, you will take the exam either for cab and hire car transportation or for bus transportation.

In the examination, you must provide evidence of the legal knowledge, commercial principles, knowledge of technical standards and regulations and road safety required to operate your company. You will also find a more detailed list in the orientation framework, which is linked in the further information.

You should prepare intensively for the exam, for example by attending a preparation course or studying intensively on your own. However, there are no legal requirements for registering for the exam.

The examination consists of two written parts and, if applicable, an oral part. The examination result is determined by an examination board.

The examination is an overall examination consisting of two written parts and one oral part. At least 50 percent of the respective score must be achieved in both written parts in order to be admitted to the oral examination. The examination is passed if at least 50 percent of the points have also been achieved in the oral examination and at least 60 percent of the total number of points. Those who have achieved at least 50 percent of the achievable score in both written parts and at least 60 percent of the total score are exempt from the oral examination.

In certain cases, transitional regulations may allow you to be certified as suitable without taking the examination. If you have completed training in the field of passenger transport that began before December 4, 2011, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce will issue you with a certificate upon request, even without taking the examination.

If you had already been working in a managerial position in a bus company for ten years before 2009, you can also be issued a certificate of aptitude on application without taking the examination. See also the information sheet in the further information section.

You can also prove your professional aptitude for taxi/rental car transport without taking an examination if you can provide evidence of at least three years' work in a corresponding company.

• If taking the exam: none
• If furnishing proof of qualification:
  • Recognised certificate of professional qualification
• If furnishing proof of professional experience:
  • Documents proving your professional activities

• If suitable by examination: none
• In case of suitability by degree:
  • Proof of the final examination
• If qualified by professional experience:
  • Proof of your professional activities

• Forms: Registration for the examination or application for certification of qualification without taking the exam.
• Online procedure: Available in some cases
• Written form requirement as per German Civil Code Art.126: Yes
• Appearance in person required: Yes, to sit the exam

• Forms: Registration for the examination or application for determination of professional suitability without examination
• Online procedure possible: partially
• Written form required: yes
• Personal appearance required: yes, for the examination

• To register for the exam: none
• To demonstrate professional qualification: certificate of successful completion of one of the following recognised courses of training (with a start date before 4 December 2011) as a:
  • Road and rail transport agent (, focusing on road passenger transport
  • Transport specialist (
  •  
  • Business degree from the German Foreign Trade and Transport Academy (DAV), Bremen
  • graduate in business management () in transportation and logistics, from the Business Department at Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences
  • graduate in transport management from Technische Universität Dresden (TUD)
  • Bachelor of Arts in transport management and logistics, specialising in transport logistics, from Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences
• To demonstrate competence based on professional experience:
  • At least 10 years working in management positions in a bus operating company
  • At least three years in a management role in a taxi and private hire company for taxi transportation.

• For examination registration: none
• For proof through training: Completion of an apprenticeship started before 4.12.2011 as:
  • Rail and road transport clerk, specializing in passenger transport
  • Transportation specialist
  • Business economist (DAV) from the German Foreign Trade and Transport Academy in Bremen
  • Diplom-Betriebswirt/Diplom-Betriebswirtin in the Faculty of Economics I course Transport Economics and Logistics at Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences
  • Diplom-Verkehrsfachwirt/Diplom-Verkehrsfachwirtin at the Technical University of Dresden
  • Bachelor of Arts in Transport Business Administration and Logistics, specializing in Transport Logistics at Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences
• For proof through professional experience:
  • For bus transportation: at least 10 years of management experience in a bus company
  • For cab transport: at least three years of management experience in a cab and rental car company

• In some German federal states: appeal
• Administrative court action
• More detailed information is contained in the notification informing you of whether you have passed or failed the exam

• In some federal states: Appeal
• Administrative court proceedings
• For more details, please refer to the notification of passing / failing the examination

To demonstrate your competence by taking the exam, please register for the exam in writing or online with your local Chamber of Commerce and Industry. When applying, you will have to select whether you wish to take the exam for bus transport or for the taxi/private hire business.

• The Chamber of Commerce and Industry will confirm your registration.
• You will start by taking the two written parts of the exam.
• After you have passed these successfully, you can take the oral exam.
• About two weeks after the exam, you will receive your certificate of professional competence.

With this certificate, you can apply for a licence for your business from the competent authority.

To demonstrate your professional competence without sitting the exam, please submit your written application including all the supporting documents to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Once your application has been processed, you will receive your certificate by post.

To obtain proof of aptitude by examination, you must first register for the examination in writing or online at your local Chamber of Industry and Commerce. You must choose whether you want to take the examination for bus transportation or for taxi/rental car transportation.

• The IHK will confirm your registration for the exam.
• You will first successfully take the two written examinations.
• After passing the written exam, you will take the oral exam.
• Approximately 14 days after passing the exam, you will receive your certificate of professional qualification.

With the certificate, you can now apply for a permit to open your business from the relevant authorities.

To provide proof of professional suitability without taking the examinations, send your written application including all supporting documents to the IHK. After processing, you will receive your certificate by post.

As a rule, you will be informed about whether you have passed the exam or not about two weeks after you have taken it.

As a rule, you will receive notification of whether you have passed or failed the examination approximately two weeks after taking it.

The fee for the examination depends on the applicable schedule of fees at your local Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The examination fee is based on the applicable fee schedule of the local Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

The contents of the exam for taxi/rental car traffic can be found here: Orientation framework taxi/rental car traffic

The contents of the test for bus transport can be found here: Orientation framework for bus transport

Further information on the proficiency test can be found on the website of the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce: Overview of proficiency examinations of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce