Entry in the register of craftsmen with a domestic examination equivalent to the master craftsman's examination

If you wish to practise a craft requiring a license and have a domestic professional qualification equivalent to the master craftsman's examination, you can be entered in the register of craftsmen on this basis.

You must apply for entry in the Register of Craftsmen if you wish to operate a craft requiring a license in Germany on a self-employed basis.

Entry in the Register of Craftsmen is possible for

• natural or legal persons and
• partnerships with legal capacity.

This also applies if you

• want to carry out a significant part of a craft requiring a license on your own.
• want to carry out several trades requiring a license independently. In this case, you will need to be entered in the Register of Craftsmen for each craft requiring a license.
• In order to be entered in the Register of Craftsmen, you must generally have successfully passed a master craftsman's examination or have at least an equivalent professional qualification, which must be proven in the person of the business owner or business manager. German state or state-recognized examinations may be considered as equivalent to the master craftsman's examination for the craft to be practiced. These include qualifications as a certified industrial master craftsman or woman.
  

The Chamber of Skilled Crafts in Hesse in whose district the main commercial establishment is located is responsible.

1. For sole proprietorships:

• Presentation of a copy of the equivalent domestic professional qualification
• Copy of the business registration (can be submitted later after entry in the register of craftsmen)

1. For civil law partnerships (GbR):

• Copy of the articles of association (if not concluded informally)
• Copy of the equivalent domestic professional qualification
• Copy of the business registration (can be submitted subsequently after entry in the register of craftsmen)

1. For commercial partnerships with legal capacity, i.e. general partnerships (OHG), limited partnerships (KG) and corresponding foreign company forms:

• for proof of the company's legal form if the company is based in Germany:
  • for companies entered in the commercial register: extract from the register, for OHGs additionally a copy of the articles of association
  • if no entry has been made in the register: copy of the articles of association
• for proof of the corporate legal form in the case of foreign legal forms:
  • Extract from the relevant foreign register for companies entered in registers, otherwise
• Copy of the articles of association
• Copy of the equivalent domestic professional qualification
• Copy of the business registration (can be submitted later after entry in the register of craftsmen)

1. For legal entities (limited liability company (GmbH), entrepreneurial company (haftungsbeschränkt) or UG (haftungsbeschränkt), public limited company (AG), registered cooperative (eG)):

• for proof of the company's legal form if the company is based in Germany:
  • Extract from the commercial or cooperative register
• for proof of the legal form of the company in the case of foreign legal forms:
  • Extract from the register of the competent foreign register
• Copy of the business registration (can be submitted subsequently after entry in the register of craftsmen)
• Details of the company management: see 5.

1. If a manager is employed, the following documents must also be submitted:

• Manager's declaration
• Proof of management activity (copy of employment contract)
• Proof of social insurance for the manager
• Submission of a copy of the equivalent domestic professional qualification
  

A German state or state-recognized examination (e.g. industrial master craftsman or industrial master craftswoman) at least equivalent to the master craftsman examination for the exercise of the relevant craft requiring a license.

You must apply for entry in the Register of Craftsmen online or in writing to the Chamber of Crafts responsible for you.

Online application

• Go to the website of your local Chamber of Skilled Crafts or to the service portal of your federal state and select the correct online service.
• The online service will guide you through the application step by step.
• You can submit the required documents digitally.
• Once the documents have been checked, you will receive notification of your registration as a tradesperson if the requirements are met.

Written application

• Download the application form from the website of your local Chamber of Skilled Crafts.
• Alternatively, you can have the required documents sent to you via your local Chamber of Skilled Crafts.
• Complete the form and send it together with the required documents to your local Chamber of Skilled Crafts.

The relevant Chamber of Skilled Crafts will check the documents.
If you meet the requirements, you will receive a written notification of your registration on the Register of Craftsmen.

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